Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR
Tel: 0300 330 3000
Web Site: www.gov.uk/dft
Ms Samantha Colclough
Our Ref: F0019391
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
19 February 2021
Dear Ms Colclough,
Freedom of Information Act Request - F0019391
Thank you for your request for information which we received on 22 January
2021. The first part of your request is being dealt with under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your second question is being dealt with
under the terms of business as usual as it is a general question and you are
not seeking a specific piece of recorded information.
You asked for the following information:-
‘In square kilometres, how much land, including temporary sites will
HS2 Phase one cover.
Also, how will HS2 rebalance opportunity fairly across the country?’
In regard to your first question, we do not hold the information that you have
asked for. This information is owned by HS2 Ltd. As the company is regarded
as a separate public authority under the FOI Act, you may wish to submit a
direct request to HS2 Ltd. Their FOI Team can be contacted at:
xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx. With regard to your second question, HS2 is a long-term investment that will
transform our country’s transport network, bringing our biggest cities closer
together and boosting productivity. By supporting thousands of skilled jobs,
HS2 will fire up economic growth and rebalance opportunity across this
country.
In addition to the towns and cities which will be directly served by HS2, HS2
will free up space for services on the existing network. The capacity released
on the conventional network will enable improved regional and cross-country
services. HS2 will be a fundamental part of Great Britain’s future rail network,
unlocking benefits for rail passengers across the country, not just those
directly served by the route.
If you are unhappy with the way the Department has handled your request or
with the decisions made in relation to your request you may complain within
two calendar months of the date of this letter by writing to the Department’s
FOI Advice Team at:
E-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Please send or copy any follow-up correspondence relating to this request to
the FOI Advice Team to help ensure that it receives prompt attention. Please
also remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.
Please see attached details of DfT’s complaints procedure and your right to
complain to the Information Commissioner.
Yours sincerely,
Correspondence Team
High Speed and Major Rail Projects Group
Your right to complain to DfT and the Information Commissioner
You have the right to complain within two calendar months of the date of this
letter about the way in which your request for information was handled and/or
about the decision not to disclose all or part of the information requested. In
addition a complaint can be made that DfT has not complied with its FOI
publication scheme.
Your complaint will be acknowledged and you will be advised of a target date
by which to expect a response. Initially your complaint will be re-considered
by the official who dealt with your request for information. If, after careful
consideration, that official decides that his/her decision was correct, your
complaint will automatically be referred to a senior independent official who
will conduct a further review. You will be advised of the outcome of your
complaint and if a decision is taken to disclose information originally withheld
this will be done as soon as possible.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the
right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The
Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
