The petition of residents of the constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale,

Declares that giving the go-ahead to plans to dual the A66 from Penrith to Scotch Corner would bring huge benefits to the north west region, reducing congestion and providing a big boost to the north economy; further notes that it will limit the number of serious and fatal accidents which tragically are a regular occurrence on this road.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to give the green light to plans to dual the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner, which would reduce congestion, boost the economy, and save lives.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Tim Farron, Official Report, 25 March 2025; Vol. 764, c. 915.]

[P003054]

Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood):

I am determined that we will build the transport infrastructure to drive economic growth and opportunity in every part of the country, and to deliver value for money for taxpayers. The financial inheritance this Government have received is extremely challenging. We are currently undertaking phase 2 of spending review 2025, which will conclude in late spring. Future funding decisions are a matter for the spending review, and it is not possible to take a decision on the A66 project separately from this process.