Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 21 December 2016 (HL4189), whether the funding envelope for HS2 set by the Spending Review 2015 is unchanged; and what allowance, if any, they expect to be added to those figures in respect of developer contributions to station construction; and what, if any, government guarantees will be assumed for such private sector contributions.

Spending Review 2015 set a long term funding envelope for HS2 of £55.7 billion in 2015 prices, which remains unchanged.

The key funding assumption remains that HS2 will be fully publicly funded upfront. The Department for Transport and HS2 Limited will investigate private financing and third party funding, where this could reduce cost to the taxpayer and promote value for money.

In relation to Manchester Airport station, the funding arrangements are yet to be concluded but the Government has made clear that development of a station at Manchester Airport is dependent on agreeing an appropriate local funding package. HS2 Ltd’s budgeting is in line with that and HS2 Ltd will continue to pursue avenues that encourage third party, non-Governmental funding.