Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will devolve management of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project to Transport for the North.

The Government has set up Transport for the North and is providing it with funding to develop Northern Powerhouse Rail proposals which improve journeys for transport users and provide good value for taxpayers’ money.

I am expecting to receive costed proposals with relevant business cases from TfN soon. The expectation is that any major proposals would be dependent on central Government funding. Therefore the Government must retain an approval role, ensuring that proposals are affordable and represent good value for taxpayers’ money.

It is in all of our interests that the Government and the North work collaboratively to improve transport in the region and we have an expectation that TfN will continue to work with the Department in developing its options.