HS2 boss plans to pay 30 people more than PM

The boss of the High Speed Two (HS2) rail project has said he plans to pay as many as 30 people more than the prime minister's £140,000 salary. The coalition government has repeatedly said public servants should not be given more than David Cameron. But Sir David Higgins said Newsnight paying more was ‘absolutely essential’ to get the right people now rather than when problems developed. Sir David confirmed he would ask for permission to break the rules. The first phase of HS2, between London and Birmingham, is due for completion in 2026, with a second Y-shaped section from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds due to be finished in 2032-33. The cost of the project in its entirety is estimated at £42.6bn, with £7.5bn needed for the high-speed trains. Of the £42.6bn, a total of £14.56bn is contingency. However, Sir David refused to guarantee the project would not go over budget.  He said: ‘I can never guarantee anything personally. What I can do it put in place the decision making process and the right people to make sure we make the right decisions and we can properly and adequately manage the budget.’ Sir David also said the project was about people, not trains. Fears have been raised that the project will benefit London at the expense of northern towns and cities. But Sir David said: ‘It will make more of the North accessible for commuters. It will also facilitate businesses moving north,’ according to BBC.