HS2: Budget and Costs Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

HS2: Budget and Costs

Baroness Randerson Excerpts
Tuesday 24th July 2018

(6 years, 3 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Sugg Portrait Baroness Sugg
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My Lords, I pay tribute to the part that the noble Lord played in HS2. I will certainly pass on his good wishes to the outgoing chairman. This is one of the biggest infrastructure projects that our country has ever seen. Eventually, more than 100 million people are expected to use HS2 trains when the network is fully completed.

Baroness Randerson Portrait Baroness Randerson (LD)
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My Lords, Sir Terry Morgan is the new chair of HS2, following a very efficiently run spell at Crossrail. Could the Minister confirm whether Sir Terry’s remit includes a complete review and reassessment of existing HS2 plans in view of the doubts that are being expressed about the cost envelope?

Baroness Sugg Portrait Baroness Sugg
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My Lords, I am sure that the incoming chair will absolutely look at the details of the project very closely. As I said, HS2 is preparing a full business case, which will be the robust and comprehensive assessment of the scheme. That will inform the next phase of the project, when we assess whether it is correct to continue.