Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if (a) the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State or (b) another Minister in his Department will visit the Leamside Line to discuss with stakeholders the case for its proposed reopening.

In January 2020 the Government pledged £500 million for the Restoring Your Railway programme to deliver on our manifesto commitment to start reopening lines and stations to reconnect smaller communities, regenerate local economies and improve access to jobs, homes and education. The bid for the Leamside Line to the third round of the Ideas Fund was unsuccessful. My predecessor as Rail Minister provided feedback on the scheme and advice on alternative funding routes to the Hon Member and her colleagues. As stated in the Integrated Rail Plan, the case for re-opening the Leamside route would be best developed as part of any future city region settlement.