Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 30
8th Report - Northern Powerhouse Rail
Published 1 Jul 2026
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Northern Powerhouse Rail All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We asked how the programme’s strategic case would recognise the wider social benefits of investments, and how decisions would prioritise catalysing growth (such as in Bradford) rather than generating marginal gains in already strong economies (such as in Leeds and Manchester). The Treasury’s Northern Growth Envoy explained that the new Green Book approach would take into account the “transformational” effect of the rail improvements for Bradford’s residents, “particularly those young people who are looking for jobs”.65 62 Qq 35, 37 and 54-55 63 Q 11 64 Q 11 65 Qq 12-13 16
From: Public Accounts Committee, 8th Report - Northern Powerhouse Rail (HC 97), 1 July 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 14 September 2026 (deadline 1 September 2026).