Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Arup report Opportunity through connectivity: Catalysing economic growth through a Midlands-North West Rail Link, published in September, what assessment they have made of proposals for an affordable Midlands-North West rail link.

The Government is currently reviewing the position it has inherited on rail infrastructure and will consider how to address capacity needs and support economic growth in and between the North and the Midlands, whilst maintaining fiscal discipline.

We will set out next steps in due course.