Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of HS2 on the construction materials shortage for (a) other major projects in the construction sector and (b) the manufacturing and engineering sector.

The Government is aware that a range of building materials are in short supply nationally. This is driven by demand and increased global competition to secure supplies. At present, we do not have any information to suggest that demand from HS2 is having a material impact on supplies within the UK or on major projects in the construction, manufacturing and engineering sectors. However, the Government recognises that this is a critical situation and we are following events closely.

The Construction Leadership Council’s Coronavirus Task Force has established a Product Availability Working Group, comprised of product manufacturers, builders’ merchants and suppliers, contractors of all sizes, and housebuilders. The Task Force continues to monitor the supply and demand of products, and identify those in short supply.