Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission a strategic environmental assessment of the proposal for a High Speed 3 line between Leeds and Manchester.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Government is still developing and considering proposals for High Speed 3 (HS3). As such it is too early to say whether or not we would complete a strategic environmental assessment. As we move ahead with HS3, we will ensure that an appropriate approach is taken to assessing environmental impacts and considering alternatives, and that any proposed scheme is developed in line with relevant domestic and European legislation.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what arrangements are in place to correct errors of fact in the High Speed 2 Phase One Environment Statement.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The HS2 Phase One Environment Statement, as deposited in November 2013, was peer reviewed by experts in their field to ensure it was of the highest quality. The subsequent consultation allowed the public to comment on its content and issues contained in the responses received were included in the report by Parliament’s Independent Assessor, which was laid in the House of Commons on 9 April 2014. Where new information has become available through consultation responses that might give rise to new likely significant effects, these effects will be brought before Parliament through a Supplementary Environmental Statement in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what changes to the proposed route alignment of High Speed 2 have resulted from feedback received during the High Speed 2 Community Forum process.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
In developing the route alignment for HS2 Phase One a wide variety of suggestions have been considered from many different sources, including the Community Forums. The main local alternatives considered are described in the Environmental Statement published in November 2013. These can be found in section 2.6 in each of the Volume 2 Community Forum area reports. Given the scale of suggestions received it would not be possible or practical to identify those changes that are a direct result of the Community Forums alone.