To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the Mayor of (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the West Midlands on steps to improve rail connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester.

The Secretary of State and I met with the Mayors of the West Midlands and Greater Manchester on 31 January to discuss proposals to improve rail connectivity between the West Midlands and Manchester. The position on cancelling HS2 Phase 2 has not changed. We are already getting on with using the savings from HS2 Phase 2 to deliver Network North which will benefit more people in more places more quickly.