Members of Parliament will discuss the impact Transport for the South East can have in strengthening the region’s economy and improving life for residents and businesses.

The Commons debate in Westminster Hall at 2.30pm on Wednesday (April 25) was granted at the request of Huw Merriman (MP for Bexhill and Battle) who will speak first.

It follows support from MPs across the region for a sub-national transport body to speak with one voice on the strategic transport needs of the region, which has 7.5 million residents and adds more than £200 billion a year to the UK economy. While the South East is an economic success, an expert study drafted for TfSE shows that investment in the region’s pressurised transport network needs investment if growth is to continue.

The debate is expected to focus on this case for investment and on the role a strategic transport body should play. TfSE is moving toward becoming a statutory body by 2020.

The debate takes place from 2.30pm to 4pm and will be broadcast live on Parliament TV http://parliamentlive.tv/Commons