Written questions by Farron.

Whether he will instruct National Highways to meet with BWB Consulting and Kier in an engineer-to-engineer review of proposals for temporary slip roads at Junction 38 of the M6.

National Highways has facilitated discussions between BWB Consulting and Kier engineers, including a meeting held on 17 December 2025 to review proposals for temporary slip roads at Junction 38. A further update on temporary slip roads will be provided at the Stakeholder Engagement Group meeting at the end of January 2026.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of closing Junction 38 of the M6 during the Lune Gorge bridge replacement works on local businesses.

This Government, working in close partnership with National Highways, is fully committed to this project being delivered in a way that minimises disruption to road users, businesses and local communities. National Highways has undertaken assessments to understand the impact this work will have on the region including an assessment of the impact on traffic flows of the proposed traffic management arrangements. National Highways is also reviewing a detailed feasibility report of proposals for Junction 38 which was provided last year. The review is expected to conclude in January 2026.

When any assessment by National Highways of temporary slip roads at Junction 38 of the M6 was undertaken; and whether the findings of that assessment informed the current construction programme.

National Highways first assessed the potential for temporary slip roads during the project’s optioneering stage in 2019. Further consideration took place during early design development, and the option was not taken forward at that time due to spatial constraints, value for money considerations, the need for significant lane and speed restrictions, and the likelihood of a costly extension to the overall construction period. In 2025, following engagement with local stakeholders, National Highways committed to revisit this option, with a feasibility exercise carried out in August 2025. This re-considered the option of temporary slip roads. The exercise supported the conclusions during the early design phase; specifically, that temporary slip roads were unsuitable due to the space needed to construct the bridge decks, as well as representing poor value for money. During 2025, the programme has also assessed a wide range of options to improve connectivity, and this resulted in the decision to defer work on Lawtland House bridge to a future date, improving local connectivity during the construction period. When National Highways presented their findings from the feasibility exercise, a revised construction methodology was submitted by BWB Consulting on behalf of local stakeholders in October 2025. National Highways has committed to review this proposal from BWB consulting to see if it has presented an alternative viable solution. The review will conclude in January 2026.

Whether National Highways undertook a detailed assessment of the potential to construct temporary slip roads to allow Junction 38 of the M6 (northbound and southbound) to remain open for the duration of the Lune Gorge bridge replacement works; and whether that assessment was completed before the current construction programme was designed and approved.

National Highways first assessed the potential for temporary slip roads during the project’s optioneering stage in 2019. Further consideration took place during early design development, and the option was not taken forward at that time due to spatial constraints, value for money considerations, the need for significant lane and speed restrictions, and the likelihood of a costly extension to the overall construction period. The construction programme and design was then taken forward on that basis. In 2025, following engagement with local stakeholders, National Highways committed to revisit this option, with a feasibility exercise carried out in August 2025. This re-considered the option of temporary slip roads. The exercise supported the conclusions during the early design phase; specifically, that temporary slip roads were unsuitable due to the space needed to construct the bridge decks, as well as representing poor value for money. During 2025, the programme assessed a wide range of options to improve connectivity, and resulted in the decision to defer work on Lawtland House bridge to a future date, improving local connectivity during the construction period. When National Highways presented their findings from the feasibility exercise, a revised construction methodology was submitted by BWB Consulting on behalf of local stakeholders in October 2025. National Highways has committed to review this proposal from BWB consulting to see if it has presented an alternative viable solution. The review will conclude in January 2026.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of allocating funding to Westmorland and Furness Council for buses in rural areas for funding periods of more than 12 months.

The Government knows how important, reliable bus services are enabling people to access education, work and vital services, and we are committed to delivering better bus services, including in Cumbria and rural areas right across the country. The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Westmoreland and Furness Council has been allocated £4.2 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. The Government recognises the importance of providing local authorities with the certainty they need to plan and provide effective bus services, which is why we have committed to delivering longer-term funding settlements. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review, confirming additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027. We are currently reviewing the formula used to allocate the Local Authority Bus Grant for 2025/26 to ensure bus funding is allocated as fairly as possible in future years. Individual multi-year allocations for local authorities will be announced later this year. Cumbria has been allocated additional funding as one of the areas taking part in the bus franchising pilots. The pilots will test approximately 5 different franchising models to investigate how they can be implemented and deliver improved bus services for passengers, including in more rural locations. The pilots will provide funding, guidance, and practical resources to local transport authorities to identify the most suitable approach to bus franchising and wider bus reform measures.

What steps she is taking to increase bus provision for rural communities in Cumbria.

The Government knows how important, reliable bus services are enabling people to access education, work and vital services, and we are committed to delivering better bus services, including in Cumbria and rural areas right across the country. The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Westmoreland and Furness Council has been allocated £4.2 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. The Government recognises the importance of providing local authorities with the certainty they need to plan and provide effective bus services, which is why we have committed to delivering longer-term funding settlements. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review, confirming additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027. We are currently reviewing the formula used to allocate the Local Authority Bus Grant for 2025/26 to ensure bus funding is allocated as fairly as possible in future years. Individual multi-year allocations for local authorities will be announced later this year. Cumbria has been allocated additional funding as one of the areas taking part in the bus franchising pilots. The pilots will test approximately 5 different franchising models to investigate how they can be implemented and deliver improved bus services for passengers, including in more rural locations. The pilots will provide funding, guidance, and practical resources to local transport authorities to identify the most suitable approach to bus franchising and wider bus reform measures.

What plans she has to improve accessibility at Staveley railway station.

This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since 2006, the Access for All (AfA) programme has delivered step free access at more than 270 stations across Britain. In 2022, the previous government sought nominations from train operators and transport authorities for potential upgrades through the AfA programme. Staveley station was not nominated.The hon member may wish to engage with Northern Trains and the local transport authority to make that case that Staveley station is a priority in any future rounds of funding.

