High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill: Revival

Debate between Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and Andrew Stephenson

Carry-over motion & Bill reintroduced & Bill reintroduced: House of Commons & motion to revive Bill: House of Commons
Monday 2nd March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown]

Will my hon. Friend give way?

[Andrew Stephenson]

I am sorry, but we are perilously close to running out of time. My hon. Friend the Member for The Cotswolds (Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) spoke eloquently in support of the motion. He is right on capacity and he is right in what he said on carbon. I want to reassure him that the Government are taking decisive action to restore discipline to the programme and I welcome the oversight that will be brought by the Public Accounts Committee to that project.

[Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown]

On that point, will the Minister give way?

[Andrew Stephenson]

indicated assent.

[Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown]

I thank my hon. Friend. The Public Accounts Committee has had two inquiries and we are about to have another. There is universal agreement on this side of the House tonight that we need to get control of the governance of the thing and we need to get control of the cost. Will my hon. Friend give an absolute assurance to the House tonight that he will redouble his efforts to get control of the costs?

[Andrew Stephenson]

Yes.