Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the High Speed Rail Committee's recommendations on ecology in its report of March 2016, Government overview of the case for High Speed 2 Phase One and its environmental impacts, what the reasons are for the time taken for Natural England to publish its report into the net loss of biodiversity measurements; and when he expects that report to be published.

No net loss of biodiversity is a complex and important issue. It is, therefore, correct that Natural England takes the time necessary to produce a thorough independent review for Government and that the Government takes the time to make a considered response. We hope to publish both Natural England’s review and the Government’s report before the end of the HS2 Select Committee in the Lords.