Lord Jones of Cheltenham questions to the Department for Transport
- Jun 3, 2021
- 1 min read
3rd June 2021
Answered on: Tuesday 1 June 2021
Department for Transport
Lord Jones Of Cheltenham : To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will require HS2 to publish (1) the number of trees they have removed, (2) the number of trees they have planted, and (3) the areas where these changes have been made. [HL278]
Baroness Vere Of Norbiton :(1) HS2 Ltd does not specifically record or count individual trees removed or required for clearance, as recording is undertaken on an area basis (measured by hectare).
(2) As part of Phase One alone, HS2 Ltd will plant up to seven million trees and shrubs. Over 700,000 of those trees have already been planted. The area of new woodland will be well in excess of that which is lost. HS2 is creating more than 3300 hectares (33 square kilometres) of new woodland, wildlife and river habitats alongside the line from the West Midlands to London.
(3) Woodland areas to be lost as a result of HS2’s construction, and also those sites to be used for woodland creation, are described in the relevant Environmental Statement, published alongside the relevant legislation for each phase of the project.
Further updates on HS2 Ltd’s environmental performance, including with respect to the loss of ancient woodland and associated compensation response, will be published in the autumn.
Parliamentary questions like these play an important role in ensuring transparency and accountability within public services. Discussions around transport policy often have a direct impact on daily life, affecting everything from accessibility and infrastructure planning to economic growth and environmental goals. It’s encouraging to see policymakers raising detailed questions that can help improve decision-making and public outcomes. At Assignment Help, we often notice how topics like governance and public policy generate strong academic interest, particularly among students seeking Assignment Help Ireland for research-based projects. Which transport issue raised in these questions do you think deserves the highest priority from the Department for Transport?
It's great to see such detailed answers about HS2 and its impact on trees and the environment. Projects like this must be transparent about what they're doing. Just like professional presentation designers who carefully plan and design their work, HS2 should communicate how many trees they take down and what new areas they create. This way, everyone can understand the project's environmental effects better.