Markus Campbell-Savours MP asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for reassurance that the north of England and Cumbria would see the investment it deserves when it comes to the decision over the A66 Northern Trans Pennine Project.
This week Markus Campbell-Savours MP has been pressing the Government to upgrade the A66 between Penrith and the A1.
On Tuesday he pressed the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the economic importance of the scheme for his constituents in Penrith and Solway.
Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith and Solway asked:
“Mr Speaker, on Thursday, I am grateful to have secured an adjournment debate on the A66 Road Improvement Project, a key transport link between Cumbria, the North East and North Yorkshire. Cumbria is a long way from Westminster, and many of us fear that the economic case for major projects is stacked in favour of the economically active south-east. Can the Chancellor reassure me that Cumbria will not be disadvantaged when key public spending decisions are taken?”
In response, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, replied:
“I thank my honourable friend for that question. He is a staunch defender of his constituency and also of his region. We’ll be making decisions at the Spending Review which we will publish on the 11th of June. But as a proud Northern MP myself, I am absolutely determined to ensure that the North gets its fair share of investment.”
Markus asks Rachel Reeves for reassurance that the government will invest public funds in Cumbria
On Thursday he secured an Adjournment Debate to further make the case in the House of Commons and Lillian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary-Under Secretary at the Department of Transport responded for the Government.
You can watch the whole half hour debate here:
https://youtu.be/WkridU7Eh2k?si=YBLK-cL3ZupKn1k8
Here’s Hansard:
A decision on the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project will be made by the Government as part of the Spending Review on 11 June.