Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with local authority leaders in Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham on the potential restoration of a rail link between those cities.

The Secretary of State regularly meets with local authority leaders to discuss transport issues in their areas.

Midlands Connect has prepared an Outline Strategic Business Case for the Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham scheme, and I contributed to the launch event for this proposal by video early this year.

The recently published Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) sets out the long-term plan for rail investment in the North of England and the Midlands, the Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham proposal will need to be considered with reference to the recommendations set out in the IRP.