Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the extent to which (a) funding and (b) other commitments for the new West Yorkshire mass transit system referenced on page 25 of the policy paper entitled Network North, published on 4 October 2023, are additional to those committed to under the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements.
Answered by Huw Merriman
Following the announcement of Network North, and as set out here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/city-region-sustainable-transport-settlements-2/network-north-crsts2-indicative-allocations-4-october-2023 the second round of City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS2) indicative allocations for West Yorkshire Combined Authority were uplifted from £1.326bn to £2.115bn, an additional £789m as a result of savings from the cancellation of phase 2 of HS2. £500m of CRSTS2 funding is expected to go towards the delivery of the West Yorkshire mass transit system.
Network North also announced an additional £2bn of funding to be made available to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority from CRSTS3 and beyond, as a result of savings from the cancellation of phase 2 of HS2. We expect this funding will enable the authority to deliver Phase 1 of West Yorkshire Mass Transit.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the (a) total cost and (b) completion date of the proposed A75 upgrade programme.
Answered by Guy Opperman
As you will appreciate, transport matters relating to the A75 in Scotland are devolved to the Scottish Government. Nevertheless, the UK Government’s Transport Ministers and Department for Transport’s officials regularly engage with their Scottish counterparts on the recommendations made by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review. This has resulted in the UK Government committing to providing up to £8m funding support to the Scottish Government for a detailed study to identify options for the realignment of the A75 around Springholm and Crocketford. In addition, as part of its Network North announcement, the UK Government committed to funding targeted improvements to the A75 which will be subject to the Scottish Government’s business cases at various stages throughout the process. Costs of any such scheme and associated delivery timescales will be explored as part of the Scottish Government's business cases development.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) completion date of the proposed A38 Somerset road improvement scheme.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The latest cost estimate provided to the Department for this scheme is £30.95 million. It has an expected completion date of January 2026.
However, whether the scheme progresses to the next phase will be dependant upon whether the Full Business Case is approved by Ministers, subsequent to an assessment and advice from officials.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the A75 upgrade programme has entered the Road Improvement Strategy (a) programme and (b) development stage; whether formal approvals have been granted; and whether it will progress into the next strategy phase.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The A75 is in Scotland. The Road Investment Strategy relates to England.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the policy paper entitled Network North, published on 4 October 2023, whether the 10 new smaller Midlands road projects have entered the Road Improvement Strategy (a) programme and (b) development stage; whether formal approvals have been granted; and whether it will progress into the next strategy phase.
Answered by Guy Opperman
All of these schemes are being promoted for consideration for potential funding as part of the Department’s Major Road Network/ Large Local Majors (MRN/ LLM) programme. None of the schemes will form part of the Government's Road Investment Strategy.
The position with each scheme is set out in the following table:
Scheme name | Cost | Completion date | Next business case stage |
A511 Growth Corridor | £62.72m | January 2027 | Full Business Case |
A614/A6097 Corridor scheme | £34.44m | December 2026 | Full Business Case |
North Hykeham Relief Road | £193.71m | November 2028 | Full Business Case |
A509 Isham Bypass | £111.31m | December 2027 | Outline Business Case |
Chesterfield – Staveley Regeneration Route | £166.40m | November 2027 | Outline Business Case |
A43 Northampton – Kettering phase 3 | £28.58m | June 2028 | Strategic Outline Case |
Shrewsbury North Western Relief Road | Tbc – subject to Shropshire Council’s procurement exercise | October 2026 | Full Business Case |
A4123 Birchley Island | £30.13m | December 2026 | Full Business Case |
A426/A4071 Avon Mill/Hunters Lane improvements | £24.28m | August 2026 | Outline Business Case |
A454 between Wolverhampton and East Park Gateway | £53.38m | September 2027 | Outline Business Case |
The table provides the latest cost estimate and completion date provided to the Department. These may be subject to change.
