Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any impact of the construction of Phase 1 of HS2 on the cost of public water supply.

There will be no increase in the cost of public water supply as a result of HS2 works. The HS2 project is funded to cover the cost of any actions required to ensure that the provision of high-quality drinking water is maintained. HS2 Ltd, not water companies or their customers, will therefore cover the costs of any mitigation or risk reduction measures that are implemented to maintain public water supplies.