Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Regional and National Transport Links

Thursday 22 October 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department launched the union connectivity review to support regional and national connectivity.
  • The dualling of the A66 is included in the second road investment strategy for 2020 to 2025.
  • The Government reaffirmed its commitment to constructing the eastern leg of HS2, known as 2b, to deliver jobs and investment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Darren Henry
Transport
Context

The MP is concerned about regional and national transport infrastructure improvements.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to improve (a) regional and (b) national transport links.

Answer from Grant Shapps

We are committed to supporting regional and national connectivity, and we recently launched the union connectivity review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps for improving regional and national transport links were not detailed.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Dehenna Davison
Transport
Context

The A66 is a critical route for residents in Barnard Castle and across the north-east, prompting concerns about its status.

Question

Can my right hon. Friend please give me an update on the dualling of the A66, and will he meet me to discuss the issue of the Rokeby junction?

Answer from Grant Shapps

A popular question, Mr Speaker. I thought my hon. Friend was going to rise to discuss the A68 and the Toft Hill bypass, on which I know she has campaigned a lot, but the A66 is in the second road investment strategy—the RIS 2—for the period 2020 to 2025. Earlier this year, I launched the preferred route for the A66. That is completing its analysis, and it will then go for a statutory consultation, so it is moving at pace.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The status of the Rokeby junction issue was not addressed.

How: Popular Question

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Q3 Darren Henry
Transport
Context

The HS2 East Midlands hub will be located in Toton, prompting concern about the commitment to the eastern leg of HS2.

Question

Can my right hon. Friend reaffirm the Government's commitment to the construction of the eastern leg of HS2 to deliver vital jobs and investment into Broxtowe and the wider region?

Answer from Grant Shapps

As the House will know, the eastern leg is called the 2b, and, as the Prime Minister has said from this Dispatch Box, it is not a question of “to be or not to be”—it will be; it will be constructed. I think my hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that, through the integrated rail plan, we will ensure that we can properly connect up the midlands to the north, going up to Leeds on the eastern leg, and do so in a way that now takes into account the many plans that have evolved since HS2 was originally dreamed up 10 or 15 years ago.

Answered
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