Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Deferred
Paragraph: 106
Poor transport infrastructure significantly hinders Wales' ability to attract international tourists
Recommendation
We are concerned that poor transport infrastructure has a negative impact on Wales’ ability to attract a greater share of international tourists who arrive in the UK. Transport infrastructure has been underfunded by the UK and Welsh Governments for a number of years. Transport infrastructure spending should be considered a higher priority for spending than at present.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of transport and is considering Lord Hendy's 2021 review on UK transport connectivity, promising a response soon. They also highlight existing investments, including over £343 million in Welsh rail schemes and £1 billion for the North Wales Main Line electrification.
Paragraph Reference:
106
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The UK Government believes that transport is key to binding the family of nations – that is the United Kingdom – closer together so that prosperity can be shared more evenly and that to realise our full national potential we must mobilise the resources and skills of all parts of the UK. We are committed to investing in transport infrastructure projects which better connect Wales locally and with the rest of the UK. The former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, asked Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, CBE, to undertake an independent review into how transport connectivity across the UK could be improved. Lord Hendy’s review was published in November 2021. The UK Government is grateful to Lord Hendy for his work and is considering his 19 recommendations carefully. We will publish our response as soon as is practicable. The UK Government has set aside funding to support studies into options for strengthening some of the UK’s main transport arteries, in line with Lord Hendy’s recommendations. We are continuing to engage with the devolved governments to consider opportunities to collaborate on projects that address some of Lord Hendy’s key recommendations. On 2 February 2023, the UK and Welsh Government jointly announced £2.7 million of UK Government funding to develop options for further enhancement of the South Wales Main Line and for additional rail stations to relieve M4 congestion. Transport for Wales and the Welsh Government have submitted further funding proposals for studies to improve connectivity with Wales and decisions will be announced in due course. Separately, the UK Government is committed to investing in rail in Wales and £2 billion will be invested between 2019 to 2024. Office of Rail and Road figures demonstrate the Government’s commitment to investment in rail across Wales. In 2020-21, Government funding of the operational railway was £1.27 per passenger km in England and £2.39 per passenger km in Wales. Furthermore, over £343 million is being invested in Welsh schemes from the rail enhancements budget in the current railway Control Period (2019-2024). The Department for Transport is also working closely with the Secretary of State for Wales, Transport for Wales (TfW), Network Rail, and regional authorities through TfW’s Metro Development Strategy Boards to bring forward integrated connectivity solutions across the various regions of Wales. The studies being progressed under the auspices of the Metro Boards consider local needs including the tourism industry. The Department for Transport is investing £1 billion to electrify the North Wales Main Line, bringing parts of North Wales within an hour of Manchester. We will oversee more punctual, reliable journeys on the 126-mile route between Crewe, Warrington, Chester, Llandudno and Holyhead, where ferry services run to Dublin.