Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the potential cost increase as a result of the two year delay to the Western Rail Access to Heathrow project.

Progress on the Western Rail Link to Heathrow is subject to a satisfactory business case and the agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry. Negotiations on these terms have not yet concluded and any estimate of cost to the taxpayer is dependent on this agreement. There is also no reason why costs would increase as a result.