Minister's refusal on high-speed rail details

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts said he feared the coalition Government had "abandoned" plans for a route from London to Sheffield and Leeds after a meeting to discuss the proposed line – to which councillors from the region were invited – was reportedly cancelled.

And new Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves also called in the House of Commons for a commitment on whether high-speed rail would go to Leeds, and when work would start.

Their intervention comes amid concern that talk of a "vision" for a national high-speed network outlined in the Queen's Speech this week failed to make any mention of Yorkshire, despite a Tory manifesto pledge for a line to link Leeds with London and the previous government's commitment to go to both Sheffield and Leeds.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said all parties were committed to high-speed rail and said the Government would be making "serious progress on that agenda".

But he told Mr Betts: "Let me be absolutely clear. This is a matter for the Department for Transport in due course, and my colleague the Secretary of State for Transport will come forward with plans.

"I remind the hon. Gentleman that he supported a Government who have just left office and who did not make clear those details. It is unreasonable at this point to ask for that level of detail from this Government."

Transport bosses and politicians from all three parties are concerned by the lack of commitment to a Yorkshire link – which would slash journey times to London to less than an hour and a half and be worth billions to the region's economy – since the coalition was formed.

Jason McCartney, Tory MP for Colne Valley, said: "It's an absolute must to put West Yorkshire well and truly on the map and to take us into the next decade. It's something I will continue to campaign for and I've already raised the issue face-to-face with the new Transport Secretary Philip Hammond."