Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the paper entitled Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands, CP 490, published on 18 November 2021, what recent assessment he has made of the potential economic merits of the proposed HS2 route to the north of Wales.

By improving regional connectivity, the Integrated Rail Plan will unify labour markets, so that people can access a much wider range of jobs; bring businesses closer together; and improve access to key international gateways and markets so they become even more attractive locations for business investment. Crewe Northern Connection would significantly improve connections from North Wales to the HS2 network, bringing many North Wales passengers within 2 hours 15 minutes of London.