Levelling Up Rail Investment in Wales 2022-03-07
2022-03-07
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of rail enhancement investments on levelling up in Wales.
What assessment has been made of the potential effect on levelling up in Wales of rail enhancement investments?
Investment in rail is a very important part of the levelling-up agenda. As well as the £2 billion for Network Rail in Wales over this control period, more than £340 million has been provided for enhancements in Welsh rail from 2019 to 2024. What is more, the UK Government are investing £30 million in the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, supporting about 120 jobs in Wales.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP notes that only 1.5% of UK rail enhancement funding goes to Wales, despite it having 5% of the population and 11% of railway lines. He asks for additional HS2 funding based on a proportional share.
It takes three hours to get from London to Swansea; it takes three hours to get from London to Edinburgh. The reason is that only 1.5% of UK rail enhancement funding goes to Wales, even though it has 5% of the population and 11% of the railway lines. Will the Minister—with the support of the Secretary of State—urge the Treasury to provide funding as a share of HS2 to Wales on the same basis as it provides it to Scotland, given that HS2 is north-south, which would give us an extra £4.6 billion to level up and connect the Union?
The 1% figure that the hon. Gentleman quotes is from a Welsh Government report, which looks only at a very small part of rail investment and does not give a correct picture of the wider investment in Wales that I described. HS2 will of course provide huge benefits to the people of north Wales, who will be connected much more rapidly to the rest of the country.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for additional funding based on a proportional share of HS2 for Wales was not addressed.
The 1% Figure That The Hon. Gentleman Quotes Is From A Welsh Government Report, Which Looks Only At A Very Small Part Of Rail Investment And Does Not Give A Correct Picture Of The Wider Investment In Wales That I Described.
Response accuracy