Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that people in Coventry benefit from High Speed Two.

HS2 will result in increased availability of seats for passengers travelling from Coventry to other inter-city destinations, and will also release capacity on existing routes in the West Midlands for additional local and regional commuter services.

HS2 will also form the backbone of the Midlands Rail Hub which will further strengthen connectivity between Coventry and cities of the Midlands and provide greater access to HS2 services.

I will ensure that HS2 Ltd continues to support Local Growth and Transport plans which maximise regeneration opportunities and improve connectivity between HS2 and other regional and national transport modes to enable quick and easy access to high speed services.

The West Midlands will be at the heart of the new high-speed rail network and my Department and HS2 Ltd will continue to work with regional stakeholders to ensure that the region, including Coventry, achieves the full potential of HS2.