Ken Skates: I recognise that the Member has a very keen interest in junctions between junctions 40 and 48 on the M4. It's an interest that his colleague sitting right next to him also has. [Laughter.] I think it's fair to say that evidencing the need to invest in transport improvements is absolutely vital, and modelling current and future traffic patterns will help, in turn, inform how we can maximise...
Ken Skates: Yes. I can assure the Member that we are taking significant steps to tackle congestion and to improve journey time reliability, through our pinch points programme, and through improvements to public transport and supporting local authorities to address, themselves, key local issues.
Ken Skates: Yes, and through the remit letter, Transport for Wales operate to strict guidelines. They are currently in the process of recruiting significantly more people with additional skills to ensure that the new franchise will be a success. I've got a particular focus at the moment on ensuring that information about the new franchise is communicated absolutely and thoroughly through to community...
Ken Skates: That's our intention, but I'll ensure today, when I meet with the chief executive of Transport for Wales, that he provides that assurance to Members as soon as possible. I should say as well that the Member is absolutely right: the lessons that we've learned from the timetabling debacle across much of the UK led us to—whilst examining the options for moving forward the introduction of the...
Ken Skates: So, I think I outlined in committee last week the reason why we're seeing, not just in this case but right across the rail sector in the UK, a delay in providing new rolling stock, and it's largely because, in the last decade, the UK Government had one campaign, which was to electrify as much of the rail lines of the UK as possible. That was subsequently abandoned, and in that time in...
Ken Skates: I entirely agree, but as I've said before, as I've said last week, officials are seeking advice regarding the information that can be disclosed at this stage. I truly hope that we can get as much information out as possible about the latest announcement, because I think the Member will be very, very impressed by it, but I know that the Member is quick to condemn any element of any agreement...
Ken Skates: Now the Member has identified the very agreement that he refers to in that document, I'm more than happy to work with Aston Martin to ensure that as much information is provided as possible. But I don't think that we should lose sight of the fact that it's as a direct consequence of the skilful negotiations of Welsh Government officials that we were able to attract Aston Martin to Wales. It's...
Ken Skates: I can't disclose any commercially sensitive information with the Member. However, what I can assure him is that I've asked officials to review all correspondence and all agreements and ensure that as much detail can be shared with Members as possible. That will be done speedily and as soon as possible. Can I also take this opportunity to wish the Member well in Friday's election...
Ken Skates: I think it's important to have agreed outcomes for any project that receives public funding. But, in Welsh Government, we also have well-being indicators, which are consistent indicators applied across Government, and, with regard to economic development programmes, I hope I was quite clear in committee just last week in assuring Members that we will also be seeking international challenges...
Ken Skates: No, I don't, and it's a point, again, that's very well made. I'll be raising this point both with Transport for Wales and with the transport department in Welsh Government. But I think it's important to just identify two significant interventions and investments that will be made in the coming months and years. First of all, of course, is the south-east Wales metro, and, secondly, radical...
Ken Skates: I would entirely agree with that very point, and it's very well made by the Member. Can I thank him for raising an essential point about access to public transport? And, in terms of Cardiff international airport in particular, the Member will be aware that a new masterplan for that particular asset is being unveiled, which will enable the airport to cope with significantly more passengers and...
Ken Skates: Well, can I thank the Member for his question? He makes a very novel suggestion. I'm meeting with Transport for Wales today and I'll raise the very question that he's put to me in the Chamber. Observation carriages are an attractive feature of many trains, including the Llangollen heritage railway, which I know various Members in this Chamber are very familiar with. And it's something that...
Ken Skates: Yes. I am delighted that the Cambrian line will have new rolling stock from 2022. These will be CAF diesel multiple units, which will be made here in Wales. The Heart of Wales line will also have new rolling stock from 2022, and these will be completely refurbished class 170 stock.
Ken Skates: Okay. Can I first of all say that the first new trains that will go on the tracks in the Wales and borders franchise that will begin next month will be going on tracks in north Wales? They'll be serving north Wales first. But the Member identifies the Vivarail solution for one particular route—it's the Wrexham to Bidston route. Now, the reason that that option was preferable over other...
Ken Skates: Absolutely. Can I thank the Member for his supplementary question and say that I very warmly welcome the proposal within the proposition document for those five key zones? I also very warmly welcome the ask within the proposition document for the creation of a regional transport body. I think this could be immensely beneficial in terms of accelerating the progress that's being made in terms...
Ken Skates: Can I thank the Member for his supplementary question and apologise for not responding to his first question in Welsh? I'll endeavour to do so whenever I'm asked questions in Cymraeg in the future. The Member is absolutely right about congestion on the A483 and roads that lead onto that major trunk road, in particular Ruthin Road. There is a specific problem with the green filter light at the...
Ken Skates: Diolch. The national transport finance plan, which was updated in 2017, sets out our programme for the next three years and beyond right across Wales.
Ken Skates: I have, and will continue to, set out a broad vision for a successful rail network in north Wales—one that helps us to meet our obligations to the environment, responsibilities for well-being and future generations and delivers the goals of the economic action plan.
Ken Skates: Our economic and industrial strategies are set out in 'Prosperity for All' and the economic action plan. We continue to provide a wide range of support to businesses in Wales through, for example, Business Wales and the development bank. We also provide infrastructure investment and actions that improve business conditions.
Ken Skates: The development of the new Wales transport strategy, now under way, will look at the potential to reopen railway lines across Wales.
