Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider the current methods of assessing the benefits of major railway investment schemes, such as the recent proposals by Midland Connect, to be appropriate.

The approach recommended to assess benefits from rail investment schemes is set out in the Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG), which is based on HMT’s Green Book Guidance. Together, they set out the best practice guidance on assessing and evaluating policies, programmes and projects. The guidance is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new evidence.

The Department has been working closely with the scheme promoters of Midlands Connect proposals to ensure that the analysis of benefits is appropriate and proportionate for the state it is at.