MP's Questions

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing a high-speed rail service between Leeds and Manchester via Huddersfield.

Chris Mole (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport): The Department for Transport has not carried out any work to estimate the cost of introducing a high speed rail service between Manchester and Leeds via Huddersfield. High Speed Two has been asked to help consider the case for high speed rail services from London to Scotland and, as a first stage, the company will report by the end of this year with a detailed proposal for a new line between London and the west midlands. High Speed Two will also provide advice on the potential development of a high speed line beyond the west midlands, including the potential for the new line to extend to the conurbations of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the north-east and Scotland.