Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether trade will be factored into the assessment criteria for deciding which road schemes to progress; and if so, when.

Her Majesty’s Government recognises the important role played by strategic roads in supporting trade. This is why we are investing over £15bn in the network between 2015 and 2021, and dedicating resources raised through Vehicle Excise Duty in England to a National Roads Fund beyond 2020 to provide long-term funding stability. Decisions about which road schemes to progress are based on deliverability, affordability and meeting the five key aims for the network post 2020. These are supporting the economy – including trade and getting goods to and from ports – as well as network capability, safety, integration and the environment.