A conditional offer of funding for a scheme is made by the Department upon approval of an Outline Business Case. Final confirmation of funding is made upon approval of a Final Business Case.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 32 of Network North, published on 4 October 2023, what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) completion date of the 10 smaller road schemes in the Midlands.
Answered by Guy Opperman
All of these schemes are being promoted for consideration for potential funding as part of the Department’s Major Road Network/ Large Local Majors (MRN/ LLM) programme. None of the schemes will form part of the Government's Road Investment Strategy.
The position with each scheme is set out in the following table:
Scheme name | Cost | Completion date | Next business case stage |
A511 Growth Corridor | £62.72m | January 2027 | Full Business Case |
A614/A6097 Corridor scheme | £34.44m | December 2026 | Full Business Case |
North Hykeham Relief Road | £193.71m | November 2028 | Full Business Case |
A509 Isham Bypass | £111.31m | December 2027 | Outline Business Case |
Chesterfield – Staveley Regeneration Route | £166.40m | November 2027 | Outline Business Case |
A43 Northampton – Kettering phase 3 | £28.58m | June 2028 | Strategic Outline Case |
Shrewsbury North Western Relief Road | Tbc – subject to Shropshire Council’s procurement exercise | October 2026 | Full Business Case |
A4123 Birchley Island | £30.13m | December 2026 | Full Business Case |
A426/A4071 Avon Mill/Hunters Lane improvements | £24.28m | August 2026 | Outline Business Case |
A454 between Wolverhampton and East Park Gateway | £53.38m | September 2027 | Outline Business Case |
The table provides the latest cost estimate and completion date provided to the Department. These may be subject to change.
A conditional offer of funding for a scheme is made by the Department upon approval of an Outline Business Case. Final confirmation of funding is made upon approval of a Final Business Case.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the A10 Ely-Cambridge improvement scheme has entered the Road Improvement Strategy (a) programme and (b) development stage; whether formal approvals have been granted; and whether it will progress into the next strategy phase.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The A10 Ely to Cambridge improvement scheme is being promoted by Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for consideration for potential funding as part of the Department’s Major Road Network / Large Local Majors (MRN / LLM) programme. It would not form part of the Government's Road Investment Strategy.
The promoters are currently developing an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the scheme which they expect to submit to the Department in August for a decision on whether to approve it and provide conditional support for the scheme as part of the MRN/ LLM programme.
The latest scheme cost estimate and completion date provided to the Department are £234 million and September 2030 respectively. Naturally, this cost estimate and completion date may be subject to change.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) completion date of the proposed A10 Ely-Cambridge road project.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The A10 Ely to Cambridge improvement scheme is being promoted by Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for consideration for potential funding as part of the Department’s Major Road Network / Large Local Majors (MRN / LLM) programme. It would not form part of the Government's Road Investment Strategy.
The promoters are currently developing an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the scheme which they expect to submit to the Department in August for a decision on whether to approve it and provide conditional support for the scheme as part of the MRN/ LLM programme.
The latest scheme cost estimate and completion date provided to the Department are £234 million and September 2030 respectively. Naturally, this cost estimate and completion date may be subject to change.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish a formal response to the Pathway to net zero aviation: Developing the UK sustainable aviation fuel mandate consultation.
Answered by Anthony Browne
Following the close of the consultation in September 2023, the department has made significant progress in updating the evidence base and finalising the design of the Mandate. I can confirm that the government response will be published in spring 2024.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made towards its aim of having at least five sustainable aviation fuel plants in production by 2025.
Answered by Anthony Browne
Government and industry have a shared ambition to see at least five sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plants under construction by 2025. There are currently two commercial-scale SAF plants operational or under construction in the UK, Phillips66 and Kew. We are supporting the development of the industry by driving demand through a SAF mandate which will be introduced in 2025, requiring at least 10% of jet fuel to be from sustainable sources by 2030. Government has awarded 13 potential SAF projects a share of £135m through the Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF), to support them to reach commercial scale. Government has also committed to consult on a revenue certainty mechanism to further support the industry.