Nonetheless, there is still a need for prioritisation and hard choices, and the proposals set out in the Integrated Rail Plan have already left some towns and cities very disappointed. It is crucial that the Government bases its decisions on how to spend this investment on the fullest possible evidence for what will bring the greatest overall benefit to rail services, to the economy, to the environment and to communities across the North and Midlands.

Nonetheless, there is still a need for prioritisation and hard choices, and the proposals set out in the Integrated Rail Plan have already left some towns and cities very disappointed. It is crucial that the Government bases its decisions on how to spend this investment on the fullest possible evidence for what will bring the greatest overall benefit to rail services, to the economy, to the environment and to communities across the North and Midlands. Type: conclusion | Number: 2 | Paragraph: 5 | Response status: accepted Government response: The Government accepts the rationale for this recommendation, although again the work will take longer than the suggested timeframes. It will continue to provide updated economic assessments of HS2 at key decision points for the programme, as has been done to date. The Government intends to provide