Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits for (a) housing supply and (b) the Government's levelling up agenda of introducing a Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham rail link.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Midlands Connect has developed a strategic outline business case for reinstating direct rail links between Coventry and Leicester/Nottingham. This includes consideration of the benefits regarding housing supply and contribution to the levelling up agenda.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with local leaders on the (a) contribution to the economy of building the Midlands Rail Hub and (b) the impact of that matter on local communities.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Secretary of State regularly meets with local leaders to discuss transport issues in their areas.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect of Midlands Rail Hub on (a) levelling up towns and cities in the Midlands and (b) the economies of (i) the East Midlands, (ii) Leicestershire and (iii) Leicester.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Following release of funding in July 2020, Network Rail is developing an Outline Business Case for the Midlands Rail Hub which will consider the impact of the scheme on the economy and productivity of the region.
The recently published Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) sets out the long-term plan for rail investment in the North of England and the Midlands, the development of the proposals for the MRH will now need to reflect the recommendations set out in the IRP.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits for communities and housing supply of delivering Midlands Rail Hub improvements.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Network Rail is developing an Outline Business Case for the Midlands Rail Hub. This will consider the contribution of the scheme to the Government's housing growth agenda in communities that will be served by Midlands Rail Hub.
The recently published Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) sets out the long-term plan for rail investment in the North of England and the Midlands, the development of the proposals for the MRH will now need to reflect the recommendations set out in the IRP.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, dependent on a positive business case, when construction of the Leicester Station four-tracking scheme would commence.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Following Network Rail’s publication of Strategic Advice for improving capacity in the Leicester area, which identified a suite of interventions for improvements at Leicester including four-tracking south of the station, they will now produce a Strategic Outline Business Case. We expect to receive the business case by Spring 2022, and it will include proposed delivery dates for the phasing of possible interventions.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for a decision on proposals to four-track Leicester Station.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Network Rail will be producing a Strategic Outline Business Case for the suite of interventions identified in their Leicester Strategic Area Advice to accommodate future growth. The business case will consider enhancement proposals including four-tracking to the south of Leicester Station and we expect the case to be submitted to the Department for assessment in Spring 2022.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Midlands Connect on a direct rail connection between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham as part of the Midlands Rail Hub project.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Officials have been in discussion with Midlands Connect and Network Rail regarding proposals for new infrastructure, which would allow direct services between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham. A strategic outline business case is being developed by Midlands Connect, and we expect to receive it in Spring 2021.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to introduce quadruple-track railway at Leicester station; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Following Network Rail’s publication of the Strategic Advice for improving capacity in the Leicester area, they are working on a business case for a suite of interventions which could deliver the enhancements required in the area. Quadruple-tracking is one of the options that Network Rail is considering. Network Rail is producing a Strategic Outline Business Case for the first part of the scheme which we expect to receive by Summer 2021.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to work with airlines to provide refunds for customers who have been forced to cancel holidays as a result of local covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The department is in regular contact with industry and has encouraged businesses to act fairly during this unprecedented event. Whether a consumer is entitled to a refund will depend on the terms and conditions of the contract in place. Consumers are encouraged to first contact travel providers or accommodation providers for reimbursement. In the next instance, credit card providers may be able to provide a refund under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 if the payment was made by credit card.