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UK Parliament

High Speed Rail Bill: Lords third reading

1 February 2017

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The High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill had its third reading, a chance to 'tidy up' the bill and make changes, in the Lords on Tuesday 31 January.

Members considered a change to the motion 'that this bill do now pass', that would have altered the word 'now' to 'not'. This would have the effect of stopping the bill from passing. There was a vote on this change, with 25 members voting for it and 385 members voting against. This meant that the change to the motion was not made, and the bill passed its third reading in the Lords. (The tellers for the against side reported 386 votes, while the clerks recorded 385 names. Tellers on the for side recorded 26 votes, while the clerks recorded 25 names).

Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the bill it received Royal Assent on 23 February 2017. Royal Assent is the monarch's agreement to make the bill into an Act of Parliament (law).

Lords report stage: Tuesday 24 January

Members discussed subjects including proposed start dates for construction, estimates of costs, traffic regulation, protected species and Euston station. There were two divisions (votes) on proposed changes to the bill.

Members discussed the merits of an interim terminus for High Speed 2 at Old Oak Common, a planned railway station in northwest London. A change to the bill was proposed to commission a review to examine these benefits, and this went to a vote. 80 members were in favour, with 261 against, so the change was not made.

Members then turned to lorry traffic around construction sites in the Euston area. They voted on an amendment to produce plans setting out how to limit such traffic. In this vote, 63 were for the change with 161 against. This meant the change was not made. 

High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill Select Committee (Lords)

A Lords Select Committee (a small group of selected members) heard petitions from individuals and organisations seeking to make changes to the Bill. This Committee published their report on 15 December 2016.

Following publication of its report, the Committee disbanded. The government has published its response to the Committee’s report.

Lords second reading: Thursday 14 April 2016

Summary of the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill 2013-14 to 2015-16

To make provision for a railway between Euston in London and a junction with the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Water Orton in Warwickshire to Curzon Street in Birmingham.

Further information

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