Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the opportunity cost of HS2; and what plans they have to allow for further Parliamentary scrutiny should the official cost increase.

The recently published Full Business Case sets out the rationale for why HS2 is the best transport option to deliver the Government’s strategic aims of levelling up, improved connectivity and increased capacity between our biggest economic regions. It builds on the Oakervee Review, which considered transport alternatives and concluded that HS2 remained the best option to meet these goals. The Government has committed to provide six-monthly reports to Parliament on progress which will allow scrutiny of any cost increases against the agreed funding envelope for Phase 1 and the contingency provided.