(Neath)
(Lab/Co-op):...Finally, I am concerned about a
post-Brexit Wales where UK goals and priorities may be different
from the EU priorities on which Wales and its Government have
established plans and strategies. What will happen to the
electrification of the Great Western line, the South Wales metro
and the city deals?
(Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): Does my hon. Friend agree that
the Government need to confirm that our transport infrastructure
investment needs will be secured for the future? Our valley lines
have been a great success, but much improvement is still needed,
and electrification in particular must be delivered. For that to
happen, funding must be guaranteed for phase 2 of the metro
system. The project will help jobs in our south-eastern valleys.
The Minister must confirm that that will happen.
: I agree
completely with my hon. Friend’s valuable point. I hope that is
confirmed in the near future.
What will happen to the electrification of the Great Western
line, the South Wales metro, the city deals and Swansea Bay tidal
lagoon should they not be priorities for the UK Government once
we have exited the European Union? The Government’s support to
date for some of those projects has been questionable, as my hon.
Friend the Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) said, without
the pressure of committing to replace any funding lost
post-Brexit. They must rise to the challenge and put in place the
necessary guarantees to instil confidence in our businesses,
universities and investors. They must commit to replacing any
funding lost by projects currently in development but not yet
signed, and demonstrate to the people of Wales that we have a
Government who work for everyone...
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Wales (Guto Bebb): ...It is crucial to understand that
the investment in the south Wales metro is part and parcel of the
electrification of the Great Western main line, because
unless that line is electrified the metro system will not work as
we envisage. Across the divide in this debate, we should at least
recognise that the investment being made in rail infrastructure
in Wales, both north and south, is both to be welcomed and
crucial...
...The assurance I can give is that my Department and this
Government are committed to the south Wales metro scheme, which
includes the need to electrify the south Wales valleys lines. The
excitement that is felt about that project is not confined to
south-east Wales; as a north Walian, I see it as a coherent
strategy to revitalise the valleys. Cardiff is a huge success
story, with jobs being created, and the south Wales metro scheme
will make it so much easier to ensure that people in the valleys
can be part of that. Listening to this debate will perhaps make
people forget that we have success stories in Wales. I understand
and fully support the view that the project is dependent on the
electrification of the Great Western main line, but
although there have been delays with that work, that does not
prevent this investment...
To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE
