MP says cost cannot be justified
Having voted against the HS2 proposals when they came before Parliament on 26th June 2013, John Baron MP has written to the Chancellor urging him to reconsider his decision to fund the project, whilst continuing to lobby Ministers.
John says:
“The scheme may reduce journey time between major cities, but advances in technology, even since the last Election, mean this time can now be profitably employed. This potential will only increase in the near future with the advent and increased availability of 4G data services.”
“Evidence from other advanced economies suggests that when high speed systems are introduced, they can have the effect of either draining resources away from regional railway systems or centralising economic activity on the capital – or both.”
“Overall, the cost is hard to justify in these austere times , particularly when we see our Armed Forces being cut to the bone – to give just one example – and when people are struggling generally with the rising cost of living.”
Ends
Word Count: 179
Date: 5th September 2013
Notes to Editors
Those who opposed HS2 lost the vote.
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