Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has told GB News that giving the go-ahead for 50 road and rail upgrade schemes is aimed at "getting the economy growing".
Hailing an "important day" for the nation's infrastructure, Alexander was grilled by host Miriam Cates on "where the money was coming from" to fund the schemes.
Speaking to GB News, Alexander said: "We're green-lighting about 50 rail and road upgrades across the country.
"Some of the schemes that have had uncertainty hanging over them for a number of years have now been given the go-ahead."
"We are reopening a rail station at Portishead, there's going to be a new station at Haxby in Yorkshire, which is on the York-Scarborough line, two new stations as well in Devon, at places called Wellington and Cullompton," Alexander confirmed.
Heidi Alexander was quizzed on Labour's funding for the 50 newly announced rail and road projects
GB News
Questioning where the funding has come from, host Miriam Cates quizzed Alexander: "I'm sure people will be delighted that these schemes are going ahead.
"Some of them have been in the planning for a decade or more, but nevertheless, it does draw attention to the amount of money that this is going to cost.
"We know that the Government is short of money, or rather, the taxpayer is short of money.
"How are these things going to be funded given last week's lack of vote to save money on welfare. Where is the money going to come from for these schemes?"
Alexander responded: "The Chancellor committed £92billion of capital spending for transport infrastructure in the spending review.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed £92billion of capital spending for transport infrastructure in the Spending Review
PA"Now, some of that is the really big schemes that, for example, HS2 between London and Birmingham, East West Rail, the trans-Pennine route upgrade between Manchester and York.
"But she was able to take long-term decisions in the national interest to invest in assets where we are going to yield the benefits over many years and decades to come."
She added: "And so these are one-off capital schemes. It's not that day-to-day revenue spending, and it's completely the right thing to do to invest in transport infrastructure in order to get the economy growing.
"Because if we can get businesses thriving, then obviously that's good for the exchequer in terms of tax receipts, and that means money available to invest in public services in the NHS and schools, which we know are people's priorities."
Alexander told GB News that the schemes are part of the Government's 'plan for change'
GB News
Alexander outlined the economic benefits of the infrastructure programme, emphasising job creation and improved connectivity.
She said: "Not only will this lead to tens of thousands of new jobs in the construction process, it will also link people to centres of economic activity, and it will also unlock development sites where new homes can be built.
"Because as part of this Government's plan for change, we've obviously got a commitment to build 1.5 million homes over the duration of this Parliament."
She added: "So this is about improving journeys for people. A number of road schemes in there as well, such as building a new road between the M54 and M6 in Staffordshire, and the A66 as well."
Most Read
