Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what legal process they plan to follow to cancel HS2 Phase 2A; whether they plan to introduce legislation to repeal the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021; and what Phase 2A’s cancellation means for the undertakings and assurances given during the passage of the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department will ensure that the process to ensure the orderly and safe cessation of activities on Phase 2a is regular and proper as set out in the Permanent Secretary’s Accounting Officer Assessment. There are no immediate plans to introduce legislation to repeal the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021. The Department and HS2 Ltd will review all Undertakings and Assurances given and will consider what steps, if any, are required to manage them on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they provide concerning the criteria for approval of major infrastructure projects, in particular on the economic benefit to cost ratio; what advice they received from the consultancy OXERA concerning the projected benefit cost ration for HS2; what action they took in response to that advice; and what changes they required HS2 Ltd to make in order to improve this benefit to cost ratio.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
All major infrastructure projects are required to follow the HMT five-case model as outlined in the business case guidance for projects and programmes. The Department for Transport uses a Value for Money Framework to inform its investment decisions.
The Oakervee Review of HS2 commissioned Oxera to carry out sensitivity analysis on the business case for HS2. The outcome of the Oxera analysis is set out in the published Oakervee Review.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government why advice from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority that "The project (HS2) will remain fundamentally flawed unless transparency and frankness is provided to the true level of uncertainty and confidence variations of time, cost and benefits", as reported in the Sunday Times on 22 October, was not provided to Parliament before it approved authorisation for Phase 1 of HS2
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 11 February 2020, the then Prime Minister announced that the Government intended to proceed with HS2. This decision was made having considered the conclusions of the Independent Review of HS2, led by Douglas Oakervee, and an accounting officer assessment that demonstrated the ongoing compliance of the programme with HM Treasury managing public money guidance. This assessment followed four previous assessments undertaken at regular intervals in 2019.
Since the HS2 Phase 1 Notice-to-Proceed decision, comprehensive governance arrangements have been put in place to increase Ministerial oversight, transparency, and accountability of the HS2 project. Since October 2020, the Department has published six-monthly reports to Parliament, while the Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s Annual Report includes assessments on HS2. HS2 Ltd is held to account in several ways, including through a monthly Sponsor Board meeting that oversees the company’s performance and reviews the latest Management Information. HS2 Ltd’s Board was also strengthened with new Non-Executive Directors, including a representative from the Department for Transport.
The National Audit Office has published multiple reports examining the delivery of HS2, and the programme is scrutinised by Parliament on a regular basis.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to simplify the licensing regime for mopeds, motorcycles and other forms of powered light vehicle (PLV) within the current parliament.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are no current plans to make changes to the driver licensing regime for these vehicles.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what changes they plan to make to the management and governance of HS2 Ltd following comments about the company by the Prime Minister regarding management in respect of HS2 Phase 1 in general and, in particular, the Old Oak Common to Euston section.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Secretary of State has met with the HS2 Ltd Board to hold it to account on its plan to deliver HS2 from London Euston to Birmingham to cost and schedule, and will continue to do so. The Department is now in discussion with HM Treasury on strengthening the governance of the programme and reinforcing the leadership of HS2 Ltd, under Sir Jon Thompson.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are their plans for continuing the HS2 Phase 1 line from Old Oak Common to Euston, including how many new platforms are planned for Euston; what role Network Rail will play in the overall station planning, track and train timetables design; what is the latest estimated cost of the tunnel and station works from Old Oak Common to Euston; and how this will be financed.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out in Network North, the Government remains committed to delivering HS2 between Birmingham and Euston in central London as planned. The station will comprise 6-platforms that can accommodate the trains we will run to Birmingham and onwards.
No decisions have been made on the train service that will run when HS2 opens from Euston. These will be made in due course, taking advice from West Coast Partnership Development, HS2 Ltd and Network Rail, and will be subject to consultation.
The scope and cost estimates for this section of the route are subject to review following the announcement. As set out in Network North, we will appoint a development company to manage the delivery of the station and will harness the future growth that the station will unleash to support its development, to ensure we get the best possible value for the British taxpayer and ensure that funding is underpinned by contributions from those people and businesses its development supports.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the cancellation of Phase 2 of HS2, how many HS2 trains will be able to operate from London Euston per hour, and what their destinations will be.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
No decisions have been made on the train service that will run when HS2 opens from Euston. These will be made in due course, taking advice from West Coast Partnership Development, HS2 Ltd and Network Rail, and will be subject to consultation.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government who were the accounting officers for HS2 and the Department for Transport in (1) March 2014, (2) January 2016, (3) April 2016, and (4) July 2019; when they were made aware of allegations of deceptions and fraud as reported in the Sunday Times on 22 October; and on which dates and to whom in Government they reported any concerns about cost overrun.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Accounting Officers at HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport were as follows:
HS2 Ltd
DfT
The Government and its public bodies take any allegations raised seriously and will ensure they are thoroughly investigated.
The National Audit Office (NAO) examined historic allegations in 2018 and determined that these were unfounded. There is one new allegation which relates to a live whistleblowing investigation by HS2 Ltd.
It would be inappropriate to comment while the investigation is ongoing.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to set up an independent inquiry to review HS2 Phase 1, to either (1) reduce costs, or (2) investigate options for integrating HS2 Phase 1 into the existing Network Rail system.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Following the Prime Minister’s Network North announcement and the changes to the scope of the HS2 programme, HS2 Ltd is working closely with the department to identify further cost reduction options. Officials will continue to assess opportunities to maximise the benefits of the scheme and its integration with the wider rail network. As set out in point 26 of the Network North: Transforming British Transport, we are making changes quickly and decisively so the remainder of HS2 is delivered as cost effectively as possible.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, what changes to design and construction contracts for HS2 are planned following the cancellation of Phase 2; and what will be the likely resulting changes for the overall costs of the project.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department is working with HS2 Ltd and its supply chain to establish the cost implications of the decision not to build Phase 2. This work will include consideration of any necessary changes to HS2 Ltd’s contracts with its supply chain.