Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to promote the recruitment of local workers for the construction and operation of High Speed 2 (HS2) in (a) London, (b) Birmingham and (c) the rest of the HS2 Phase One route; and what reporting requirements he is placing on HS2 contractors with regard to (i) local labour recruitment, (ii) spending with local suppliers and (iii) recruitment from disadvantaged and under-represented groups.

The steps taken to promote the recruitment of local workers (as well as disadvantaged and under-represented groups) are set out at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/509181/G4_-_Approaches_to_Training_and_Employment_v1.4.pdf

Measures to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and local businesses from across the UK access supply chain opportunities are also included in the major works contracts. HS2 Ltd require every procurement to be fair, transparent and competitive and to maximise the opportunities for SMEs to provide the works.