High Speed 2 : A few first steps

I spent part of Saturday going round the affected parts of the constituency to try to get a more precise idea of how local residents and businesses would be affected if this goes ahead.  It looks to me that along the West of Aylesbury some houses would be less than 100 metres from a viaduct carrying the railway.

Back at westminster, I have applied for an adjournment debate to discuss the impact of the proposed route on Buckinghamshire. Adjournment debates are 30 minute debates that take place every day in the Chamber at the end of the main business and in westminster Hall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. they are intended to provide individual MPs with the chance to raise constituency issues  and the time is normally dicided half-and-half between the MP initiating the debate and the Minister who replies, though we can allow another MP with a similar constituency interest to intervene briefly. There are always more requests for such debates than slots available and I’ll know later this wek whether I have been successful in the ballot.

I’ve also put down four written questions to the Department of Transport. I intend to table additional questions and am very willing to take up questions that constituents would like asked. However, what I would ask you to bear in mind is that for my question to be in order it must meet certain criteria. First, it has to relate to something for which that Department has responsibility. second, it must be phrasedas a request for information or for a statement of policy. a question that seeks to make an argument will be disallowed. Third, hypothetical questions (e.g. “if x happens will the Minister do y”) are not allowed.

The last point is that once the General election is called any questions not already answered simply fall and would need to be retabled in the new Parliament.

The questions I’ve tabled so far are these:

Named Day Written question to: Department for Transport for answer on 18 Mar 2010 12:00 AM
what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government about the impact of his preferred route for High Speed two on the government’s plans for housing and employment growth in Aylesbury, and if he will make a statement.

Named Day Written question to: Department for Transport for answer on 18 Mar 2010 12:00 AM
if he will state how many business premises in (a) the parish of Coldharbour; (b) the parish of Aylesbury; (c) the parish of Stoke Mandeville; (d) the parish of Ellesborough; (e) the parish of Wendover,: (f) the parish of Great Missenden, and (g) the county of Buckinghamshire, lie within (i) 100 metres; (ii) 200 metres; (iii) 300 metres; (iv) 400 metres, and (v) 500 metres of his department’s preferred route for High Speed two, and if he will make a statement.

Named Day Written question to: Department for Transport for answer on 18 Mar 2010 12:00 AM
if he will state how many dwellings in (a) the parish of Coldharbour; (b) the parish of Aylesbury; (c) the parish of Stoke Mandeville; (d) the parish of Ellesborough; (e) the parish of Wendover,: (f) the parish of Great Missenden, and (g) the county of Buckinghamshire, lie within (i) 100 metres; (ii) 200 metres; (iii) 300 metres; (iv) 400 metres, and (v) 500 metres of his department’s preferred route for High Speed two, and if he will make a statement.

Named Day Written question to: Department for Transport for answer on 18 Mar 2010 12:00 AM
if he will make it his policy to instruct High Speed Two Ltd that the company should respond to requests for information from members of the public with at least as much openness as would be required if the company were a public authority as defined by the Freedom of Information Act , and if he will make a statement.