8. Will the Minister make a statement on major sporting events in Wales? OAQ(5)0072(EI)[W]

In 2016, we’ve supported a wide range of major sporting events including the World Half Marathon, Extreme Sailing Series, Tour of Britain and the Wales Rally GB. We want more major international sporting and cultural events across Wales and there are ongoing discussions with partners to identify many opportunities.

Thank you for that response. I would agree that we do need to attract more major sporting events, but they do put pressure on our transport infrastructure, and we have seen—a constituent has been in touch with me referring to three occasions in the last fortnight when a member of her family have had to stand on the train all the way from Wrexham to Cardiff, and, on one occasion, all the way from Wrexham to Newport. That is inconvenient, of course, but it was not possible to use the toilet either, and it raises questions on passenger wellbeing, but also the health and safety more generally of those using trains that are so packed.

She has now written to the Health and Safety Executive to ask them to look at the situation. Being aware that there are two major international sporting events happening in Cardiff this weekend, what assurance can you give that the service will be safe and appropriate?

Well, we meet with rail operators regularly to discuss the impact and the implications of major sporting and cultural events on the rail network, and, indeed, on the road network as well. I’m conscious that it’s not just the sporting events that can cause congestion on roads and also overcrowding on trains; cultural events can also pose problems. There was a recent incident during the summer in north-west Wales where there were problems with parking, which the Member is well aware of. So, it’s important that the organisers of events also join us in talks with rail operators and with those who manage the trunk road network and also local roads.

Whenever we support a major event, we look for all solutions to traffic concerns as an essential part of the criteria of our funding. However, the major sporting events that have taken place here in the capital are those that require special attention, and, for that reason, the major events unit within Welsh Government regularly meets with rail operators to discuss capacity issues. I’m conscious that, next year, we have the Champions League final taking place at the Principality Stadium, and, for months now, officials have been discussing with rail operators and with Network Rail what more can be done to ensure that passengers coming for that event, and also passengers who use the network on a daily basis who will experience a busier period as a result of sporting events, can still experience a quality environment where there is not overcrowding. So, the work will continue, but I think it’s fair to say that, once we have the new franchise in place, with new criteria met by the operator and development partner, we will be in a better position to be able to divert increased capacity down to Cardiff when there are major events down here, or equally, away from the capital when major events take place elsewhere.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.