Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government decision to remove the Golborne Link from the HS2 Bill on 6 June 2022, whether the Government intends that any alternative proposal will link HS2 with the West Coast Main Line; and when it intends to bring forward alternative proposals.

The government has confirmed it will look at alternatives which deliver similar benefits to Scotland as the Golborne link, so long as these deliver for the taxpayer within the £96 billion envelope allocated for the Integrated Rail Plan. Options to be explored could range from upgrading existing infrastructure to high speed lines. Any decision to pursue an alternative will be announced at the appropriate time.