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To ask His Majesty's Government what is the expected completion date of the current phase of HS2.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the expected completion date of the current phase of HS2.
Mark Wild, the new Chief Executive of HS2, is undertaking a comprehensive reset of the Programme which will provide a realistic budget and schedule to deliver the remaining works.
Given the complexity of conducting a reset whilst maintaining in-flight delivery, sufficient time must be given to accurately inform a robust range of when HS2 services will commence. The Department will update Parliament once this work is completed.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much taxpayer money in total has been spent on HS2 since its inception to the latest date for which figures are available.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much taxpayer money in total has been spent on HS2 since its inception to the latest date for which figures are available.
The Department regularly reports on HS2 expenditure through 6-monthly reports to Parliament. As we set out in the latest report published in July 2025, the total overall costs incurred up to the end of April 2025 on HS2 are £40.5 billion (in nominal prices), including expenditure on the former Phase 2.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have produced a final design for accommodating HS2 at Euston Station; and if not, when they expect to.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have produced a final design for accommodating HS2 at Euston Station; and if not, when they expect to.
The Department is working with key partners to develop affordable, integrated plans for the Euston Station Campus, which will comprise the new HS2 station, upgrades to the Network Rail station and enhancements to the London Underground station and local transport facilities along with a significant level of development. Significant progress has been made and we will set out more details in due course.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 17 September (HL Deb col 2288) that there are provisions for paying a fair price for compulsory purchases, what are those provisions.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 17 September (HL Deb col 2288) that there are provisions for paying a fair price for compulsory purchases, what are those provisions.
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to his Question UIN HL10400 on 23 September 2025. In addition to the open market value of the acquired land in the absence of the scheme, owners and tenants are entitled to loss payment compensation for the distress and inconvenience of having to move from their property at a time not of their choosing and to claim compensation for disturbance (i.e. losses unconnected to the value of property such as professional fees).
To ask His Majesty's Government how many ombudsman bodies exist in the United Kingdom; and who is responsible for their funding.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many ombudsman bodies exist in the United Kingdom; and who is responsible for their funding.
The Cabinet Office is responsible for a subset of public bodies administratively classified as Arm's-Length Bodies, which include Executive Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, and Non-Ministerial Departments.
There is no statutory definition of "ombudsman" in government, and bodies with varying functions can be labelled as ombudsman
Data on which ALBs are ombudsman bodies, or how they are funded, is not held centrally.
To ask His Majesty's Government what were the running costs of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in the first full year of operation following its establishment; what were the annual running costs for the latest year for which figures are available; and what has been the total cost since its...
To ask His Majesty's Government what were the running costs of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in the first full year of operation following its establishment; what were the annual running costs for the latest year for which figures are available; and what has been the total cost since its...
The Government does not hold information on the running costs of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration which was established in 1967 and was superseded by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in 1973. Information on the running costs of the PHSO are set out in its published annual reports and accounts. The running costs for the years for which the PHSO holds information are as follows:
Year: | Running Costs (£ million): |
2004-2005 | 19,203 |
2005-2006 | 22,263 |
2006-2007 | 22,679 |
2007-2008 | 24,252 |
2008-2009 | 26,056 |
2009-2010 | 33,211 |
2010-2011 | 33,038 |
2011-2012 | 33,039 |
2012-2013 | 33,204 |
2013-2014 | 34,793 |
2014-2015 | 36,809 |
2015-2016 | 30,492 |
2016-2017 | 34,646 |
2017-2018 | 29,427 |
2018-2019 | 27,201 |
2019-2020 | 29,197 |
2020-2021 | 29,486 |
2021-2022 | 32,499 |
2022-2023 | 40,543 |
2023-2024 | 42,032 |
2024-2025 | 41,513 |
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to change the rules on the compulsory purchase of land for infrastructure projects such as HS2 so that farmers receive 100 per cent of the land value rather than 90 per cent.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to change the rules on the compulsory purchase of land for infrastructure projects such as HS2 so that farmers receive 100 per cent of the land value rather than 90 per cent.
The overriding principle of compulsory purchase compensation is ‘equivalence’, so that landowners are left neither better nor worse off (at least in monetary terms) as a result of their land being compulsorily acquired.
