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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 23 March 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 March 2021. It was answered by Andrew Stephenson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 March 2021 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

High Speed 2 Line: Air Pollution

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of (a) respiratory problems and (b) deaths that may be caused by the air pollution created by the use of fossil diesel in the construction of HS2.

Answer

The Environmental Statements produced for each phase of HS2 include an assessment of any significant air quality effects associated with building the railway.

No health problems are anticipated as a result of emissions from the use of fossil diesel in the construction of HS2. As stated at para 4.7 of HS2 Phase One Information Paper E31 (air quality):

“Where an effect on air quality [in the relevant Environmental Statement] is described as significant at a particular location, this is with respect to the air quality legislation, and does not denote a significant effect on human health. Much larger changes in air quality than are predicted as a consequence of the scheme would be needed to cause significant impacts on health at the level of an individual person.”

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/672406/E31_-_Air_Quality_v1.5.pdf

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
174125
Session
2019-21
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Death Construction Air pollution Health hazards Diesel High Speed 2 line
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk