Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish all data the Department holds on expected noise levels from HS2; and what comparative assessment he has made of those expected noise levels and the World Health Organisation environmental noise guidelines.

An assessment of the predicted noise from HS2 trains and associated data was published as part of the HS2 Phase One Environmental Statement (as amended) (found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hs2-phase-one-environmental-statement-documents) and the HS2 Phase 2a Environmental Statement (found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hs2-phase-2a-environmental-statement). For Phase 2b, the Working Draft Environmental Statement (found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hs2-phase-2b-working-draft-environmental-statement) did not include a full assessment but one will be provided in the formal Phase 2b Environmental Statement. HS2 Ltd’s approach to assessing and controlling noise is compliant with WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines.