Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 3.12 of the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Act 2013 Expenditure Report, 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, published by his Department in October 2016, if he will provide reasons for the difference between the actual and budgeted cost per person in the project management team.

The difference between the actual and budgeted cost per person was due to the mix of permanent and non-permanent workforce being different from that assumed during the budgeting process. This was reflective of the greater reliance required on non-permanent specialist support to quickly mobilise teams to undertake preparation for Early Works Contracts leading into Main Works.