Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) delivery milestones, (b) timeframe and (c) benefit cost ratio are for upgrading the Energy Coast Line between Carlisle, Workington and Barrow as part of Network North.

The Government is committed to delivering all of these schemes and is in the early stages of planning next steps, including delivery timelines, working closely with Network Rail and other partners. I have undertaken extensive engagement with local leaders on these schemes including recent visits to West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Manchester.

All schemes will be subject to the development and approval of business cases and will undergo all formal governance, in line with relevant fiscal and legal duties.

Benefit Cost Ratios (BCRs) within the economic case are only one element of decision-making on schemes and should be considered alongside the other cases in the five case business model used in Government (strategic, economic, financial, commercial and management cases). We do not routinely make BCRs available.