Overview

This bill authorizes government spending on preparatory work for a high-speed rail network connecting major cities in England, including London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester. It allows for expenditure on pre-construction activities, land acquisition, and compensation related to the project.

Description

The High Speed Rail (Preparation) Bill grants the Secretary of State, with Treasury approval, the power to spend money on preparing for a new high-speed rail network. This includes:

• Pre-construction activities: Surveying, design, and planning.
• Land acquisition: Purchasing land needed for the railway lines and related infrastructure.
• Compensation: Paying compensation to individuals and businesses affected by the project.

The network will connect at least London, Birmingham, the East Midlands, Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester, and integrate with existing transport networks. The Secretary of State must submit annual reports to Parliament detailing spending, including a breakdown of capital and resource expenditure, any budget overruns or underspends and their impact on the overall £50.1 billion (2011 prices) budget, and any assets received.

Government Spending

The bill allows for unspecified government expenditure on the preparatory phase of the high-speed rail project. While a total budget of £50.1 billion (in 2011 prices) is mentioned for the overall project, this bill only covers preparatory costs. The exact amount of spending authorized under this bill is not specified.

Groups Affected

Groups potentially affected include:

• Landowners and businesses: Potentially affected by land acquisition or construction and entitled to compensation.
• Residents near the proposed route: May experience disruption during construction and potential changes to their environment.
• Construction workers and related industries: May benefit from employment opportunities created by the preparatory work and subsequent construction.
• Commuters and travelers: Will eventually benefit from faster and more efficient rail travel if the project proceeds to construction.

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