Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the minutes of the audit and risk assurance committee for High Speed Two have not been published since December 2019.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I appreciate that the publication of these minutes has taken longer than is typically expected. Unlike the Board minutes, the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee minutes do not have a confirmed schedule of publication, though High Speed Two Limited aims to publish them as soon as practicable.
High Speed Two Limited have confirmed that any unpublished minutes will be published by 17 July.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether HS2 Ltd will use bentonite in the construction of High Speed Two Phase one.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As was stated in response to a previous question on this subject (160054) from the Honourable Member in July 2018, Bentonite is proposed to be used in the construction of the diaphragm walls for the 5 intermediate shafts in the Chilterns. If necessary, and only when the Environment Agency is satisfied with HS2 Ltd’s final approach, Bentonite may be used in other locations to minimise the impact of tunnelling on existing infrastructure.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) financial viability and (b) risk assessments his Department has undertaken on major HS2 Ltd contractors on Phase 1 of High Speed Two following (a) Carillion going into administration and (b) the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
a) HS2 Ltd’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) function undertakes daily financial and capacity risk monitoring for all HS2 critical & strategic economic operators and their parent organisations during tendering and throughout contract delivery, at a Tier 1 and Tier 2 level. In addition, SCM receive daily alerts in relation to financial risks associated with critical suppliers and have aligned their processes and assessment criteria with Cabinet Office guidance.
b) All of the Phase 1 Joint Ventures that have received a Notice to Proceed are joint and severally liable for their contractual requirements and therefore provide mitigation to any financial risk that materialises. Also, each of the Economic Operators were required to provide a Parent Company Guarantee from a parent of sufficient financial standing. Both Economic Operators and Parent Companies have had their financial standing tested and scrutinized during both procurement and then again at the point of award for their contracts. Since the point of award, HS2 Ltd have continuously monitored financial stress indicators, which are updated on a daily basis according to predetermined alert parameters:
a) Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak HS2 Ltd had in place regular monitoring for all major contractors.
b) Following the COVID-19 outbreak an HS2 Supplier Relief Working Group has been established and a supplier monitoring report is reviewed at least weekly to highlight suppliers at risk and initiate plans required to support the supplier and ensure continuity of supply.
HS2 Ltd is a member of the Department for Transport (DfT) Strategic Supplier Working Group. Both before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, this Working Group has monitored strategic and critical suppliers in conjunction with DfT and Cabinet Office and taken coordinated action where appropriate.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what quantity of water will be required for the Phase 1 High Speed Two tunnelling in Buckinghamshire; from what location that water will come; how that water will be (i) used, (ii) processed and (iii) disposed of; what assessment he has made of the (A) level and (B) type of contaminants in that water after use; what processes will be used to remove those contaminants; and what steps he is taking to prevent the contamination of local aquifers in that area.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The quantity of water required to operate the two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) for the Chilterns Tunnels is currently calculated to be 6.5 mega-litres per day on average over a 36 month period. It is intended that the water will be supplied from Affinity Water and Thames Water sources. The water will be used to convert the chalk material to a slurry, for flushing and cooling of slurry pumps and for TBM cleaning operations. The slurry will be treated in an on-site slurry treatment plant that will recover and reuse water to reduce the demand for fresh water. There will be instances where water reuse will not be possible and, after on-site treatment, this water will be discharged. The design of the water treatment plant and attenuation ponds has taken the likely water quality into account. Any discharge will be managed and regulated under the terms of a consent from the Environment Agency, which will take into account the quality of the water being discharged. HS2 Ltd has been working closely with experts from the Environment Agency and the relevant water companies for a number of years to prevent construction work from causing contamination of the chalk aquifer and to safeguard the provision of public water supplies.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he plans to resume driving tests at all venues that were in use prior to the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
As the health and safety of staff and customers is key, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working closely with the Department for Transport to prepare for a safe return to testing. It will announce details of resumption of testing in due course.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates the High Speed Two Construction Commissioner made to visits to High Speed Two sites from 1 January 2020 to date; and what the location was of each of those visits.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The High Speed Two (HS2) Construction Commissioner’s role is to provide independent decisions and mediate between the project and individuals or bodies, in unresolved disputes about HS2 Phase One and Phase 2a construction work. The role is part time and the Commissioner works eight days per month.
The Commissioner visited a number of sites in Warwickshire on 21 February 2020. He produces a quarterly report, which includes his observations from the representations he has received and the visits and meetings he has held.
As noted in his most recent report, covering the first quarter of 2020, the Commissioner’s visits along the route have ceased in order to comply with Government advice regarding COVID-19. He continues to raise issues with the Department and HS2 Ltd during this period. He meets virtually with officials and continues to respond to correspondence electronically.
Compliance with Government requirements relating to the COVID-19 pandemic meant it was not possible for the Construction Commissioner and the Residents’ Commissioner jointly to tour Buckinghamshire – including Amersham.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (a) how many times, (b) on which dates and (c) with what attendance has the monthly Ministerial Task Force on HS2 met in each of the last six months.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Ministerial Task Force has met for its inaugural following the Government’s recent decision to proceed with Phase 1. The first meeting was held on 30 April. Membership of The Task Force includes Ministers from the Department for Transport, HM Treasury, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Cabinet Office. The Chair, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer from HS2 Ltd also attend, alongside officials and advisors from the represented Government Departments and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish the minutes of High Speed Two Ltd board meetings since February 2020.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
HS2 Ltd is required to publish its board minutes within three months of the board meeting being held.
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much HS2 Ltd has paid to date for costs incurred by (a) Thames Valley Police and (b) other police force in providing the extra policing of HS2 works.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
HS2 ltd has paid no costs to Thames Valley or to any other police forces for extra policing costs as result of HS2 works.
HS2 Ltd has an Enhanced Police Service Agreement (EPSA) with the British Transport Police for a National Police Liaison Officer, an Analyst and an Intelligence Researcher. This function supports strategic and tactical coordination across all forces that the route will pass through. The costs for the EPSA so far are as follows:
· 2016/17: £31,261.26
· 2017/18: £100,185.95
· 2018/19: £104,803.18
· 2019/20: £125,782
Asked by: Cheryl Gillan (Conservative - Chesham and Amersham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what bonus the CEO of HS2 Ltd is due to receive for the current year of their contract; and what the criteria are for receipt of that bonus.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The HS2 Ltd CEO has voluntarily agreed to waive any bonus payment entitled to be paid to him this year.
The criteria for receipt of the bonus, had it not been voluntarily waived, focused on five key areas of performance in 2019/20: health, safety and wellbeing; annual control of budget; performance against annual milestones and schedule; organisational capability including talent and diversity; and community engagement. These areas of performance will still be reported on as usual, in the company’s Annual Report and Accounts.