Extract from Business Questions - June 28

Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): The Transport Committee, which published its report this morning, says that the

“Government must increase support for regions short-changed on rail spending”.

It also criticises the cancellation of rail electrification schemes. With the cancellation carnage at Transpennine and the already cut-down service under the emergency timetable from Northern Rail, and given that the Prime Minister has not yet responded to the One North campaign by northern newspapers, can the Secretary of State for Transport please come to the House to give a statement about what is happening about rail in the north?

Andrea Leadsom: The hon. Lady is right to speak up for her area. She will recall that the Secretary of State for Transport was here just last week for an Opposition day debate to talk about the rail situation, and he was keen to answer all questions pertaining to rail. We have Transport questions next Thursday, on 5 July, and I encourage her to take this up directly with him then.