§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the costs and benefits of constructing a high speed rail link from north-west England to connect with the proposed channel tunnel rail link.
§ Mr. WattsI have not assessed the costs and benefits of a completely new line. However, on 22 March, I announced the first stage of a £1 billion modernisation of the west coast main line.