High Speed 2: Progress at Summer 2021

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 7 Jun 2021 Closed: 14 Dec 2021 Parliament page
One year ago the Public Accounts Committee reported that the High-Speed 2 rail project was “badly off course” with project managers “blindsided by contact with reality” , as it raised serious concerns about the official account that had been provided to the Committee, over time, of the project’s health. The … Read more
11 Recommendations
19 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
5 Letters
2 Events
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
HS2 recall
Bernadette Kelly · Department for Transport Clive Maxwell · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Mark Thurston · HS2 Ltd
HS2 recall
Craig Wakeman · West Midlands Combined Authority Sir John Armitt · National Infrastructure Commission Sir Mark Worthington · HS2 Ltd
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventeenth Report- HS2 Summer 2021 HC 329 22 Sep 2021 30 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventeenth Report- HS2 Summer 2021
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Transport (the Department) and High Speed Two Limited (HS2 Ltd) on the High Speed 2 programme.1 We also took evidence from … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the committee's summary of the evidence-gathering process, restating who gave evidence and noting that the report was published and this is the government's response.
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventeenth Report- HS2 Summer 2021
Following our evidence session, HS2 Ltd wrote to us and set out the high-level schedule...
Following our evidence session, HS2 Ltd wrote to us and set out the high-level schedule and associated budgets (including contingency) for Phase 1 activities discussed at the session. These are set out in the table below: Phase 1 activity Budget … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the Committee's conclusion regarding the Phase 1 schedule and budgets, stating that the third HS2 6-monthly report confirms cost pressures and contingency use. It committed to maintaining this reporting format for future 6-monthly reports.
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventeenth Report- HS2 Summer 2021
The construction of the main civil engineering components of the programme (such as tunnels and...
The construction of the main civil engineering components of the programme (such as tunnels and viaducts) is a major undertaking and was a major cause of delays and cost increases at the time of our last report.16 In a letter … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the Committee's conclusion regarding the programme's costs and contracts, stating that the third HS2 6-monthly report details cost pressures and contingency use. It committed to maintaining this reporting format for future reports.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventeenth Report- HS2 Summer 2021
The Department acknowledged that Euston is a “very urgent and immediate challenge”.
The Department acknowledged that Euston is a “very urgent and immediate challenge”. HS2 Ltd similarly noted that decisions on the final options are time-bound, and that it was concerned that the programme will “literally run out of time”.33 HS2 Ltd … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the Committee's concerns regarding Euston, reporting a decision to move to a smaller, simpler 10-platform design for the station. The updated design is under development, and the department is exploring greater integration with Network Rail, with further details to follow.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Seventeenth Report- HS2 Summer 2021
We asked the Department what assurances it could give that whatever happened at Euston, it...
We asked the Department what assurances it could give that whatever happened at Euston, it would not affect the delivery of the programme overall.36 The Department provided us with details of the assurance process it follows more broadly on the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the conclusion by providing an update on the decision to move to a smaller, 10-platform design for Euston Station, confirming it is in development and will be assured, and that the Euston Partnership continues to explore integration opportunities.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 11 classified

Total 11 recs + 19 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
25 Oct 2021 Correspondence from Mark Wild, CEO, Crossrail Ltd, re Crossrail progress update: Summer 2021, dated 1 October 2021
Parliament page
20 Jul 2021 Correspondence from Bernadette Kelly, Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport, re High Speed 2: Progress at Summer 2021 – further information, dated 13 July 2021
Parliament page
20 Jul 2021 Correspondence Mark Thurston, Chief Executive Officer, High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd, re High Speed 2: Progress at Summer 2021, dated 13 July 2021
Parliament page
21 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Bernadette Kelly, Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport, re Accounting Officer Assessment summary for HS2 Phase 2a, dated 16 June 2021
Parliament page
10 Jun 2021 Correspondence Mark Thurston, Chief Executive Officer, High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd, re Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Report, May 2021, dated 28 May 2021
Parliament page