HS2 rail report 'based on old data', says government

The government has rejected a report by the National Audit Office, which questions the benefits of the HS2 high-speed rail project.

The NAO said it had "reservations" about how the London-to-Birmingham link would deliver growth, adding that the project had an estimated £3.3bn funding gap.

But the rail minister Simon Burns said: "They are reaching conclusions...based a business case from 18 months ago."