Trams: Leeds and West Yorkshire

Fabian Hamilton, the Labour MP for Leeds North East, asked the Minister of State for Transport what steps the government is taking to support proposals for a tram system in Leeds and West Yorkshire. The Minister, Simon Lightwood, responded that the Secretary of State has met with the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, to discuss the importance of mass transit in delivering sustainable economic growth and improving connectivity in the region. The Department for Transport is working in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to support the development of their business case for a mass transit system. In a follow-up, Fabian Hamilton noted that Leeds is the largest city in Europe without a rail-based public transport system, and that plans for mass transit networks in West Yorkshire are essential for jobs and the local economy. He congratulated the Mayor of West Yorkshire on her plans to build a tram network in Leeds in the near future. The Minister acknowledged that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been allocated £200 million in government funding to develop a new mass transit system, including £160 million from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and £40 million from the Integrated Rail Plan. He commended the hard work and determination of the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, in her efforts to create a better connected region. Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, intervened to ask the Minister to ensure that any mass transit system in Leeds connects with places across the border, such as Harrogate, to take a combined approach for the entire region. The Minister acknowledged Gordon's contribution and said he would share it with colleagues in the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Sir Alec Shelbrooke, the Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, also spoke, noting that his constituency, like Fabian Hamilton's, does not have a train station. Shelbrooke expressed excitement about the mass transit system in Leeds, which he has campaigned on for years, and said it would be a transformative endeavour for the region. However, he criticised the Labour Party's history of not delivering mass transit projects in Leeds. The Minister responded by reminding Shelbrooke that the Conservatives were in government for 14 years, and that this government is now working quickly to deliver on the Mayor of West Yorkshire's objectives.