Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that HS2 Ltd has appropriate safeguards in place to (a) prevent anti-competitive practices and (b) protect safety-critical workers within the London Tunnels project; and what auditing mechanisms her Department is using to monitor the recruitment and safety standards of labour-only sub-contractors.

The Department for Transport (DfT) requires HS2 Ltd to prioritise the health, safety, and wellbeing of its workforce and the public. Safety performance is closely tracked and monitored, and, where performance falls short, remedial action is required. DfT officials work closely with HS2 Ltd to review safety performance, and overall health and safety indicators are reported to and discussed at the Programme Performance Board, attended by DfT and HS2 Ltd senior officials.

Through HS2’s “Safe at Heart” strategy, safety is embedded into all decision-making and operational activities. In all sectors, including the London Tunnels, stringent processes are in place to protect all workers, including occupational health assessments and strict training requirements. Across the programme, comprehensive risk assessments and control processes are regularly reviewed, updated, and assured by HS2 Ltd and its supply chain partners.

To safeguard against anti-competitive practices, HS2 Ltd is subject to and compliant with public procurement legislation and Government policy. This includes publishing direct contract opportunities and clearly defined evaluation criteria to ensure fair treatment of suppliers and equality of opportunity. In accordance with relevant regulations, Conflicts of Interest are formally declared and managed appropriately, and appropriate oversight and documented justification is required for all procurement decisions.

Recruitment practices are governed through individual contractual requirements and form part of wider contract management. HS2 Ltd sets clear expectations for contractors and sub-contractors, particularly in relation to safety. Its whistleblowing policy encourages individuals to raise concerns about unsafe, unethical, or fraudulent behaviour, which are then investigated by an independent team, in line with relevant legislation.