Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rail Infrastructure Funding

Wednesday 30 June 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Elmore asked about funding for rail infrastructure in Wales, highlighting a funding disparity.
  • The Secretary of State responded with details of committed funding, including 2 billion to Network Rail and specific projects in Wales.
  • Craig Williams requested a meeting to discuss the Cefn bridge bottleneck with the Secretary of State.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Transport Wales
Context

The MP is concerned about the lack of rail investment for Wales over the past decade, despite Wales having more than 11% of UK railway track. The previous government's promise of levelling up has not materialised.

Question

What plans does the Government have to provide funding for rail infrastructure in Wales?

Answer from Simon Hart

We have committed £2 billion to Network Rail for the current control period, and close to £60 million has been committed to upgrade Cardiff Central station and £76 million to electrify the Severn tunnel route. More locally, the Cambrian and Wrexham-Bidston lines and stations at Bow Street and St Clears are also set to receive additional funding.

Answered
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Q2 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Transport
Context

The MP notes that despite Wales having more than 11% of UK railway track, it has received less than 2% of funding over the past decade. The previous government's promise of levelling up remains unfulfilled.

Question

In a previous answer, the Secretary of State said that the UK Government's priority was investment. That clearly is not the case with Welsh railways: we have more than 11% of the track but have not had even 2% of funding over the past decade. It has been a lost decade for Welsh railway infrastructure. The Secretary of State needs to set out quickly with Department for Transport officials how he is going to address the lack of investment and ensure that Welsh railway gets the investment it deserves.

Answer from Simon Hart

The hon. Gentleman is a great campaigner on this issue, but I can only repeat what I said in answer to the substantive question, which was a list of investment. It is all about levelling up and infrastructure—

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions and timelines for addressing past underinvestment were not provided

How: Levelling Up And Infrastructure

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Q3 Craig Williams Con
Transport
Context

The MP highlights the Cefn bridge as a critical bottleneck for mid-Wales and west Midlands economic connectivity. Previous road improvements such as the Pant to Llanymynech bypass have been significant achievements.

Question

The Cefn bridge at Trewern is a bottleneck between mid-Wales and the west midlands economy. Will the Secretary of State meet me and stakeholders to ensure that the Union connectivity review, which I very much welcome, tackles this bottleneck?

Answer from Simon Hart

Absolutely. My hon. Friend is the epitome of energetic campaigning on road improvement and other infrastructure schemes. Who will forget the Pant to Llanymynech bypass as one of the great achievements of the MP for Montgomeryshire? I am happy to confirm that, so excited am I by that prospect, I will be there on Monday next week.

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