:00:00. > :00:00.record. This now maintain an orderly atmosphere as the Secretary of State
:00:00. > :00:08.for transport makes his way to the dispatch box to deliver his
:00:09. > :00:12.statement. Secretary Chris Grayling. Well, Mr Speaker may start by saying
:00:13. > :00:17.how grateful I am for that statement. I am pleased to be front
:00:18. > :00:21.of the House tonight and as you know Mr Speaker sometimes these things
:00:22. > :00:31.can happen as a result of clock up rather than conspiracy. Today, Mr
:00:32. > :00:37.Speaker Martine major milestone in the German fans to deliver HST. It
:00:38. > :00:41.would have is the real capacity network that will need for the next
:00:42. > :00:46.century and faster journeys and kinetic collectivity between cities
:00:47. > :00:50.in the UK. As a next to the House to the UK will wording stage one for
:00:51. > :00:57.the phase one would from London to Birmingham. This was covers design
:00:58. > :01:01.and preconstruction activities but it is safe to say that initial work
:01:02. > :01:05.is safe to say that initial works are begun. We expect the contracts
:01:06. > :01:11.to be signed by the end of this month after the completion of the
:01:12. > :01:14.mandatory standstill period. Stages one and stage is the full
:01:15. > :01:21.construction phase is worth ?6.2 billion. They will create about
:01:22. > :01:24.16,000 during jobs around the country and expected to create 7000
:01:25. > :01:35.opportunities in the supply chain of which I expect about 60% to go to
:01:36. > :01:40.SMEs. Mr Speaker, as well as that announcement, I'm today introducing
:01:41. > :01:52.the faith to a high-speed rail Westminster to crew -- West Midlands
:01:53. > :01:56.to crew. This is only had that the Westminster putt the design of the
:01:57. > :02:00.root said that in the Bill was likely as announced in 2015 however
:02:01. > :02:02.there are three refinements following consultation latter. I
:02:03. > :02:08.have decided to move the connection to the West Coast mainline and the
:02:09. > :02:15.start of the tunnel in crew further south, and also decided to move the
:02:16. > :02:23.construction railhead from the Basra area near As many of that opinion
:02:24. > :02:30.say no. To -- As many of that opinion say no. Norristown.
:02:31. > :02:44.Attributed to the better side from which to maintain phase two A. This
:02:45. > :02:51.new silicon can book construction going north and south
:02:52. > :02:54.simultaneously. It will act good access to the M6 in the existing
:02:55. > :03:02.rail network at this location. Speaking of Crewe at moving family
:03:03. > :03:09.bathroom area where voice housing regeneration in that area and
:03:10. > :03:15.reduces the impact of only two a route. It was were saying that that
:03:16. > :03:22.area Basford is one of their most significant economic and housing
:03:23. > :03:26.development areas. These have also been carefully designed to minimise
:03:27. > :03:27.the local impact, particularly the community of John Field and having
:03:28. > :03:35.heard local In preparing this Bill, HS two has
:03:36. > :03:41.sought to minimise the impact on environment and communities. There
:03:42. > :03:45.will now be a consultation, which will provide the opportunity to
:03:46. > :03:51.comment on the environmental effects and the reasonable alternatives
:03:52. > :03:55.considered. This process will result in a report from an independent
:03:56. > :04:09.assessor, provided to all members of the House before the second reading.
:04:10. > :04:15.Turning now to crew. The... I know there is a strong ambition to
:04:16. > :04:25.achieve this. I am launching a consultation in options to develop a
:04:26. > :04:29.crew hub. This will extend to Stoke-on-Trent and bring benefits to
:04:30. > :04:32.places like Chester, North and South Wales, and Shrewsbury. It will be
:04:33. > :04:38.subject to affordability and value for money. A Crewe hub will require
:04:39. > :04:43.working together, but I believe there is the potential to develop
:04:44. > :04:49.more benefits. Finally, I announce my decision on the outstanding
:04:50. > :04:53.sections of the phase two route to Leeds, consulted on last year. After
:04:54. > :04:57.carefully considering the responses, I have considered this issue very
:04:58. > :05:02.carefully. I have decided to confirm the following changes to the route.
:05:03. > :05:06.Though Westlake rolling stock depot will move to a site north of Crewe.
