“What recent assessment the Government has made of the effect on the Scottish economy of the devolution of powers to set the rates and bands of income tax payable by Scottish taxpayers.”
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Scotland
Answer from Hansard
The Secretary of State for Transport (Heidi Alexander)
Good, well-run rail services support economic growth. We are investing more than £10 billion over four years to improve the railway, as well as progressing work on major schemes such as HS2, East West Rail and the trans-Pennine route upgrade. Our reforms to establish Great British Railways will drive economic growth, improve services for passengers and reduce the cost of the railway. By providing more frequent and reliable services, Northern Powerhouse Rail will turn cities, including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, and their surrounding areas into a single high-productivity growth corridor.