Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, under what circumstances Phase 5 of the South West Rail Resilience Programme would receive funding.

We are continuing to fund drainage and ground investigations that will provide Network Rail with detailed data on the stability of the cliffs above that section of route and will inform their consideration of a proposal for a long-term solution in due course.

The project will be kept under active review as part of our longer-term pipeline of schemes, for further consideration when funding discussions are being held and we have a clear proposal for a long-term solution.