HS2: North of England and Scotland

Lord Rosser Excerpts

Thursday 23rd February 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

Crystal ball gazing is not my expertise, but it is important that this is a phased project. It is right to look at building the first phase of this project. I am being advised by certain noble friends that I should say “shortly”. Perhaps I will not go to that extent, but I have already indicated that northern powerhouse rail, together with DfT, Network Rail and HS2 are already undertaking work, and we will produce a report towards the end of 2017 that will underline the importance of this connectivity.

[Lord Rosser (Lab)]

My Lords, can I ask when the final route plans for HS3—

[Lord Shutt of Greetland (LD)]

My Lords—

[Noble Lords]

Order!

[Lord Rosser]

Can I ask—

[Lord Shutt of Greetland]

Come on—get back to me.

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park) (Con)]

My Lords, this is not the kind of behaviour we want to see during Question Time. We will go to the Labour Front Bench.

[Lord Rosser]

My Lords, can I ask when the final route plans for HS3 will be published, and when the hybrid Bill for the next stages of HS2 to Crewe, Manchester and Leeds will be published? I hope that the Minister will be able to answer that question, but of course if he cannot he could always say “shortly”.

[Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon]

I will be the first to say that perhaps we are overusing the word “shortly” in this regard. On the first part of the noble Lord’s question, about links between the great cities of the north, I have already indicated that a report on a single integrated strategy will be produced by the end of 2017. We hope that the Bill for the next phase of HS2 will be introduced later this year, as I have also already indicated. Once I have a specific date, I will of course share it with your Lordships’ House.