Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much the HS2 project has cost to date; what estimate they have made of the cost of completing the project; and when they anticipate that it will be completed.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

This Government inherited an exceptionally bad position at HS2, and has been working hard to grip HS2’s spiralling costs and has tasked HS2 Ltd’s CEO with conducting a comprehensive review of the programme, including assessing the current position on cost and schedule. He will provide advice for government to assess leading to agreeing a reset budget in 2026.

As reported in the last HS2 report to Parliament in December 2024, overall spend to date was £30.2 billion (2019 prices). An update will be provided in the next report to Parliament.

The date for delivery of initial HS2 services between Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common by 2033 remains, but there are significant pressures on this schedule.

We will report to Parliament once we have agreed a revised estimate for cost and schedule.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether owners of property purchased for the route of HS2 were required to enter non-disclosure agreements as a condition for receiving compensation, if so why, and who authorised this.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

It is not a condition of receiving compensation for property purchased on the HS2 route that the owner must enter into a non-disclosure agreement.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government why and when they authorised the use of cost-plus instead of fixed-price contracts for payment of contractors on HS2; what consultations they held prior to the change; and who authorised that change.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

This government has been clear that the position on HS2 is totally unacceptable for passengers and taxpayers. It is acknowledged by this government and new CEO Mark Wild that the past contractual performance of our delivery partners has failed to meet cost and schedule expectations.

We have taken action to grip the project and tasked Mark Wild to reset the project, including reforming and resetting the relationship with the supply chain, and to deliver Phase 1 safely and at the lowest reasonable cost.

Throughout the development of the HS2 programme there has been engagement with industry, and input sought from wider government stakeholders, to seek to ensure that the commercial approaches and contracts adopted are appropriate for the individual assets being delivered. Consequently, a variety of different contract forms are in use across the HS2 programme including both fixed price and defined cost contracts (similar to cost plus), as well as other contract forms. For example, HS2 Ltd’s Main Works Civils Contracts (MWCC) are defined cost, incentivised, two-stage design and build contracts based on the NEC 3 Option C target cost contract model. Such NEC contracts are in common usage throughout the UK construction industry as they provide flexibility and encourage a collaborative approach.

Notice to Proceed was granted on HS2 Ltd’s Phase One Main Works Contracts in 2020. At that time there was no prospect of determining a reliable fixed price, nor getting the supply chain to agree to such a model given the residual risk. Therefore fixed price contracts were not viewed as viable.

As with all procurement activity on HS2, these contracts were let in line with HS2 Ltd’s governance and assurance requirements which conform with UK procurement law.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many houses have been compulsorily purchased along the route of HS2, and how many have been demolished.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

HS2 Ltd does not categorise properties by type - i.e. ‘houses’ - as a property can have mixed usage. For example, a farm can be (or have within it properties which are) residential, commercial, and/or agricultural, and similarly, a pub can be (and often is) both residential and commercial.

HS2 Ltd does record the number of property compensation claims made, however, the quantity of claims does not indicate how many houses (or other properties) have been acquired because property arrangements are highly varied.

HS2 Ltd does record the amount of land that has been acquired. To date, approximately 56km2 of land has been acquired for Phases One and 2a through compulsory purchase. No land or properties have been compulsory purchased along the route of Phase 2b as HS2 Ltd has never had the legal powers to do so.

In respect to demolitions, HS2 records show that 332 structures have been or were scheduled to be demolished along the route of HS2. It should be noted that this figure is not limited to properties but includes other structures such as substations and bridges.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many farms have lost land to, or been affected by, the route of HS2.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

HS2 records show 346 farms were included within both Acts of Parliament. These Farms will be impacted to varying degrees, including through loss of land due to acquisition or other effects, such as impacts to access or impacts from noise.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government why they closed the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund; and what plans they have to ensure that there are enough trained tree surgeons and arborists to meet demand and to deal with the number of urban trees planted in the past 50 years.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises forestry skills as vital for achieving environmental targets, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting the economy through sustainable woodland management and green job creation. The Government is facing a very challenging wider fiscal context. This has meant that Defra has had to make difficult decisions about funding which has included not to continue with the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund in 2025/26. The Forestry Commission is collecting feedback from course attendees and will be working with key stakeholders throughout 2025/26 to deliver the Forestry Sector Skills Plan. There are new technical, higher technical and professional education routes being developed into the forestry sector, and work is underway to improve links with allied sectors such as arboriculture, agriculture and horticulture.

Scientific APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Baroness Brown of Cambridge Lord Clement-Jones Lord Craig of Radley Lord Deben Lord Fox Lord Framlingham

Scientific APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Andrews Lord Boswell of Aynho Lord Clement-Jones Lord Craig of Radley Lord Deben Lord Fox Lord Framlingham

Scientific APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Boswell of Aynho Lord Broers Lord Clement-Jones Lord Craig of Radley Lord Deben Lord Fox Lord Framlingham

Scientific APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Broers Lord Clement-Jones Lord Craig of Radley Lord Davies of Coity Lord Deben Lord Fox Lord Framlingham

Scientific APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Boswell of Aynho Lord Broers Lord Clement-Jones Lord Craig of Radley Lord Deben Lord Fox Lord Framlingham