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Crossrail Bill was published as HCB 5, session 2007-08 (ISBN 978021579202)

This report summarises the interim decisions and observations of the Select Committee on the High Speed 2 Phase One hybrid bill, prior to the general election of May 2015 and some 10 months after the Committiee's work began.

The Government needs to show real commitment to dealing with the impact that HS2 will have on our countryside and wildlife. It is imperative that an infrastructure project on such a large scale implements proper environmental safeguards and ensures that impacts are minimised. That won't happen if HS2 Ltd can avoid implementing safeguards if they consider them to be 'impracticable' or 'unreasonable'. There needs to be a separate ring-fenced budget for these safeguards and for compensation, separate from the rest of the HS2 budget, to prevent the environment being squeezed if HS2 costs grow. The Government's aim of 'no net biodiversity loss' on HS2 is not good enough - it should aim for environmental gains that the Government promised in its white paper on the Natural Environment. In any case, the Government can't demonstrate it will cause no net harm because it has still not surveyed 40% of the land to be used. Ancient woodland should be treated with particular care. HS2 will damage some woodlands, and where that happens, compensation measures should be much higher than the level indicated in the calculation that HS2 Ltd will use. The HS2 Hybrid Bill will be given its second reading on 28 April, after which it will be referred to a dedicated select committee to examine 'petitions' against it. The Committee criticises the procedure's failure to fully address the requirements of EU and national directives on environmental assessments, which it wants to be at least partly rectified in the forthcoming Parliamentary proceedings

These notes refer to the Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18) (ISBN 9780105418085) which received Royal Assent on 22 July 2008

The Department for Transport received a further 52 representations between 10 June 2005 and 8 August 2007. This is publication lists the significant issues raised in the consultation exercise followed by the detailed responses.

Under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, decision making bodies must consider the environmental effects of projects before allowing them to proceed. As the House of Commons will be asked, at Third Reading, to approve the building of Crossrail this document aims to inform the debate by summarising the work that has been done to assess, control and mitigate the environmental impacts of the scheme. It also explains why the Government takes the view that the project is worthy of support. It covers: the environmental statement; role of the Select Committee; the general approach to the control and mitigation of environmental impacts; post-mitigation impacts; the need for and benefits of Crossrail; and human rights. The appendices, which form the bulk of the document, include a summary of the reason for the Governments support of the project; a list of Information Papers and other sources of information; and examples of correspondence on the consideration of alternatives.

This report contains the final directions and recommendations of the Select Committee on the High Speed 2 Phase One Hybrid Bill after 160 days of sittings over nearly two years. Our responsibility was to hear petitions from those specially and directly affected by the Bill and, where we believed it was appropriate, to suggest modifications, assurances, undertakings or mitigation to address petitioners' concerns. The Committee directed a number of amendments to the proposed HS2 Phase One project. Notably they have directed a longer Chilterns bored tunnel, greater noise protection for Wendover, better construction arrangements in Hillingdon, and a remodelled maintenance depot at Washwood Heath to maximise local job opportunities. There should be a coherent approach to the redevelopment of Euston. In many cases not specifically mentioned in this report we have intervened to encourage fairness, practical settlements, the giving of assurances, or better mitigation. The Committee recommended amendments to the operation of the discretionary compensation schemes which they believe will result in greater fairness and a more functional property market in areas near to the proposed line. They also suggest improvements to the procedure for dealing with hybrid bills.

House of Lords annual Report 2006/07