:05:07. > :05:13.This will be included in the full environmental assessment. I have
:05:14. > :05:19.looked carefully at that assessment. A 26 kilometre section of the route
:05:20. > :05:23.in the middle will change and be raised as it passes through the
:05:24. > :05:26.Cheshire salt plains to avoid brining and gas storage
:05:27. > :05:31.infrastructure. The changes to Manchester Piccadilly station will
:05:32. > :05:36.reduce impact on residential areas and a primary school. The route near
:05:37. > :05:41.East Midlands Airport will follow the eastern side of the a 42, which
:05:42. > :05:44.avoids tunnelling under the airport and reduces the impact on some
:05:45. > :05:51.communities. In Long Eaton, the route will pass on a viaduct, the
:05:52. > :06:01.route in South Yorkshire will be the group we we consulted on and serves
:06:02. > :06:08.Sheffield City centre by a spur on the HS2 line. I am asking HS2 to
:06:09. > :06:12.take forward a provision giving a City centre to City centre
:06:13. > :06:16.connection, which is important for the future development of Northern
:06:17. > :06:22.Powerhouse rail as well. We will continue to work on the Parkway
:06:23. > :06:24.station. Finally, I have decided not to proceed with the proposed change
:06:25. > :06:34.of fruit in East mission. This route has moved approximately
:06:35. > :06:39.80 metres and the viaduct extended to mitigate commercial property
:06:40. > :06:42.impact. I have also heard the concerns raised by local communities
:06:43. > :06:48.about the proposed Eastern leg rolling stop depot. There is a
:06:49. > :06:52.better option on which I am now consulting, east of Leeds and the
:06:53. > :06:58.air Valley, adjacent to the M1 on a Brownfield site. I intend to bring
:06:59. > :07:04.forward a third hybrid, and in preparation of that Bill, HS2 is
:07:05. > :07:14.consulting on the methodology to be used. Today's decision, I know,
:07:15. > :07:21.bring certainty to communities that have been unsure for years. I am
:07:22. > :07:25.updating the construction and operation of the line. I can also
:07:26. > :07:28.confirm the same range of property schemes currently operating phase
:07:29. > :07:33.one and phase two A will be available for phase two B. This goes
:07:34. > :07:38.what is required by law and gives assistance to those along the route.
:07:39. > :07:39.I have made amendments to some of the detail of urban brutal
:07:40. > :07:50.boundaries for phase to be. Mr Speaker, a report published today
:07:51. > :07:56.by property specialists tell us the particular circumstance of the
:07:57. > :08:01.development in South Yorkshire, it means the package may not allow some
:08:02. > :08:04.homeowners to acquire a similar property in the area. In light of
:08:05. > :08:09.the findings, I can confirm the government will ensure homeowners
:08:10. > :08:14.can secure a comparable home as referred to in my summary document,
:08:15. > :08:20.to won from concept to reality, which is published today. That is
:08:21. > :08:22.really important, Mr Speaker. We need HS2, since privatisation, the
:08:23. > :08:31.number of passenger journeys on our rail network has doubled. We cannot
:08:32. > :08:39.continue to rely on the legacy of our round network. HS2 will free up
:08:40. > :08:42.space on existing railways, reducing overcrowding, allowing options for
:08:43. > :08:45.more varied and frequent services, including four places which
:08:46. > :08:48.currently do not have a good connection to London. This will
:08:49. > :08:59.allow more freight trains, and could double the number of peak-time seats
:09:00. > :09:01.on services, compared to today. It has the potential to double peak
:09:02. > :09:05.seats from London to Peterborough, and East Coast destinations further
:09:06. > :09:10.north. Significant investment needs to offer good value for money, as
:09:11. > :09:15.HS2 does, and I am publishing today be updated business case for phase
:09:16. > :09:19.two, showing that including wider economic benefits, the network will
:09:20. > :09:24.create ?2.30 benefit for every ?1 spent. We want to make the best of
:09:25. > :09:30.our investment in HS2. When phase one becomes operational, HS2 trains
:09:31. > :09:36.will run all over the UK. Phase two will reduce journey times between
:09:37. > :09:39.London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and to my Scottish colleagues, we will
:09:40. > :09:43.continue to work with transport Scotland and Network Rail to look at
:09:44. > :09:48.the best ways to reduce times towards an ultimate ambition of
:09:49. > :09:52.three-hour journey times. We are also looking at opportunities to use
:09:53. > :09:57.HS2 to support Northern Powerhouse rail and Midlands connect. I know
:09:58. > :10:01.that for those living along the line of route, today's announcement will
:10:02. > :10:12.not be welcome news. There will be concerned over how HS two will work.
