Railways p in ar 1• lament
Greeningup HS2route
SOUTHWestSurreyMPandformer ForeignSecretaryand HealthSecretary JeremyHuntaskedwhat stepsthe Departmentfor EnvironmentF, ood and RuralAffairsistakingto protect the environmentandwoodlandsin the vicinityof the HS2route.
EnvironmenMt inisterRebecca Powreplied:"HS2aimsto beoneof the mostenvironmentallyresponsible infrastructureprojectseverdeliveredin the UK.
"TheGovernmenat nd HS2Limited havecommittedto providea rangeof tailoredmeasuresto compensatefor its impacts,for example,plantingmorethan sevenmillion newtreesand shrubs,and creatingmorethan 900hectares(ha)of new nativewoodland.
"Atleast400kmof hedgerowswill be createdor translocatedO. ntop of this,the Governmenht ascommitted £?millionin establishingthe HS2 WoodlandFund,helpinglandowners within 25 milesof the railwayto create and restorewoodland.
"Thefirst£1.6mof the fund has
GolborneSpurbacking
WARRINGTONNorth MPCharlotte Nicholsaskedwhat stepsthe DepartmentforTransport(DfT)hasmade on reviewingthe meritsof the inclusion of the GolborneSpursectionin phase2b of the HS2project.
TransportMinisterAndrew Stephensonsaid:"TheGovernmenht as committedto developingan Integrated RailPlan(IRPw) hichwill lookat how to deliverPhase2b of HS2,Northern PowerhouseRailand other NetworkRail programmesbetterand moreeffectively, ensuringthe benefitsarebroughtto the NorthandMidlandsasquicklyand efficientlyaspossible.
"TheGolborneLinkis part of the currentplansfor the westernlegof Phase 2b of HS2.
"TheGolborneLinkisbeing consideredaspart of the IRPw, hichwill assessthe link'sbenefits,costsandthe bestwayto servethe north-westof EnglandandScotland.
"Weexpectthe findingsof the IRPto be publishedby the end of this year.
"Shouldanydesignchangesbe proposedt,hey will be subjectto future consultation:'
Railcardspolicyreview
NEWCASTLE-upon-TCyneentralMP ChiOnwurahaskedwhat estimatethe DfThasmadeof the lossesincurred by Railcardholderswho havenot had accessto railservicesandcompensation availablefor lossof serviceduringthe Covid-19outbreak.
TransportMinisterChrisHeaton-Harris replied:"Railcardasresold and managed bythe RailDeliveryGroup(ROGo)n behalfofthe railindustry.
"Whileno specificassessmenhtas beenmadeof the lossesincurredby Railcardholders,manycustomerscan makebacktheir initial investmentwith the savingsresultingfrom a single journey,or a smallnumberof rail journeys.
"TheRGDisworkingwith train companieson a numberof waysto assist Railcardholders,in light of the current Covid-19relatedtravelrestrictions.
"Departmentaol fficialshavebeen engagingregularlywith the ROGasthey considerpossiblechangesto Railcard conditions:'
Shildonlocomotivemove
BARONESBSennettof ManorCastle askedHerMajesty'sGovernment in a Houseof Lordssittingwhether they planto intervenein the NationalRailwayMuseum'sdecisionto moveLocomotionNo.1from Darlington to Shildon.
TransportMinisterBaroness Barransaid:"Thehistoriclocomotive LocomotionNo.1is owned by the ScienceMuseumGroup,and it is up to the museumitselfto determinewhere andto whom it loansobjectsfrom its collection.
"TheScienceMuseumGroupoperates independentlya, t arm'slengthfrom GovernmentW. ewill not become involvedin, or seekto influence, curatorialdecisions:'