To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Information Commissioner’s Office’s Decision Notice of 16 September 2021, reference IC-76902-C8V1, what representations he has received on the findings of the Information Commissioner’s Office’s investigation that HS2 Ltd breached Regulations 11 and 14 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 in respect of the request to disclose information on whether HS2 Ltd agreed a departure from the Ecology Technical Standard in relation to the ancient woodland translocation works with the works contractor.

As a Non-Departmental Public Body, HS2 Ltd is independently responsible for compliance with the Environmental Information Regulations, and was the subject of ICO Decision Notice IC-76802-C8V1, which it has complied with.

Whilst the Department will receive updates on HS2 Ltd’s compliance with the Regulations, it was not a participant in this case and we have not identified any representations made to the Secretary of State regarding the ICO’s findings.