Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Oakervee Review of HS2, published on 11 February, and before they issue a Notice to Proceed for Phase 1 of HS2, what plans they have to ensure that HS2 Ltd achieves a satisfactory position with each of the Main Works Civils contractors in order to obtain acceptable Stage 2 prices and a reasonable level of value engineering; and where HS2 Ltd cannot achieve a satisfactory position with each of the Main Works Civils contractors, whether they will re-procure any such contracts before a Notice to Proceed is issued.

Notice-to-Proceed is a contractual step between HS2 Ltd and its Main Works Civils contractors. The Government will provide an update in due course.