Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Reid Excerpts
Thursday 12th September 2013

(10 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
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I am not sure I was forced to do anything, but I was asked by the Public Accounts Committee to do proper research and to back up the case for HS2. I dare say that if yesterday’s report had come out negative, all those people who are against HS2 would have been shouting it from the rooftops. Because it came out positive, they are opposed to it.

Alan Reid Portrait Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD)
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The KPMG report showed that every region of Britain will benefit from plans for HS2 to go as far as Leeds and Manchester, but Scotland and the north of England would benefit even more if the lines extended to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle. How are the Secretary of State’s discussions with the Scottish Government progressing in that regard?

Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
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I am prepared to have the meetings with the Scottish Government. I announced last October that we would be looking to take the line to Scotland. That work is ongoing.