Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to fund the project to unblock the Croydon Bottleneck in Control Period 6.

We recognise the need to improve capacity on the Brighton Mainline. Rail enhancements are funded in stages, ensuring that the basis for investment remains sound at each stage in the project life-cycle. The next decision point for this scheme is May 2020 and the allocation of additional funding will depend on a robust business case and local support, including stakeholders and beneficiaries partnering with my Department on funding and integration with other transport modes and the wider public realm.