Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government who within the government will be principally responsible for delivering the Integrated Rail Plan described in the Terms of reference for an integrated rail plan for the north and midlands, published on 21 February; and whether, in "working with HS2", they will take into account the recommendations of the Oakervee Review of HS2, published on 11 February, which found that "HS2 Ltd technical assurance or challenge panels which are made up of experts, some previously involved with the design of the scheme, should be refreshed and reconstituted".

As set out in his speech to the New Statesman's Northern Powerhouse conference on 27 February 2020, the HS2 Minister will lead the development of the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP). The Government agrees with the Oakervee review that we need to strengthen HS2 Ltd’s governance and capability, and we are taking decisive action to do just that. The IRP is to review arrangements for sponsorship and delivery.