Recommendation 19

In response to our May 2020 recommendation on the lack of transparency on the HS2 programme, the Department began providing six-monthly reports to Parliament on progress, including on costs.44 The Department published its first update in October 2020 and, on Euston, reported that design work was indicating a ‘cost pressure’ or overspend 37 Q 34; C&AG’s Report, para 12 38 Committee of Public Accounts, Oral evidence, High Speed 2: 2022 Spring Update, HC 51,16 May 2022; Q92 39 Q 109; C&AG’s Report, paras 12, 2.21 40 Qq 34, 109; C&AG’s Report, para 13 41 Qq 34–35 42 Qq 9, 25; C&AG’s Report, paras 2.2 and 2.5 43 Q 9, 25 44 Committee of Public Accounts, High Speed 2: Spring 2020 update, Third Report of Session 2019–21, HC 84, 17 May 2020, para 1; Written statement to Parliament, HS2 6 monthly report to Parliament: October 2020, 13 October 2020 14 HS2 Euston against its budget. HS2 Ltd reported this to be ‘in the order of £0.4 billion’ and that further ongoing work might potentially identify further pressures. However, the Department also stated that work was underway to address these pressures.45