Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Shrewsbury-Black Country-Birmingham Railway

Thursday 30 June 2022 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial assessment of the Shrewsbury-Black Country-Birmingham railway line's impact on local employment, training, and education is expected to be provided in a strategic outline business case from Midlands Connect in July 2022.
  • Daniel Kawczynski asked for the Secretary of State to use her good offices to agree on funding for the outline business case to increase line speed between Shrewsbury and Birmingham.
  • The Secretary of State expressed readiness to meet with stakeholders to discuss the rail project's implications for levelling up and growing the economy across the country.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Daniel Kawczynski Con
Education Employment Transport
Context

The potential economic benefits of upgrading railway infrastructure are under consideration.

Question

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of updating and improving the Shrewsbury-Black Country-Birmingham railway line on employment, training and educational opportunities for people in local communities?

Answer from Wendy Morton

We are expecting to receive a strategic outline business case from Midlands Connect in July, which I hope will set out the potential impacts of this scheme on employment, training and education.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific details about the assessment conducted or its findings.

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Q2 Daniel Kawczynski Con
Economy Transport
Context

The upgrading and improving of railway infrastructure is being discussed for its economic benefits.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. As she says, a business case is going in to her Department in July to increase the line speed between Shrewsbury and Birmingham, which could be done by 2025 if signed off quickly. Will she use her good offices to agree the funding for the outline business case, so that we can finally level up for Shropshire with connectivity and speed to our regional capital, Birmingham?

Answer from Wendy Morton

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that rail projects such as this are a vital way of levelling up and growing the economy right across every part of the country. I look forward to receiving the business case next month, and I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend and stakeholders to discuss the scheme further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to agreeing funding for the outline business case or provide a specific timeline for action.

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