08.08.18
One in four HS2 staff paid over £100k a year, data shows
A quarter of staff members working on the HS2 project are paid over £100 in their yearly salary, startling new data has found.
Salaries and perks over £100,000 were paid to 318 HS2 Ltd officials last year, which is more than double the number of staff members paid the salary in 2015-16.
A Freedom of Information request by The Times found that 112 workers received more than a £150,000 salary, with 15 receiving over £251,000 a year.
More than £600m was spent on consultants – also double the spends of the year earlier.
The DfT said it is keeping a “tough grip” on costs despite the revelations, noting that the HS2 project remains on budget at £55.7bn.
A spokesperson added: “As the future backbone of our national rail network, HS2 is vital for delivering better connections between our major cities with faster and more frequent services, acting as a catalyst for jobs, housing and economic growth.
“As this significant project moves towards construction, it is essential that HS2 Ltd continues to increase its workforce, attracting the world-class skills and expertise necessary to deliver the project successfully.”
The Times also revealed that chief secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss wrote to Chris Grayling in the spring notifying him of the sky-high salaries at HS2.
Labour MP for West Ham Lyn Brown said Truss should “hang her head in shame” in signing off the use of taxpayers’ money to fund the pay packets of HS2 bosses.
Yesterday the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt called on the government to commit an extra £43bn to “make the most” of HS2.
The first phase of the project is due to open between London and Birmingham in December 2026. Phase 2a from the West Midlands will launch in 2027, and then the Phase 2b from Crew to Manchester, and Birmingham to Leeds, in 2033.
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Image credit: Stefan Rosseau, PA Images