Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had discussions with the Mayor of Greater Manchester on the proposed Metrolink tram extension to Stockport.

The Mayor has met with Ministers on several occasions this year to discuss various transport issues.

The Department is in regular discussions with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) regarding the region’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme. CRSTS includes funding for transformative local transport projects which Mayoral Combined Authorities can use to deliver Mass Transit schemes based on their own local priorities.

Indicative funding allocations have been published for the second round of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) which covers the period 2027/28 to 2031/32. Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Settlement is worth £2.47 billion which includes a Network North uplift of £928 million. GMCA could choose to use this funding to deliver Mass Transit connectivity to Stockport.