:10:13. > :10:16.I am determined that we will engage extensively with everyone affected
:10:17. > :10:23.and we will show fairness, compassion and respect. All the
:10:24. > :10:27.products mentioned today will be in the hybrid of both houses. Our plan
:10:28. > :10:31.for Britain is to build a stronger, fairer country with an economy that
:10:32. > :10:35.works for everyone, with wealth and opportunity spread across the
:10:36. > :10:42.country. And we set up to succeed in the long term. Investment is a key
:10:43. > :10:50.part of this. To one that will be the backbone of the new rail
:10:51. > :10:54.network, and will transfer ice into the 21st century. It will bring our
:10:55. > :10:59.country closer together and support our economic growth. The benefits of
:11:00. > :11:04.HS2 will be felt across the whole United Kingdom, and I commend this
:11:05. > :11:11.statement to the House. Andy MacDonald. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I
:11:12. > :11:16.thank you, Mr Speaker, for hearing the point of order earlier today
:11:17. > :11:21.made by my right honourable friend, the Member for Doncaster North. What
:11:22. > :11:24.can encourage the Secretary of State to better inform the House of the
:11:25. > :11:30.crucial decisions he has reached on one of the most significant, costly
:11:31. > :11:34.pieces of transport infrastructure that this country has proposed the
:11:35. > :11:38.many a year. Acts the Secretary of State will explain what happened
:11:39. > :11:43.earlier today, given the widespread trailing of an oral statement on the
:11:44. > :11:48.anticipated announcement, but subsequent disappointment of this
:11:49. > :11:53.House at being asked to settle initially for a written statement
:11:54. > :11:57.that is until such times as the outcry seemingly reached the
:11:58. > :12:04.Transport Secretary's years, and his somewhat elated appearance in the
:12:05. > :12:07.chamber here tonight. Mr Speaker, Labour has consistently supported
:12:08. > :12:13.HS2, and the attendant benefits it will bring. And indeed, was its
:12:14. > :12:18.initial proposer in 2009. But that support brings with it many
:12:19. > :12:27.questions. On the construction, there are concerns that companies
:12:28. > :12:31.selected to do this blacklisted workers. What assurances can
:12:32. > :12:36.Secretary of State give that no such practices will be tolerated in
:12:37. > :12:41.delivery of HS2? Far too often insignificant project in recent
:12:42. > :12:44.times, overseas contractors and there are several that have been
:12:45. > :12:48.awarded contract here, have brought in their own labour, and have
:12:49. > :12:54.exclusively recruited from jurisdictions outside the UK.
:12:55. > :12:57.Clearly, HS2 represents huge employment and career opportunities
:12:58. > :13:00.for apprentices and established workers alike, so can the Secretary
:13:01. > :13:05.of State guarantee that the practices we have seen, the
:13:06. > :13:08.construction industry that have excluded UK workers from projects,
:13:09. > :13:14.will not be allowed to obtain in the construction of HS2? There are
:13:15. > :13:21.concerns about the financial health of Karelian. Can he suggest these
:13:22. > :13:23.measures he has put in place to assure the financial stability of
:13:24. > :13:31.any contractors will not delay or add to the cost of the project. It
:13:32. > :13:35.wasn't his job to monitor conflict of interest in the delivery of HS2,
:13:36. > :13:41.but given the revelations of the revolving door, between HS2 and the
:13:42. > :13:46.engineering firm, does he access that he does in fact have such an
:13:47. > :13:50.obligation if the public are to have confidence in the contractual
:13:51. > :13:53.arrangements between HS2 and the contractors. And on the overall
:13:54. > :13:59.cost, what assurances and guarantees can he give that the total cost will
:14:00. > :14:03.not exceed the stated ?55.7 billion, and will not spiral as has been
:14:04. > :14:07.alleged in certain quarters. In one of the many documents published
:14:08. > :14:12.today, we were told that in adopting the route in South Yorkshire, whilst
:14:13. > :14:18.HS2 Limited has included in the costs of the estimate of a junction
:14:19. > :14:20.north of Sheffield and back onto the HS2 line, it hasn't costed
:14:21. > :14:26.electrification of the Midland mainline between Clay Cross and
:14:27. > :14:31.Sheffield Midland. Or from Sheffield to the north. So can the Secretary
:14:32. > :14:36.of State therefore advise the House whether it is intention that the
