Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have received from the police about the safety of smart motorways.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Any death on our roads is one too many.
We want our roads to be as safe as possible. That is why the Secretary of State asked the Department to carry out an evidence stocktake to gather the facts about the safety of smart motorways and make recommendations. The Department will present the findings of the stocktake shortly.
While I would not want to pre-judge the results of that work, what I can say is that we will continue to prioritise improving safety – making conditions safer for everyone on our roads. I will write to you as soon as the stocktake is completed to answer your specific question.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many miles of smart motorways have been created to date; what has been the total cost of that work; how many miles of such motorways are planned; and what is the estimated cost of such work.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Any death on our roads is one too many.
We want our roads to be as safe as possible. That is why the Secretary of State asked the Department to carry out an evidence stocktake to gather the facts about the safety of smart motorways and make recommendations. The Department will present the findings of the stocktake shortly.
While I would not want to pre-judge the results of that work, what I can say is that we will continue to prioritise improving safety – making conditions safer for everyone on our roads. I will write to you as soon as the stocktake is completed to answer your specific question.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they made of the safety of smart motorways, or similar schemes, operating in other countries before introducing them in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Any death on our roads is one too many.
We want our roads to be as safe as possible. That is why the Secretary of State asked the Department to carry out an evidence stocktake to gather the facts about the safety of smart motorways and make recommendations. The Department will present the findings of the stocktake shortly.
While I would not want to pre-judge the results of that work, what I can say is that we will continue to prioritise improving safety – making conditions safer for everyone on our roads. I will write to you as soon as the stocktake is completed to answer your specific question.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that HS2 will cost twice its original estimate, what steps they are taking to conduct an urgent review of its costs to date; and whether they will publish the results of that review.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The HS2 Phase One Main Civil Contracts were signed in July 2017 and Phase One design development and enabling works are continuing to progress. Notice to Proceed is the formal contractual process which enables each Phase One supplier to move from design and development to construction.
HS2 Ltd has advised the Government that it intends for Notice to Proceed to take place later in 2019 to allow it to finalise costs and plans with its contracted suppliers. Full construction of bridges and tunnels will commence following award of Notice to Proceed. Essential works to prepare the route for this stage are well underway, with over 60 active sites, including major works at Euston, Old Oak Common, Curzon Street and Washwood Heath.
Expenditure on HS2 to date is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts of HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport. The Government has committed to update Parliament on HS2’s progress at least once a year.
The Phase One Full Business Case, planned for publication later in 2019, will include an updated estimate of cost and schedule and an accompanying assessment of benefits.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to start work on bridges and tunnels on the HS2 project.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The HS2 Phase One Main Civil Contracts were signed in July 2017 and Phase One design development and enabling works are continuing to progress. Notice to Proceed is the formal contractual process which enables each Phase One supplier to move from design and development to construction.
HS2 Ltd has advised the Government that it intends for Notice to Proceed to take place later in 2019 to allow it to finalise costs and plans with its contracted suppliers. Full construction of bridges and tunnels will commence following award of Notice to Proceed. Essential works to prepare the route for this stage are well underway, with over 60 active sites, including major works at Euston, Old Oak Common, Curzon Street and Washwood Heath.
Expenditure on HS2 to date is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts of HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport. The Government has committed to update Parliament on HS2’s progress at least once a year.
The Phase One Full Business Case, planned for publication later in 2019, will include an updated estimate of cost and schedule and an accompanying assessment of benefits.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the contracts for carrying out the major construction works for HS2 will be signed.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The HS2 Phase One Main Civil Contracts were signed in July 2017 and Phase One design development and enabling works are continuing to progress. Notice to Proceed is the formal contractual process which enables each Phase One supplier to move from design and development to construction.
HS2 Ltd has advised the Government that it intends for Notice to Proceed to take place later in 2019 to allow it to finalise costs and plans with its contracted suppliers. Full construction of bridges and tunnels will commence following award of Notice to Proceed. Essential works to prepare the route for this stage are well underway, with over 60 active sites, including major works at Euston, Old Oak Common, Curzon Street and Washwood Heath.
Expenditure on HS2 to date is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts of HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport. The Government has committed to update Parliament on HS2’s progress at least once a year.
The Phase One Full Business Case, planned for publication later in 2019, will include an updated estimate of cost and schedule and an accompanying assessment of benefits.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the notice to proceed with the HS2 project has been delayed.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The HS2 Phase One Main Civil Contracts were signed in July 2017 and Phase One design development and enabling works are continuing to progress. Notice to Proceed is the formal contractual process which enables each Phase One supplier to move from design and development to construction.
HS2 Ltd has advised the Government that it intends for Notice to Proceed to take place later in 2019 to allow it to finalise costs and plans with its contracted suppliers. Full construction of bridges and tunnels will commence following award of Notice to Proceed. Essential works to prepare the route for this stage are well underway, with over 60 active sites, including major works at Euston, Old Oak Common, Curzon Street and Washwood Heath.
Expenditure on HS2 to date is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts of HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport. The Government has committed to update Parliament on HS2’s progress at least once a year.
The Phase One Full Business Case, planned for publication later in 2019, will include an updated estimate of cost and schedule and an accompanying assessment of benefits.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have finalised plans to link HS2 to Euston station and its surrounding infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
HS2 Ltd’s station designers and Main Works sub-contractors are in the process of developing the designs for the High Speed 2 Euston Station and approaches. HS2 Ltd will continue to work closely with Network Rail and Lendlease, the Euston Master Development Partner, to develop integrated designs which optimise the opportunities for the Euston area as whole.
This is a process that will continue for some time as the details of the plans are finalised to the satisfaction of our wider stakeholders.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their current estimate of the total cost of the construction of HS2.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
At the Spending Review in 2015, the Government restated the long-term funding envelope for delivery of the full HS2 scheme of £55.7bn (2015 prices), of which £27.18bn was allocated to Phase One and £28.55bn for Phase Two.
We remain committed to deliver HS2 within budget with cost targets to be set for HS2 Ltd to deliver the programme below this amount. HS2 Ltd remain focussed on challenging programme costs, actively seeking to deliver the absolute best value for money to the UK tax payer.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trees have been felled to date in London to facilitate the construction of HS2.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
More than 650 hectares of new woodland will be planted between London and Birmingham as part of the first phase of HS2. A contract was awarded in 2016 to grow 7 million trees and shrubs.
We have also established a £5 million woodland fund to create new native, broadleaf woodland, and enhance existing ancient woodland.
However, it is inevitable in the construction of a new project that trees will need to be felled. HS2 Ltd has to date removed