Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total cost of the work conducted by his Department on the Eastern leg of HS2 was; and what the full-time equivalent headcount was of people working on the Eastern leg.

Since the Prime Minister announced the Integrated Rail Plan in February 2020, development of the Eastern Leg of HS2 has been paused to avoid nugatory spend whilst the Integrated Rail Plan took this work forward. Safeguarding of the Eastern leg route remains in place pending conclusion of work on the most effective way to serve Leeds and towns and cities along the Eastern Leg. Any property that has been acquired already by the Government but is not required for the eventual route will be resold.

In relation to staff numbers there were five FTE staff working on the Eastern Leg at the end of October 2021, which remains unchanged. Their work continues to be supported by other officials across the department.