Thursday Volume 621 23 February 2017 No. 113 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 23 February 2017 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2017 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1127 23 FEBRUARY 2017 1128 Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend House of Commons the Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones). HS2 is putting service-level agreements in place Thursday 23 February 2017 with every single local authority along the line of route to set out the additional funding that we will make available for the new railway line’s construction process. The House met at half-past Nine o’clock Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op): I welcome Royal Assent being given to this much needed PRAYERS investment, but how will the Secretary of State ensure that the promises made about jobs and training [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] opportunities during the construction of High Speed 2 actually materialise? Chris Grayling: I take this very seriously. We have Oral Answers to Questions been very clear when letting contracts—most recently in the information that we put into the market about rolling stock—that we expect this project to leave a lasting skills footprint not just in the areas of construction TRANSPORT but around the United Kingdom. A number of events have been held for potential suppliers to the project The Secretary of State was asked— around the UK, and we have been very clear with all firms, both UK and international, that want to bid to High Speed 2 be part of it that we expect them to leave that footprint. It is an essential part of the project. 1. Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) (Con): What steps are being taken to prepare for the construction Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): Is the Secretary phase of High Speed 2 phase 1. [908838] of State aware that because of the decision to have a station at Sheffield, we will have two HS2 lines running The Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Grayling): through Derbyshire: a fast track and a slow track? HS2 Ltd let the early works contract for activities such Many villages throughout Bolsover will be affected as a as demolitions, site clearances and species translocations result. There is one in particular, Newton, where more in November 2016, with work commencing after Royal than 30 houses are due to be demolished. Will he meet a Assent—you will be aware, Mr Speaker, that earlier this group of residents from that village to try to sort this week the Bill passed its last stages prior to Royal matter out? Assent. The main works civil contracts to construct the main physical works for the railway, including tunnels, Chris Grayling: I am aware of the issue the hon. viaducts and embankments, are due to be let later this Gentleman refers to. I give him the same assurance that year. The initial works on the project will begin shortly I just gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for after Royal Assent. I have been very clear that through Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan): we will do our the construction phase I expect HS2 Ltd and my best to minimise impacts. The Minister alongside me, Department to do everything we can to ensure that the my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate and impact of construction on those affected is mitigated Knaresborough, will answer these questions in more wherever possible. detail in the Adjournment debate tonight. Either he or I will also meet residents to discuss the issue. Mrs Gillan: It is ironic that I should have drawn the first Transport question on the day the Bill for phase 1 Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab): of HS2 gets Royal Assent. Although some people are Some of the homes on the route that are worst affected crowing and backslapping each other about it, let us are in East Acton, which faces 10 years of construction remember that it is tragic for many people. The impact disruption, 24/7. Their gardens have been compulsorily is disproportionately felt by my local authorities, such purchased and the main access route is to be blocked. as Buckinghamshire County Council, and our parish HS2’s QC called my residents “tedious” for pointing councils, such as Great Missenden. Will my right hon. out that they do not qualify for compensation under the Friend reassure me, my constituents and my excellent rural support scheme and that unlike Camden they have councils that the Department for Transport will reimburse not been granted exceptional status. I am encouraged to parish, county and district councils for any reasonable hear that the Secretary of State is putting emphasis on expenses incurred as a result of the construction of this mitigation, because all my constituents have been offered dreadful project, HS2? is express purchase. Will he urgently meet them and the London Borough of Ealing? These people just want to Chris Grayling: I am well aware that when a project of preserve their suburban way of life and not be ridden such national importance is constructed, it inevitably roughshod over. has an effect on some of those who live on the route. I reiterate that we will do everything we can to ensure Chris Grayling: It is important that I remind the hon. that the process is as reasonable and fair as possible for Lady and reiterate what I said. The matters relating to those affected. With regard to local authorities, I give her constituency—the routes through London and the my right hon. Friend that assurance and repeat route on phase 1—have been exhaustively examined, the assurances made in the debate on Monday by the not simply by my Department but by Committees of 1129 Oral Answers 23 FEBRUARY 2017 Oral Answers 1130 this House and the other place. Although we will always Mr Hayes: Let us be clear: we have made real progress be open to representations about ways in which we can to date. In 2016, the UK was the largest market for minimise impact, these issues have been exhaustively ultra-low emission vehicles in the EU and a global dealt with by this Parliament. leader in this development. I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman, in the spirit Diesel Cars of bipartisan generosity that characterises all he does in the House, will welcome the announcement in the autumn 2. Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): statement setting out a further £290 million of funding What steps his Department is taking to reduce the for ultra-low emission vehicles. He says that he wants number of diesel cars. [908839] action, but what more action does he want than the policy, the legislation and the resources—we are taking action. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman is feeling The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Mr John grumpy because it is Thursday morning, but he really Hayes): We are working with local authorities to drive ought to welcome that. the improvements in air quality that are so needed in our more polluted cities. My right hon. Friend the Environment Secretary will consult on a new air quality Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): I point out to the plan later this spring. Minister that figures from the London Assembly Environment Committee from 2015 set out why it is Mr Sheerman: Diesel vehicles are part of the problem wrong to try to demonise diesel cars and their drivers. and we need urgent action on them, but is the Minister Diesel cars account for just over 10% of all emissions in also aware of today’s Environmental Audit Committee London: the same amount, nearly, as Transport for report on how Heathrow will affect pollution and climate London’s buses; the same amount, nearly, as ageing change? I have just come back from Beijing and saw the trains; the same amount, nearly, as ground-based aviation level of pollution there. Will the Minister bear it in services. The issue is not simply diesels. mind that that is not where we want to go for towns and cities in this country? Mr Hayes: As this short discussion on low-emission vehicles and emissions began, I thought, as you Mr Speaker, Mr Hayes: It is important to appreciate, as I know must have done, of Proust, who said, as you will remember: the hon. Gentleman does, that this is not a matter of “The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new some high-flown theory about what might happen in landscapes, but in having new eyes”. many centuries’ time; it is about the wellbeing of people Using those eyes to see to the future is necessary if we now in our cities and elsewhere. The direct relationship are to be ambitious and have vision about where we can between air quality and health is well established. Pollutants go with low-emission vehicles, particularly electric vehicles. are affecting the quality of life—more than that, they We are making progress and we will continue to make are affecting the health and wellbeing of our people. more. The plan that I described, which we will draw up The issue is about the defence and promotion of the this spring, will set out exactly what that progress looks common good, which, as he and the whole House like. know, is always central to my heart. Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Glasgow South) (SNP): Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): I urge On diesel vehicle manufacturers, the Minister knows of Ministers and the Government to do something about my particular interest in Volkswagen.