Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the £2.1bn funding commitment for the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme remains fully allocated to the project following the programme reset.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.
WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026
As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role the Rail Minister has been given in overseeing the West Yorkshire mass transit project following the recent review.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.
WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026
As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking with mayoral combined authorities to deliver large-scale transport infrastructure.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Eligible Mayoral Combined Authorities are in receipt of £5.7 billion of funding through the City Regions Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) programme, running for a five-year period from April 2022 to March 2027. This devolved funding affords Mayors the ability to develop and implement large scale transport interventions that most benefit their areas.
Following the Summer Spending Review, £15.6 billion of devolved funding was confirmed to provide Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlements for the nine eligible Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) from the period April 2027 to March 2032.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if their Department will publish an Ethnicity Pay Gap Report for financial year 2023-24 in line with the Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting guidance for employers published on 17 April 2023.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department is working with Civil Service HR colleagues and other government departments to work through the details of the Ethnicity Pay Gap reporting guidance that was published on 17 April 2023.
In line with Gender Pay Gap Reporting, the Civil Service is looking to develop a consistent methodology to be used in departments to produce the data.
The outcomes of this development work will inform whether the Department is able to publish a report for 2023/2024.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2022, CP 751, published on 17 November 2022, whether the commitment to core Northern Powerhouse Rail will include a high-speed rail stop in Bradford.
Answered by Huw Merriman
As confirmed by the Autumn Statement, the Government is committed to delivering the Northern Powerhouse Rail core network set out in the Integrated Rail Plan. We are looking at opportunities and plans for Bradford station and how to connect Bradford up better.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is still his Department's policy that Northern Powerhouse Rail will include a new station in Bradford city centre.
Answered by Huw Merriman
In November 2021, Government published the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands which committed £17.2bn to a core NPR network between Liverpool and York and Bradford and Leeds. We will assess the case for a new station at Bradford and will engage closely with local leaders and MPs on the next steps for the project.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is still his Department's policy to proceed with the Northern Powerhouse Rail project.
Answered by Huw Merriman
In November 2021, Government published the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands which committed £17.2bn to a core NPR network between Liverpool and York and Bradford and Leeds. We will assess the case for a new station at Bradford and will engage closely with local leaders and MPs on the next steps for the project.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Northern Powerhouse Rail will include a new station in Bradford city centre.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Prime Minister has made clear the Government’s commitment to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, including a stop in Bradford. Plans will be set out in due course including potential opportunities for acceleration.
We will engage closely with local leaders and MPs in reaching detailed decisions on the options to deliver this.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it remains her Department's policy to proceed with the Northern Powerhouse Rail project.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Prime Minister has made clear the Government’s commitment to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, including a stop in Bradford. Plans will be set out in due course including potential opportunities for acceleration.
We will engage closely with local leaders and MPs in reaching detailed decisions on the options to deliver this.