Ministers seek to block publication of report that describes HS2 as in danger of failing
Ministers are planning to block a report that describes HS2 as in danger of failing, labelling it 鈥渞ed/amber鈥�.
According to the Daily Mail, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin and cabinet office minister Francis Maude have written to David Cameron asking him to veto the release of the report.
The Project Assessment Review would create 鈥減olitical and presentation difficulties鈥�, according to a leaked copy of the letter, 鈥渁t a crucial point in the HS2 project鈥檚 development鈥�.
HS2 opponents are using Freedom of Information requests in an attempt to force the release of the document, and the Information Commissioner has ordered the release of the report despite ministers鈥� objections, a decision ministers are considering an appeal against.
The letter continues: 鈥淲e consider that the importance the government attaches to the successful implementation of the HS2 project .鈥�.鈥�. justifies the use of the veto in this case as exceptional.
鈥淒isclosure of such recent information would also have a chilling effect on assessments of other government projects and, indeed, on advice prepared for government ministers on many other subjects.
鈥淐ounsel has advised that it will be better to veto now rather than after an adverse tribunal decision.鈥�
Joe Rukin, from Stop HS2, described it as 鈥渁bsolutely disgraceful鈥� and said: 鈥淚t seems that David Cameron鈥檚 so-called transparency agenda is just a fraudulent aspiration.鈥�
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