Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the contractual (a) terms and (b) liabilities HS2 Ltd has with its (i) contractors and (ii) consultants in advance of the decision to review High Speed Two.

The Government has charged Douglas Oakervee to consider these matters as part of the Review that is now underway. This will consider its benefits and impacts; affordability and efficiency; deliverability; and scope and phasing. The terms of reference include consideration of the direct cost of reprioritising, cancelling or de-scoping the project, including contractual penalties and supply chain impact.

The Government will consider the Review’s findings in the autumn.