Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that the scoring mechanism for the procurement and wider decisions on HS2 rolling stock reflects the need for the benefits of investment to be spread throughout the UK.

The procurement of the new HS2 fleet is being undertaken in accordance with the Utilities Contract Regulations 2016 which require all tenderers to be treated equally on a non-discriminatory basis. This means that HS2 cannot mandate that the design and manufacture of the new fleet should be undertaken in the UK and neither can it reward, in its procurement scoring mechanism, UK wide or regional content over non-UK content. However, the procurement scoring mechanism will include an assessment of Tenderer’s plans for developing skills, education and employment opportunities and promoting supply chain opportunities through the supply and maintenance of the new trains. HS2 Ltd can contract any commitments made by bidders.

Tenderers will also be required to submit a Legacy Statement in which they are to identify how their proposal will add value to the UK economy and contribute to the delivery of HS2’s Programme Benefits. This will not be evaluated as part of the bid and is therefore not subject to the procurement scoring mechanism, but HS2 Ltd can contract elements of the Legacy Statement.