:14:37. > :14:39.line be electrified in readiness HS2, and if so, when, or whether he
:14:40. > :14:48.is working on the basis that trains to Sheffield will be bimodal and the
:14:49. > :14:55.line will remain an electrified. Can the Secretary of State supply
:14:56. > :14:58.particulars in respect of potential Parkway stations, and can Secretary
:14:59. > :15:03.of State also provide an update as to the progress of a northern East
:15:04. > :15:06.to West rail link up to the north-west, namely Crossrail for the
:15:07. > :15:10.North, and its connection with HS2, and what discussions he has had with
:15:11. > :15:15.transport for the North in that regard. Finally, will he reassure
:15:16. > :15:23.the House that the announcement on the progress on HS2 will not be
:15:24. > :15:24.followed by an announcement of further yet delays of
:15:25. > :15:36.electrification of the trans-Pennine route. I am grateful for the
:15:37. > :15:40.opposition's support for the HS2 project, and I hope we can work
:15:41. > :15:46.together on it. It unites the House, or a large proportion, in this is a
:15:47. > :15:54.necessary development. As I said a moment ago, I am pleased to be here
:15:55. > :16:03.now. We have clock up and not conspiracy. On the construction
:16:04. > :16:09.contracts, let me say first of all that we have contracted a range of
:16:10. > :16:15.significant British companies as part of the awarding of the contract
:16:16. > :16:18.today. We have a range of consortia participating. Many of the consortia
:16:19. > :16:23.are an integral part of Crossrail, our biggest engineering project
:16:24. > :16:27.here, and the biggest in Europe. We have a good team of UK
:16:28. > :16:29.organisations, international organisations, used to working in
:16:30. > :16:32.this country to deliver big infrastructure projects. The
:16:33. > :16:38.assurance I give to the honourable gentleman of the House, I have been
:16:39. > :16:43.clear all along that those companies that win contracts for HS2, whether
:16:44. > :16:48.it is the construction, we will have an obligation to make a commitment
:16:49. > :16:55.to leave a lasting skills project, apprenticeships, skills development
:16:56. > :17:04.and we have colleges in Birmingham and Doncaster that will help develop
:17:05. > :17:09.real expertise for the future. We would all hope it pulls through
:17:10. > :17:18.because I want to see British business succeed. Carrilion are
:17:19. > :17:21.committed to deliver their part of the contract, and I am confident,
:17:22. > :17:25.what ever the situation, the consortium will deliver the results
:17:26. > :17:36.we expect. We talked about conflict of interest. HS2M have pulled out of
:17:37. > :17:39.the contract and I want to assure we have proper behaviour by companies
:17:40. > :17:42.in the future or they will not be able to continue to work for us if
:17:43. > :17:47.they do not do the right thing. He asked about the total cost, there
:17:48. > :17:51.have been wild rumours in the last 24 hours about the cost of the
:17:52. > :17:57.project based on, frankly, a finger in the air by people not involved in
:17:58. > :18:05.the project. I Sibley remind the House that it is ridiculous to
:18:06. > :18:10.suggest HS2 costs five times the value of HS one.
:18:11. > :18:17.It is currently on-time and on budget, and I expect it to that way.
:18:18. > :18:20.We have been good with Crossrail and the Olympics, delivering on time,
:18:21. > :18:31.and I am sure we will carry on doing so. He asked about the elective
:18:32. > :18:43.vocation of the 18 route. I see the link is an important part.
:18:44. > :18:48.In terms of the whole northern powerhouse rail project, I am
:18:49. > :18:52.waiting for transport for the North to bring forward their proposals.
:18:53. > :19:02.And indeed, with modernisation, nothing has changed. Can I thank you
:19:03. > :19:04.and the Secretary of State to coming to make a statement on this
:19:05. > :19:09.important project, even at this late time of night. I am willing to
:19:10. > :19:13.discuss HS2 with the Secretary of State at any time of the night or
:19:14. > :19:17.day. The Secretary of State has put a great deal of confidence in the
:19:18. > :19:24.contractors he announced today, who he is an awarding set 6p of taxpayer
:19:25. > :19:27.money to. But by glancing at recent news reports, an Austrian firm is
:19:28. > :19:31.pulling out of a hydroelectric plant contract in Bosnia, and they sought
:19:32. > :20:17.to increase the contract price. Subtitles will resume
:20:18. > :20:28.on 'Monday In Parliament' at 2300.