Appointment of Committee Members to the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill Select Committee

• High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill Select Committee (Commons)

Seven Members were appointed to the Committee, with four being chosen from the Government and three from opposition parties, in line with the motions approved by the House on 20 June 2022. Committee members are appointed by the House and, unless discharged, remain on the Committee until either the next dissolution of Parliament or when the Committee has reported the Bill to the House.

The Members appointed are:

• Wayne David, Labour MP for Caerphilly
• Antony Higginbotham, Conservative MP for Burnley
• Grahame Morris, Labour MP for Easington
• Holly Mumby-Croft, Conservative MP for Scunthorpe
• Gavin Newlands, Scottish National Party MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North
• Andrew Percy, Conservative MP for Brigg and Goole
• Martin Vickers, Conservative MP for Cleethorpes

The Chair of the Committee will be elected at the Committee’s first meeting.

Role of the Committee

Now that membership has been approved, the Committee is able to commence its work considering petitions against the Bill.

The Committee provides individuals and bodies directly and specially affected by the Bill with the opportunity to object to the Bill’s specific provisions and to seek its amendment. The Committee will hear the cases made by the promoter of the Bill (the Secretary of State for Transport) and petitioners against the Bill, to determine whether any amendments should be made to the Bill or any assurances or undertakings given by the promoter before the Bill can proceed. 

The Committee is not able to consider the principle or underlying policy of the Bill, nor can the Committee request that the route be changed, or new additional stations or spurs be built.

Hearings with petitioners are expected to start in the New Year.

For further information, or to be added to the mailing list for this Bill, please contact HS2Committee@parliament.uk.

For media enquires related to the Bill, please contact scottsb@parliament.uk.

Image: PA