Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation he undertook before postponing the delivery of the Western Rail Access to Heathrow.

The Department has not postponed the delivery of the Western Rail Access to Heathrow. The Government has always been clear that delivery of such is subject to a satisfactory business case and agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow Aviation industry. Discussions between the Department and Heathrow Airport Limited to agree an appropriate funding contribution were interrupted following the Court of Appeal’s judgement on the Airports National Policy Statement and the devastating impact of COVID-19, resulting in a delay. Network Rail plans to re-consult on the scheme in 2021.