Lords to hear from anti-HS2 campaigners
The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee will next week hear from leading campaigners opposed to HS2 as its inquiry into the economic impact of the project continues.
They will also take evidence from an alliance of councils opposed to the scheme and the Institute of Economic Affairs who have criticised the economic case for HS2.
The evidence will be taken in two sessions.
Appearing before the Committee first at 1pm on Tuesday 4 November will be:
- Joe Rukin, Campaign Manager, Stop HS2; and
- Bruce Westen, Director, HS2 Action Alliance.
Questions in this session will focus on the reasons for the organisation's opposition to HS2 including whether they believe High Speed 2 will deliver the economic benefits predicted by the Government and why they are sceptical about the level of passenger demand the government have predicted for HS2.
This will be followed at 2pm by evidence from:
- Councillor Martin Tett, 51m Alliance of Councils; and
- Dr Richard Wellings, Deputy Editorial Director, Institute of Economic Affairs.
The Committee will ask the witnesses to explain 51m's alternative vision for improving capacity on the west coast mainline and how the economic case of this approach compares to HS2, what confidence they have in the government's predictions for the economic benefits of HS2 and whether they agree with the government that HS2 could help rebalance the UK economy.
Both sessions will be held in Committee Room 2A of the House of Lords.
