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| HS2 to cost £10bn more than planned, minister tells MPs | HS2 to cost £10bn more than planned, minister tells MPs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The budget for the HS2 railway has increased by nearly £10bn to more than £40bn, the transport minister has said. | The budget for the HS2 railway has increased by nearly £10bn to more than £40bn, the transport minister has said. |
| Patrick McLoughlin told the Commons the new projected cost of £42.6bn, up from £33bn, would include a large "contingency" fund. | Patrick McLoughlin told the Commons the new projected cost of £42.6bn, up from £33bn, would include a large "contingency" fund. |
| He said the final cost could be lower than the new estimate, but said revising the figure was "right". | He said the final cost could be lower than the new estimate, but said revising the figure was "right". |
| Some Conservative MPs are expected to vote against the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill later. | Some Conservative MPs are expected to vote against the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill later. |
| The new high-speed railway line is intended to link London to Birmingham by 2026, with branches to Manchester and Leeds, via Sheffield, planned by 2032. | The new high-speed railway line is intended to link London to Birmingham by 2026, with branches to Manchester and Leeds, via Sheffield, planned by 2032. |
| The first phase budget is now £21.4bn, with £21.2bn budgeted for phase two. These figures include a contingency fund of £14.4bn across the scheme. | |
| Mr McLoughlin said contingency money was built into the London Olympics budget but the cost ended up "below the price that had been set by the government". | Mr McLoughlin said contingency money was built into the London Olympics budget but the cost ended up "below the price that had been set by the government". |
| "While I expect the final costs to be lower than those I have just outlined... this is the right way to plan the project," he told MPs. | "While I expect the final costs to be lower than those I have just outlined... this is the right way to plan the project," he told MPs. |
| He also said the new budget took account of "design and environmental changes to improve the scheme". | He also said the new budget took account of "design and environmental changes to improve the scheme". |
| There have been changes to the proposed route, including a tunnel under the M6 near Birmingham, | There have been changes to the proposed route, including a tunnel under the M6 near Birmingham, |
| If passed, the bill would give the transport secretary power to spend money developing the HS2 line. | If passed, the bill would give the transport secretary power to spend money developing the HS2 line. |
| 'Years too late' | 'Years too late' |
| A group of mainly Conservative MPs have tabled a rebel amendment, urging MPs to reject the bill until budgets and the route are determined. | A group of mainly Conservative MPs have tabled a rebel amendment, urging MPs to reject the bill until budgets and the route are determined. |
| The rebellion is being led by former cabinet minister Cheryl Gillan, whose Amersham constituency will be affected by the plans. | The rebellion is being led by former cabinet minister Cheryl Gillan, whose Amersham constituency will be affected by the plans. |
| "I have to try my best - I couldn't put my head on my pillow if I had not tried," she said. | "I have to try my best - I couldn't put my head on my pillow if I had not tried," she said. |
| "I was first opposed to this project because it went through my constituency and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - once you designate it as that, you have got to protect it. | "I was first opposed to this project because it went through my constituency and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - once you designate it as that, you have got to protect it. |
| "[But the project] is 30 years too late - technology and the whole of the UK is moving in a different direction." | "[But the project] is 30 years too late - technology and the whole of the UK is moving in a different direction." |
| Mrs Gillan's motion has been backed by 27 other Conservative MPs, plus four Labour, one Green, one Plaid Cymru and one independent. | Mrs Gillan's motion has been backed by 27 other Conservative MPs, plus four Labour, one Green, one Plaid Cymru and one independent. |
| But Labour backs the high-speed rail project, meaning the government is expected to easily win the vote. | But Labour backs the high-speed rail project, meaning the government is expected to easily win the vote. |
| Robert Oxley from the Taxpayers' Alliance described the project as a "white elephant", which wouldn't deliver the economic benefits ministers claim. | Robert Oxley from the Taxpayers' Alliance described the project as a "white elephant", which wouldn't deliver the economic benefits ministers claim. |