Compulsory purchase compensation is based on the open market value of the land acquired in the absence of the scheme, for example, regeneration project or railway line, underlying the compulsory purchase. This is known as the “no scheme principle”. Under the no-scheme principle, any increases or decreases in the value of the land attributable to the compulsory purchase scheme, or the prospect of the scheme, are disregarded when assessing compensation for the value of land acquired. The Government has no plans to change this principle.
My Lords, I wish to make a brief intervention. In terms of infrastructure, nothing has had a more devastating effect on the countryside and nature than HS2—for no purpose at all, which is very sad. The point I wish to put to the Minister relates to compulsory purchase orders. I...
My Lords, I wish to make a brief intervention. In terms of infrastructure, nothing has had a more devastating effect on the countryside and nature than HS2—for no purpose at all, which is very sad. The point I wish to put to the Minister relates to compulsory purchase orders. I...
I am sorry to interrupt again, and I appreciate that other amendments deal with this, but the very simple principle is that if you are buying somebody’s land, you should pay a fair market price for it, surely.
I am sorry to interrupt again, and I appreciate that other amendments deal with this, but the very simple principle is that if you are buying somebody’s land, you should pay a fair market price for it, surely.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they reimburse the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for assistance with boats bringing migrants across the Channel; and, if so, what is the basis for that reimbursement; and what is the total cost to date.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they reimburse the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for assistance with boats bringing migrants across the Channel; and, if so, what is the basis for that reimbursement; and what is the total cost to date.
HM Government does not reimburse the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for any Search and Rescue (SAR) activity and does not differentiate the SAR response to small boats crossing the Channel from any other type of SAR.
Would the noble Baroness accept that even a small number of illegal immigrants in a tiny village can have as much effect as a larger number in an urban area?
Would the noble Baroness accept that even a small number of illegal immigrants in a tiny village can have as much effect as a larger number in an urban area?
My Lords, I had not meant to take part in this debate, but I wonder whether I am the only Member of your Lordships’ Committee who is finding it rather surreal—mainly the lack of
urgency, although I am not blaming the Minister for that. However, even as we speak in...
My Lords, I had not meant to take part in this debate, but I wonder whether I am the only Member of your Lordships’ Committee who is finding it rather surreal—mainly the lack of
urgency, although I am not blaming the Minister for that. However, even as we speak in...
To ask His Majesty's Government how many farms have lost land to, or been affected by, the route of HS2.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many farms have lost land to, or been affected by, the route of HS2.
HS2 records show 346 farms were included within both Acts of Parliament. These Farms will be impacted to varying degrees, including through loss of land due to acquisition or other effects, such as impacts to access or impacts from noise.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many houses have been compulsorily purchased along the route of HS2, and how many have been demolished.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many houses have been compulsorily purchased along the route of HS2, and how many have been demolished.
HS2 Ltd does not categorise properties by type - i.e. ‘houses’ - as a property can have mixed usage. For example, a farm can be (or have within it properties which are) residential, commercial, and/or agricultural, and similarly, a pub can be (and often is) both residential and commercial.
HS2 Ltd does record the number of property compensation claims made, however, the quantity of claims does not indicate how many houses (or other properties) have been acquired because property arrangements are highly varied.
HS2 Ltd does record the amount of land that has been acquired. To date, approximately 56km2 of land has been acquired for Phases One and 2a through compulsory purchase. No land or properties have been compulsory purchased along the route of Phase 2b as HS2 Ltd has never had the legal powers to do so.
In respect to demolitions, HS2 records show that 332 structures have been or were scheduled to be demolished along the route of HS2. It should be noted that this figure is not limited to properties but includes other structures such as substations and bridges.
To ask His Majesty's Government why they closed the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund; and what plans they have to ensure that there are enough trained tree surgeons and arborists to meet demand and to deal with the number of urban trees planted in the past 50 years.
To ask His Majesty's Government why they closed the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund; and what plans they have to ensure that there are enough trained tree surgeons and arborists to meet demand and to deal with the number of urban trees planted in the past 50 years.
The Government recognises forestry skills as vital for achieving environmental targets, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting the economy through sustainable woodland management and green job creation. The Government is facing a very challenging wider fiscal context. This has meant that Defra has had to make difficult decisions about funding which has included not to continue with the Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund in 2025/26. The Forestry Commission is collecting feedback from course attendees and will be working with key stakeholders throughout 2025/26 to deliver the Forestry Sector Skills Plan. There are new technical, higher technical and professional education routes being developed into the forestry sector, and work is underway to improve links with allied sectors such as arboriculture, agriculture and horticulture.
