House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

HS2 Compensation Payments

Thursday 24 June 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

Andrea Leadsom asked about steps to ensure prompt HS2 compensation payments
Minister acknowledged the need for HS2 Ltd to treat those affected with consideration and respect
HS2 land and property review measures are being implemented to speed up compensation payments

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrea Leadsom Con

Transport

Context

Compensation delays and poor treatment of affected individuals and businesses due to HS2.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure that all HS2 compensation payments are made promptly. My hon. Friend has done a great job since taking over as HS2 Minister, but I am sure he will agree that there is so much evidence of appalling behaviour from HS2 in the way that it is treating individual households and businesses and its slowness to compensate even the outgoing legal costs of those who are simply trying to protect their own homes and businesses. What can he do to improve the compassion, quite frankly, as well as the efficiency of HS2?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

My right hon. Friend makes a powerful case. HS2 Ltd can and must treat those affected by HS2 with consideration and respect. To that end, I am pleased to say that the root-and-branch review of land and property cases that I commissioned is now starting to bear fruit. I hold HS2 Ltd to direct account in a fortnightly review of the most complex cases, and I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend for drawing my attention to several pressing constituency cases in her area.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or timeline for prompt compensation payments were not provided.

How: I Hold Hs2 Ltd To Direct Account In A Fortnightly Review Of The Most Complex Cases

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Q2 Andrea Leadsom Con

Transport

Context

Concerns about delays and poor treatment of individuals and businesses affected by HS2.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure that all HS2 compensation payments are made promptly. My right hon. Friend has done a great job since taking over as HS2 Minister, but I am sure he will agree that there is so much evidence of appalling behaviour from HS2 in the way that it is treating individual households and businesses and its slowness to compensate even the outgoing legal costs of those who are simply trying to protect their own homes and businesses. What can he do to improve the compassion, quite frankly, as well as the efficiency of HS2?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

May I start by congratulating my right hon. Friend on her recognition in the birthday honours list? My HS2 land and property review, published in November 2020, set out a number of measures to speed up the payment of compensation, and we are making rapid progress in implementing the recommendations of that review.