5. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the awarding of the next rail franchise? OAQ51711

Yes, of course. Transport for Wales are currently assessing the three bidders for the next Wales and borders rail services and the south Wales metro. The contract will be awarded in May of this year and it will be operational from October of this year.

It's baffling as to why you are conducting the franchise tendering process under such a thick veil of secrecy. Unlike the UK Government's Department for Transport and Transport Scotland, you are refusing to publish the invitation-to-tender documents that have been issued to bidders. If you did publish those documents, people in Wales—the people who are herded onto those train services every day—would have the opportunity to analyse the criteria and offer ideas as to ways in which they could be improved. The mistakes of the last rail franchise for Wales can be laid at the door of an arm's-length Westminster body.

As a frequent traveller on the Valleys lines coming down from the Rhondda, it's no surprise to me to see customer satisfaction with rail services in Wales has dropped. The conditions are often appalling. If things don't improve this time, there'll be no hiding place for you and for your Labour Cabinet colleagues. Why not publish the franchise documents, get the people involved, open yourself up to greater scrutiny to deliver a better rail franchise that works for everyone? What are you afraid of?

We're afraid of nothing. The Member should recognise, though, first of all, that this a world first in terms of the process that we're following. It's not being done anywhere else in the world, it is truly innovative and it's designed to ensure that we challenge experts in the field to bring forward the best possible solutions for Welsh travellers. There is no doubt whatsoever that we have to see a step change in terms of service delivery, in terms of punctuality and in terms of satisfaction, and each of the bidders have been challenged to bring forward within an envelope all of the best solutions based on new and emerging technology, and based on the drive for greater satisfaction amongst passengers.

Now, I can accept criticism for not publishing the full tender documents at this stage, but the reason we can't publish detailed information within the period of invitation to submit final tenders is because we could jeopardise the entire competitive procurement process, which, as I say, is a world first. That's why the Scottish have taken a different approach and that's why the UK Government have taken a different approach. Releasing commercially sensitive information relating to the bidders' business plans could lead, potentially, to a prejudicing of the commercial interests of those companies. However, once the service provider has been appointed, we will make further documentation, including the full tender document, public, and I will be more than happy to face full scrutiny for the future franchise that will be operating on the Wales and borders network. I can say this: Welsh Government is not the cause of the problems on the Welsh network at the moment, but Welsh Government will be the cure.