Monday 13th September 2021

(2 years, 7 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Taiwo Owatemi Portrait Taiwo Owatemi
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That is a commitment that I am coming on to and I will ask the Minister to provide more information on that.

Khalid Mahmood Portrait Mr Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Barr) (Lab)
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My constituent, Darren Bartlett, has been suffering for years after he had to give up his land and business to HS2. For almost three and a half years, HS2 has not made any compensation available to him. He is in a dire financial situation. The HS2 people have refused to have discussions with him, and he is having to remortgage not just his business but his property.

Taiwo Owatemi Portrait Taiwo Owatemi
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I thank my hon. Friend for raising such an important point. HS2 has caused financial restraints for many people whose life it has impacted—

--- Later in debate ---
Andrew Stephenson Portrait Andrew Stephenson
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My hon. Friends the Members for Warrington South (Andy Carter) and for Leigh (James Grundy) continue to push me on the Golborne spur. That is one of the many decisions that will be taken as part of the integrated rail plan, so I hope to be able to say more about that soon.

Khalid Mahmood Portrait Mr Khalid Mahmood
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I spoke earlier about my constituent Darren Barnett and his colleagues, who are stuck in a financial straitjacket, both economically and personally. They are not able to move on because HS2 management in Birmingham has not made the funding available. Will the Minister meet them to explore how we can move this issue forward?

Andrew Stephenson Portrait Andrew Stephenson
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I thank the hon. Gentleman for that point, and I am happy to meet him to discuss this issue. After doing the land and property review shortly after I became a Minister, I looked at a number of these tricky cases. I now review all the cases that are brought to my attention by right hon. and hon. Members on a fortnightly basis. I am more than happy to add that case to the list and meet him personally to see whether we can find a way forward.