Benefits of HS2 questioned as Bill faces second reading
ON the day that the HS2 Bill gets its second reading in the House of Commons, questions are being asked about the economic benefits it will provide to the north of England.
The Bill is expected to pass through the second reading stage fairly comfortably as it has the support of the opposition Labour Party. This is despite the news that around 30 Conservative MPs have indicated they would vote against it or abstain.
But now the right of centre think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs has – not for the first time – questioned the benefits of the high-speed rail scheme which will link Birmingham and London via 225mph trains from 2026 and extend to Manchester and Leeds six years later.
A study by the think tank said the north of England would not see the kind of economic boost promised.
It said employment levels in east Kent had fallen by 3% since the opening of the High Speed One line in the county while Doncaster remained one of England’s least well off areas despite rapid increases in rail speeds to London.
The IEA said that instead of building HS2 the government should improve rail links between northern cities.
Meanwhile, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) – which is convinced of the scheme’s benefits – has called on the Government to speed up construction of the line.
The BCC urged all political parties to set aside their short-term differences and Parliament to approve progress to the scheme quickly.