To ask His Majesty's Government why and when they authorised the use of cost-plus instead of fixed-price contracts for payment of contractors on HS2; what consultations they held prior to the change; and who authorised that change.
To ask His Majesty's Government why and when they authorised the use of cost-plus instead of fixed-price contracts for payment of contractors on HS2; what consultations they held prior to the change; and who authorised that change.
This government has been clear that the position on HS2 is totally unacceptable for passengers and taxpayers. It is acknowledged by this government and new CEO Mark Wild that the past contractual performance of our delivery partners has failed to meet cost and schedule expectations.
We have taken action to grip the project and tasked Mark Wild to reset the project, including reforming and resetting the relationship with the supply chain, and to deliver Phase 1 safely and at the lowest reasonable cost.
Throughout the development of the HS2 programme there has been engagement with industry, and input sought from wider government stakeholders, to seek to ensure that the commercial approaches and contracts adopted are appropriate for the individual assets being delivered. Consequently, a variety of different contract forms are in use across the HS2 programme including both fixed price and defined cost contracts (similar to cost plus), as well as other contract forms. For example, HS2 Ltd’s Main Works Civils Contracts (MWCC) are defined cost, incentivised, two-stage design and build contracts based on the NEC 3 Option C target cost contract model. Such NEC contracts are in common usage throughout the UK construction industry as they provide flexibility and encourage a collaborative approach.
Notice to Proceed was granted on HS2 Ltd’s Phase One Main Works Contracts in 2020. At that time there was no prospect of determining a reliable fixed price, nor getting the supply chain to agree to such a model given the residual risk. Therefore fixed price contracts were not viewed as viable.
As with all procurement activity on HS2, these contracts were let in line with HS2 Ltd’s governance and assurance requirements which conform with UK procurement law.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether owners of property purchased for the route of HS2 were required to enter non-disclosure agreements as a condition for receiving compensation, if so why, and who authorised this.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether owners of property purchased for the route of HS2 were required to enter non-disclosure agreements as a condition for receiving compensation, if so why, and who authorised this.
It is not a condition of receiving compensation for property purchased on the HS2 route that the owner must enter into a non-disclosure agreement.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much the HS2 project has cost to date; what estimate they have made of the cost of completing the project; and when they anticipate that it will be completed.
To ask His Majesty's Government how much the HS2 project has cost to date; what estimate they have made of the cost of completing the project; and when they anticipate that it will be completed.
This Government inherited an exceptionally bad position at HS2, and has been working hard to grip HS2’s spiralling costs and has tasked HS2 Ltd’s CEO with conducting a comprehensive review of the programme, including assessing the current position on cost and schedule. He will provide advice for government to assess leading to agreeing a reset budget in 2026.
As reported in the last HS2 report to Parliament in December 2024, overall spend to date was £30.2 billion (2019 prices). An update will be provided in the next report to Parliament.
The date for delivery of initial HS2 services between Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common by 2033 remains, but there are significant pressures on this schedule.
We will report to Parliament once we have agreed a revised estimate for cost and schedule.
My Lords, when I spoke in a recent debate on agriculture, I took as my text “Barley, Not Bulrushes”. I still think that is an excellent slogan: it sums up in three words the utter nonsense of current policies coming from Defra, the department responsible for feeding our nation, which...
My Lords, when I spoke in a recent debate on agriculture, I took as my text “Barley, Not Bulrushes”. I still think that is an excellent slogan: it sums up in three words the utter nonsense of current policies coming from Defra, the department responsible for feeding our nation, which...
My Lords, my text for today is “Barley, Not Bulrushes”.
There is nothing more damaging to the fate of a nation than a Government with a huge majority taking massive decisions affecting us all without having the slightest understanding of what they are doing, or perhaps—which is even more frightening—understanding
the damage...
My Lords, my text for today is “Barley, Not Bulrushes”.
There is nothing more damaging to the fate of a nation than a Government with a huge majority taking massive decisions affecting us all without having the slightest understanding of what they are doing, or perhaps—which is even more frightening—understanding
the damage...