Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of cancelling HS2 Phase 2 on future levels of road traffic between Birmingham and Manchester.

This Government is committed to alleviating congestions on our country’s roads. Through Network North we will progress major road schemes aimed at helping Manchester – such as the M6 south of Manchester to Birmingham, which includes improvements to Junction 15.

This junction is a key economic artery and improvements will aim to ease congestion and improve connectively between the Midlands and the North- West.