Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 November 2025
Letter to National Highways relating to evidence given to the Committee on tree planting, 3 November 2025
Summary
The Environmental Audit Committee writes to National Highways CEO Nick Harris following his evidence session on tree planting. The committee expresses disappointment that Harris initially stated replanting costs on the A14 fell to contractors due to quality failures, but subsequently clarified these costs were borne by National Highways public funding. The committee seeks detailed breakdown of spending and exploration of contractual and procurement implications.
Key findings
- During oral evidence, National Highways CEO stated replanting costs on A14 fell to contractors as they failed quality standards; follow-up written evidence contradicted this, revealing public funding covered the costs
- Committee expresses disappointment that the inaccuracy prevented sufficient exploration of the issue during the evidence session
- Discrepancy raises questions about whether National Highways bore greater responsibility than initially suggested, or whether contractual deficiencies prevented cost recovery from the contractor
Tone
CriticalTopics
environmental-sustainabilitypublic-procurementtree-plantinginfrastructure
Key actors
Nick Harris, National Highways, Toby Perkins MP, Olivia Blake MP, Environmental Audit Committee
Notable line
“I am disappointed both that public funding has been needed to remedy what you suggested was a contractor fault, and also that this inaccuracy meant the line of questioning in our evidence session was not sufficiently explored.”
Key Quotes
“On the planting, that is a commercial conversation with the contractors. They have not met the quality standards, so that planting is at their cost.”
“That falls on them, yes.”
“Subsequently, you wrote to me to confirm that this was not the case, and it instead came from National Highways — i.e. public — funding.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