Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the clarifications called for by the House of Lords Select Committee on the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill on the interpretation and application of the compelling reason to sell condition of the HS2 Need to Sell scheme have now been made; and if he will make a statement.

Guidance was republished on the Need To Sell (NTS) scheme in August 2017 in light of recommendations made by the House of Lords Select Committee. The guidance provides more detailed information on the types of compelling reasons applicants may have to sell their property, and examples of the documentary evidence that should be provided to support each element of their application.

The guidance has subsequently been reviewed on several occasions, most recently in June 2018, to ensure the scheme remains transparent and guidance is accessible.

Statistics are also published on examples of compelling reasons cited within unsuccessful and successful NTS applications which are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-one-exceptional-hardship-scheme-applications-statistics