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Latest news on the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill 2017-19 to 2019-21

The Bill completed Report and Third Reading in the Commons on 15 July 2019. The Bill duly had a formal first reading for introduction in the House of Lords on Tuesday 16 July.

This triggered a petitioning period for the individuals and organisations directly and specially affected by the scheme. Petitioning ran from 17 July to 16 August. A total of 35 petitions were submitted of which 10 have subsequently been withdrawn.

Visit the Select Committee website for the latest news https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/high-speed-rail-west-midlands-crewe-bill-select-committee-lords/ and sight of the published petitions.

Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - took place on 9 September 2019.

The Bill was carried over into the new session. This meant the Bill could continue its progress through Parliament from the start of the session.

Following the 2019 General Election, both Houses passed “revival motions” allowing the Bill to continue its progress. In accordance with these motions the Bill was reintroduced in the House of Commons on 3 March 2020, whereupon it was deemed to have passed through all the stages through which it had passed previously. Prior to the Bill’s reintroduction, Minister Andrew Stephenson made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998: “In my view the provisions of the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill are compatible with the Convention rights".

5/3/20: Select committee appointed: Lord Brabazon of Tara; Lord Goddard of Stockport; Lord Haselhurst; Lord Hope of Craighead (Chair); Lord Horam; Lord Liddle; Lord Snape.

11/3//20: The committee went on a site visit.

16/3/20: The Standing Orders (Private Business) Committee agreed to the submission of a late petition by Theo Clarke MP.

16/3/20: The committee sat for the Promoter's opening statement and on 17/3/20 for the teach-in sessions.

The committee adjourned due to the Covid-19 situation; there is no definite date for the resumption.

Summary of the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill 2017-19 to 2019-21

A Bill to make provision for a railway between a junction with Phase One of High Speed 2, near Fradley Wood in Staffordshire, and a junction with the West Coast Main Line near Crewe in Cheshire; and for connected purposes.