Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the document entitled Fixing the foundations: Public spending audit 2024-25, published on 29 July 2024, if she will publish the (a) equality impact assessment, (b) strategic environmental assessment and (b) environmental principles assessment produced for the Ministerial decision to cancel the Restoring Your Railway fund.

On 8 July 2024, the Chancellor of the Exchequer instructed HM Treasury officials to undertake a audit of public spending. The audit’s findings showed a forecast overspend on departmental spending of £21.9 billion above the resource departmental expenditure limit (RDEL) totals that had been set at Spring Budget 2024.

Taking immediate action to respond to the spending pressure, the government cancelled the Restoring Your Railway programme as a cost-saving measure of £85 million.

HM Treasury carefully considers the impact of its decisions on those sharing protected characteristics in line with both our legal obligations and with our commitment to promoting fairness.

HM Treasury also carefully considers the environmental impacts of decisions in line with the environmental principles policy statement duty and the recognition of long-term environmental targets to tackle climate change.