Sir Gavin Williamson fought for Staffordshire rail during a Parliamentary debate which discussed the use of HS2 funding for Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Sir Gavin supported amendments to the Parliamentary bill for the second phase of HS2, which has now been adapted to push through legislation for Northern Powerhouse Rail to connect Manchester and Liverpool. Sir Gavin raised his concerns that a separate bill for Northern Powerhouse Rail had not been introduced, stating that this would likely lead to a lack of proper scrutiny of the amount of public money used for the project.
The bill has currently allocated £12 billion to the project, but rail experts estimate that in reality, it will cost £16.2 billion. Sir Gavin raised his concern that the project might take up vital funding for the Midlands and the North, suggesting that the current proposals might not deliver the best outcome.
Sir Gavin was also keen to stress that there must be greater examination of the Northern Powerhouse Rail route, which is currently poorly defined.
By not introducing a separate bill for the project, many are concerned that this will provide an opportunity for future governments to re-introduce HS2, a prospect which has caused considerable anxiety for residents in Staffordshire.
Sir Gavin said: “I, like many of my constituents, was relieved to hear the news announcing the cancellation of the second leg of HS2 in October. This provided a great opportunity to invest more effectively in the West Midlands’ rail network. To get the best value for money and deliver the best service for the Midlands and the North, we shouldn’t simply bend the current legislation to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail. We must take time to scrutinise the plans properly.”
