Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rail Funding: HS2 Barnett Consequential

Wednesday 29 March 2023 · 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 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Geraint Davies inquired about the level of rail funding provided to Wales and Scotland as a result of HS2, emphasizing Wales receiving 1.5% of rail enhancement investment for 5% of the UK population, while Scotland receives 8% for its 8% of the population.
  • The Minister responded that the Welsh Government have received a significant increase in their Barnett-based funding due to UK Government spending on HS2, noting a commitment of 2 billion for the period 2019 to 2024, more than double the 900 million invested between 2014 and 2019.
  • Neil Hudson questioned the importance of cross-border rail links, such as extending the Borders railway to Carlisle, and the Minister agreed on the significance of implementing the recommendations of the Union connectivity review for such projects.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Geraint Davies Lab
Transport Scotland Wales
Context

The question stems from a comparison of rail enhancement investment between Wales and Scotland, noting that Wales receives only 1.5% for its 5% population share while Scotland gets 8%.

Question

Whether he has made a comparative assessment of the level of additional rail funding provided to Scotland and Wales as a Barnett consequential of HS2. In other words, Wales has only had 1.5% of rail enhancement investment for the UK for 5% of the population, while Scotland gets 8% for its 8% of the population.

Answer from John Lamont

The Welsh Government have actually received a significant uplift in their Barnett-based funding due to UK Government spending on HS2. I also point out that the UK Government have committed £2 billion for the period 2019 to 2024—more than double the £900 million invested between 2014 and 2019.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to Wales getting its fair share of HS2 funding or confirm a specific amount like £5 billion

How: Highlighting The Uplift In Barnett-Based Funding Without Addressing The Specific Request

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Q2 Geraint Davies Lab
Transport Wales
Context

The question is a follow-up, comparing rail enhancement investments to Wales (1.5% of UK) for its 5% population share compared to Scotland's 8% for an equal percentage.

Question

Will the Minister give an undertaking that Wales should get its fair 5% share of HS2— £5 billion—in the same way that Scotland will get its 8%, or £8 billion? Will he raise that with his colleagues in the Cabinet?

Answer from John Lamont

The Welsh Government have actually received a significant uplift in their Barnett-based funding due to UK Government spending on HS2. I also point out that the UK Government have committed £2 billion for the period 2019 to 2024—more than double the £900 million invested between 2014 and 2019.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to Wales getting its fair share of HS2 funding or confirm a specific amount like £5 billion

How: Highlighting The Uplift In Barnett-Based Funding Without Addressing The Specific Request

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Q3 Neil Hudson Con Epping Forest
Transport
Context

The question is related to extending the Borders railway down to Carlisle, a vital cross-border link for people and businesses in the north of England and Scotland.

Question

With regard to rail funding, cross-border rail links, such as extending the Borders railway down to Carlisle, are vital to people and businesses in the north of England and Scotland. Does my hon. Friend agree that implementation of the Union connectivity review recommendations is vital in that regard, and can he give an update on that?

Answer from John Lamont

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his hard work with the other cross-border MPs, including me, to deliver the extension of the Borders railway to Hawick and Newcastleton and on to Carlisle. I was delighted to see the funding for the feasibility study in the borderlands growth deal, and we hope that work on it will be under way very soon.

Answered
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