Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral contribution of 16 May 2018, Official Report, column 303, what plans his Department has to fund the first phase of the Metro West project, and (a) reopening of (b) the Portishead to Bristol line.

MetroWest is a third party promoted scheme in development by Network Rail. The Government has provided funding for the West of England Growth Deal which includes £53m for Metro West Phase 1. The Department will continue to work closely with the local councils in developing the scheme.