If she will take steps with her Scottish counterpart to help prevent issues on the railways in Scotland that cause northbound trains on the West Coast Mainline to terminate at Preston rather than continuing up to Carlisle.

The Secretary of State is aware of difficulties passengers face during disruption in the North-West of England with limited options to keep services moving on the West Coast Mainline north of Preston. The Rail Minister has strongly pressed Network Rail and Avanti West Coast, requesting that they urgently work together to come up with solutions for passengers during disruption. Network Rail is undertaking an upgrade programme on the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe to improve the performance and reliability of the railway. This section of the route was last upgraded in the 1970s and suffers from performance issues today.

Whether she has taken recent steps to implement a passing loop on the Lakes Line.

On 8 July, the Secretary of State announced the road and rail schemes which have been prioritised over the next four years following the Spending Review. The Lakes Line scheme has not been progressed at this time. We remain committed to working with Westmorland & Furness Council, should the business case be further developed locally.

Whether she plans to include the Lakes Line Passing Loop in the next Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline announcement.

On 8 July, the Secretary of State announced the road and rail schemes which have been prioritised over the next four years following the Spending Review. The Lakes Line scheme has not been progressed at this time. We remain committed to working with Westmorland & Furness Council, should the business case be further developed locally.

What steps she is taking to reduce train delays on the West Coast Mainline.

Improving rail performance is one of this Government’s strategic priorities for transport. We are determined to deliver more punctual and reliable services as well as better value for money for the taxpayer. In response to our challenge to improve performance, the rail industry has set out a Performance Restoration Framework, with five clear areas of focus to recover performance to acceptable levels, including timetable resilience, staffing and how to keep trains moving during disruptive events. Avanti West Coast (AWC) is beginning to see consistent and steady performance improvements on the network. However, there is still more to do with punctuality behind the industry average and Network Rail infrastructure reliability continuing to be a leading cause of passenger disruption on the West Coast Mainline. The Rail Minister is in regular contact with the AWC Managing Director and Network Rail, to challenge poor performance and demand immediate action to deliver urgent improvements.

When she plans to seek new nominations for another round of mid-tier Access for All funding.

Spending Review 2025 confirmed £280m total funding for the Access for All programme over a four-year period. Our focus is on delivering full step free access at stations, rather than the smaller scale upgrades previously delivered under the mid-tier. As such, we have no current plans to fund a future round of mid-tier projects.

If she will include the Lakes Line Passing Loop in the next Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.

We believe the Local Transport Authority can best determine whether this project meets their local needs. The Department will continue to support development work on this scheme, should local budgets be prioritised.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to publish the next Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline on the timescale for future rail investment.

The Department is taking decisions to progress the schemes that have the greatest potential to unlock growth only once we are confident that they will deliver it. The time taken to undertake this work has no impact on the timescales for future rail investments. I know that stakeholders and industry want to know what is in our rail investments pipeline and want more visibility of our forward plans of work. I will continue to announce details of schemes as decisions are taken, just as we did at the Budget for East West Rail and Transpennine Route Upgrade.

What her Department's planned timetable is for announcing the next Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.

The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) is an essential part of how we are kickstarting economic growth. By building a modern railway network we can make a difference to passengers, taxpayers and communities across the country, and by investing around £2bn in the RNEP portfolio is how we will do that. I know that stakeholders and industry want to know what is in our pipeline and want more visibility of our forward plans of work. We will continue to announce details of schemes as decisions are taken, just as we did at the Budget for East West Rail and Transpennine Route Upgrade.

When she plans to make funding available to complete accessibility work at Ulverston station.

In May 2024, the previous government agreed the publication of a list of 50 additional stations selected for initial feasibility work, which included Ulverston railway station. We are in the early stages of understanding the full implications of the Spending Review for the Access for All programme and other rail projects and will engage with stakeholders in due course.We are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

When she plans to announce the outcomes of the Access For All mid-tier scheme.

We have not currently sought new nominations for another round of mid-tier Access for All funding since 2020 and the successful outcomes were announced by the previous Government at the time. We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. We are in the early stages of understanding the full implications of the Spending Review for the Access for All programme and will update stakeholders in due course.

If she will publish the risk management plan for the M6 Lune Gorge structures project.

The M6 Lune Gorge structures project Risk Management Plan is a working document owned by National Highways. Therefore, it is not available for publication.

If she will publish a record of all full deck replacements of s-joint bridges in England.

National Highways have advised that the below half-joint structures are planned to have a full deck replacement: (this is assuming that the reference to a s-joint structure is similar to that of National Highways definition of half-joint structure) A47 Great Ouse - Kings LynnM67 St Annes RoadM53 Upton RoadM53 Clatterbridge NorthM53 Clatterbridge SouthM53 Raby Hall RoadM6 TebayM6 Castle HoweM6 RoundthwaiteM6 JeffreysM6/A685 Lawtland House RlyM6 Borrowbeck ViaductM6 High Gill NorthM6 High Gill SouthM6 Galloper WellA27 Pook LaneA21 Old Cock footbridge

If she will provide additional funding for Westmorland and Furness Council to maintain cycleways.

The Government takes the condition of local highway assets, including roads and cycleways, very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. As a local highway authority, Westmorland and Furness Council is responsible for the condition of all parts of its local highway network, including cycleways and footways. In the current financial year, the Department has provided over £20.7 million of highway maintenance funding to Westmorland and Furness Council to enable it to maintain all parts of its local highway network. Highways maintenance funding allocations for 2025/26 will be announced shortly. Active travel capital funding allocations for local authorities in 2024/25, will also be announced in due course.