Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending Crossrail to Ebbsfleet.

At this crucial stage of the Crossrail project, it is essential that Government remains focused on the full delivery of the current agreed scheme as its priority.

Government is supporting local partners to develop a business case for enhancing transport services between Abbey Wood and Ebbsfleet and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has recently announced that they are providing £4.85 million to develop low-cost proposals, subject to suitable housing ambition.

MHCLG have been clear that any transport enhancements would require a strong final business case with a detailed evidence base that demonstrates that the scheme would be technically feasible, offer value for money (including the identification of funding) and deliver ambitious new housing in the area.