This Committee has reported regularly on progress with the High Speed 2 programme over the last decade. Our first report was in 2013 and even at that early stage we were warning about an emerging pattern of costs increasing, benefits decreasing, and the apparent lack of the necessary commercial expertise to oversee the programme. We continued to report our concerns over the years, for example being critical about the lack of transparency over increasing costs, about some of the decisions take...

This Committee has reported regularly on progress with the High Speed 2 programme over the last decade. Our first report was in 2013 and even at that early stage we were warning about an emerging pattern of costs increasing, benefits decreasing, and the apparent lack of the necessary commercial expertise to oversee the programme. We continued to report our concerns over the years, for example being critical about the lack of transparency over increasing costs, about some of the decisions taken by management, and about engagement with the people, communities and businesses near the route. Our most recent report before this one was in July 2023 Type: conclusion | Number: 1 | Response status: accepted Government response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. the programme’s updated business case. The updated business case will capture and outline the process of benefits management and realisation for the programme. In a letter to the Committee dated 1 December 2021