Member

Network Rail’s funding and planning remain reserved to Westminster, unlike in Scotland. Meanwhile, the Welsh Government receive no dedicated budget for rail enhancements, despite—in fairness—having invested over £1.3 billion in the south Wales metro. That money was diverted from essential issues such as health and education services, because the Wales block grant provides nothing for rail. New clause 12 addresses this historic underfunding. Wales has received just 1% to 2% of enhancement funding despite having 11% of the UK network. The UK Government repeatedly claim that they are investing £14 billion in Welsh rail, but I am afraid that this is simply not the case. It is an unfunded pledge—a wish list, a hoped-for. When I asked the Department for Transport in a written question whether the Treasury had guaranteed that funding, the answer was no.