Speaking in the debate on HS2, Anne Main calls for greater transparency and for publication of the Major Projects Authority’s report on the risk.

Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con): My constituency is not directly affected but my constituents have concerns about this, which have not been helped by the fact that the Major Projects Authority’s report on the risk has been suppressed or vetoed. If we are going to have projects like this, greater transparency is needed in respect of them.

Mr McLoughlin: I cannot think of an infrastructure project that has had more reports on it than this one. I set out my reasons for withholding the MPA report: it is important for civil servants to be able to speak freely and in confidence to Ministers. I made a full statement on that particular matter at the time I took the decision.

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Mrs Main: To take the hon. Lady back a few moments, has she actually seen the major projects report on risk, which has been vetoed, and does she believe it should be vetoed?

Mary Creagh: No. I am not a Government Minister, so I have not seen it. The hon. Lady will have to ask her colleague the Secretary of State to share its contents with her.

Mrs Main: Should it be vetoed?

Mary Creagh: That is a decision for the Government and they have taken it. Perhaps the hon. Lady should have put that question to the Secretary of State.

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