Overview

This bill authorizes government spending on preparatory work for a high-speed rail network connecting major cities in England. This includes activities like surveying, design, land acquisition, and compensation payments.

Description

The High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill allows the Secretary of State, with Treasury approval, to spend money on preparing for a high-speed rail network. This network will connect London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester, and integrate with existing transport systems.

Permitted Expenditure

This includes pre-construction activities (surveying, design), land acquisition, and compensation for affected properties. The bill defines incurring expenditure to include incurring liabilities.

Financial Reporting

The Secretary of State must produce annual reports detailing expenditure (broken down into capital and resource costs), any budget overspends or underspends, their potential impact on the overall £50.1 billion budget (2011 prices), total expenditure to date, and any income received. These reports must also detail vocational qualifications gained by those involved in the project's preparation and construction.

Geographic Scope and Commencement

The Act applies to England, Wales, and Scotland and comes into force upon passing.

Government Spending

The bill authorizes expenditure in preparation for a high-speed rail network. While a specific figure isn't stated in the bill itself, it references a total project budget of £50.1 billion (in 2011 prices), implying that this bill covers the pre-construction phase costs. The exact amount will depend on the level of preparatory work undertaken.

Groups Affected

• Government: Responsible for spending and reporting.
• Landowners and Businesses: May be affected by land acquisition and compensation.
• Construction Industry: Will potentially benefit from contracts related to the preparatory work.
• Residents near the proposed route: May experience disruption during preparatory works and potentially during construction (not directly covered by this bill).
• Individuals employed in the project's preparation and construction: The bill requires reporting on the vocational qualifications they gain.

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