Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will release Outline Business Case funding to enable Network Rail and Midlands Connect to progress the Coventry-Leicester-Nottingham rail improvement scheme.

Although unable to discuss individual projects at this time, the Government is now focusing our investment on rail infrastructure in the Midlands and the North. This will help deliver on the Government’s ambition to grow and level up the economy and provide equality of opportunity.

We remain committed to publishing the RNEP update, which has been delayed by the need to take account of the impacts of the pandemic and the Spending Review. We want to provide as much clarity and certainty as possible on rail enhancements and will set out our plans shortly.