4. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport: Transport for Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:02 pm on 23 January 2018.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 4:02, 23 January 2018

Yes, a significant number of questions, but I'll try to address all of them. First of all, with regard to the growth bid, of course we'll be scrutinising each of the proposals during the negotiation stage. I'd very much welcome, as I said in my statement, the creation of regional transport authorities to ensure that we've got integrated transport planned on a regional and—in the case of north Wales—on a cross-border basis. We've already established the north Wales and north-east Wales metro steering group and it's developing a programme of work to bring together a package of interventions that reflects not just local, but also regional, improvements. The programme will also include cross-border improvements and the focus will be on creating integrated transport hubs at key employment sites across north Wales and, of course, across the Mersey-Dee area. It's about better connectivity, not just within, but also to, from and between the hubs.

In terms of Bus Users Cymru, I'm surprised that the Member states that, given that we have regular dialogue with them and given that we've currently got a consultation taking place on bus transport, and we've had two consultations taking place in the past 12 months. A further consultation will be taking place this spring concerning the detailed proposals for future legislation and I very much look forward to Bus Users Cymru providing their input into that consultation. 

In terms of the fragility of local bus services, the Member must surely recognise that this is in no small part due to deregulation in 1986, and, of course, it's absolutely vital that local authorities take their role and responsibility seriously. Unfortunately, it appears that Wrexham council, which I believe is run by independents and Conservatives, has reduced their support for non-commercial bus services, I believe, to zero, and that's in stark contrast to the £25 million that we, a Welsh Labour Government, have maintained over many years.

In addition, I made available £300,000 for the region, for north-east Wales, to be able to deal with the collapse of GHA and the fragility of the local bus network. It's for those three local authorities—Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire—to work together to ensure that bus services are given support by local authorities, collectively and individually, to ensure that communities are served by them. And in terms of the summit that took place last year, one of the main benefits of that summit was—it formed part of the five-point plan—the introduction of bus companies, particularly those small and vulnerable bus companies, to Business Wales advisers and support services. As a consequence of that, a number of companies have been given practical advice on how to weather the storm of austerity and fragility within the deregulated system. But, longer term, that deregulated system has to be addressed, and it will be, through legislation, and we will be consulting on that in the coming months. 

I was surprised to hear, also, criticism of a lack of investment in cross-border roads in north-east Wales, given our commitment of over £200 million to the Flintshire corridor, which offers one of the most important arteries. A significant upgrade will relieve congestion between Flintshire and the Wirral.