Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of HS2 Limited accountability in the context of the absence of an HS2 Limited Chair and a named Minister of State responsible for HS2 as of 20 July 2022.

Following the departure of Allan Cook in July 2021 we introduced interim arrangements to ensure that the high levels of accountability already in place for the HS2 programme are maintained. These arrangements include appointing Sir Jonathan Thompson as the Deputy Chair to provide effective leadership of the HS2 Ltd Board until a permanent replacement is in place.

I am also pleased to confirm that I have taken over ministerial responsibility for HS2 as of 7 July, following the Minister Stephenson’s change in role on the same date.