High Speed 2

Debate between Lord Spellar and Richard Holden

Monday 18th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Holden]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Spades are already in the ground for HS2, with over 350 active construction sites, and with high-speed services between London and Birmingham Curzon Street due to start between 2029 and 2033. However, I will pass on his comments to Treasury colleagues, as always.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

Frankly, it is a real shame that we have to put up with an ill-prepared office junior instead of the boss, because these are really significant decisions. Let us be clear: the case for HS2 was always flawed, but ballooning construction costs and changing business travel patterns post covid now make it unsustainable. I understand that it would be hugely embarrassing for the Government, and for the Minister’s Department, to write off somewhere between 10 billion and 15 billion quid, but surely that is better than spending £100 billion on this ill-fated project.

[Mr Holden]

I thank the right hon. Member for his thoughts; I will take them back to Government.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Spellar and Richard Holden

Thursday 13th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mr Holden]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and it was a delight to visit some of his constituents not that long ago in Sandy to discuss this and Biggleswade roundabout on a route I use regularly. We will continue to keep all these schemes for the long-term improvement of our strategic road network under review. They are very important, particularly when it comes to road safety, and I look forward to having further discussions with him in future.

[John Spellar (Warley) (Lab)]

12. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changed patterns of rail travel on the planning assumptions for HS2.