Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Fabricant Excerpts

Thursday 24th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

3. What recent discussions he has had with Douglas Oakervee on potential alternative routes for High Speed 2 phases 1 and 2a; and if he will make a statement.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Maynard)]

I understand the intense interest that there will be across the House in this issue. The Oakervee review is ongoing and will consider all three phases of the project. I met Douglas Oakervee last week for an administrative discussion about the review, and once the review is finalised the Department has committed to making it public.

[Michael Fabricant]

It is not just the cost of HS2, but the route: it does not even connect with Birmingham New Street or Heathrow, or meet its original intention of connecting with the channel tunnel. It does none of those. Doug Oakervee has told me that the amount of time they have to consider all this is very limited—it is very challenging indeed—and there is not enough time to consider alternative routes, so will the Minister consider giving them more time to do just that?

[Paul Maynard]

As I say, we have not put any time limit on Mr Oakervee’s findings, and he will report when he is ready to do so. As my hon. Friend will know, the current plans for phase 1 would see passengers connecting to Heathrow via Old Oak Common, and services would also call at Euston where passengers can make onward travel plans, including to Eurostar at King’s Cross St Pancras.