Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rhun ap Iorwerth makes a number of crucially important points in his contribution, principally the need to reflect on the huge sums of money that are being invested just across the border—£150 billion—in improving rail infrastructure, and just a fraction of that money could open up huge opportunities. The Member identifies the north-south links that currently exist and that could exist. Now, the current north-south services do travel across the border; they reflect the functional economy of the north Wales-north-west cross-border area and the functional economy of mid Wales with the west midlands, but that should not prevent us from investing in other infrastructure that connects the north and the south further west, where there is not the intensity of population growth. It's my view that we should be powering the regions and empowering the regions to become more prosperous, and that means investing in those areas that feel left behind, and that, in some cases, may well have been left behind as urban centres have seen economic growth fuelled in recent times.

The timetable for delivery of our vision—and I do thank the Member for sharing and supporting our vision—is largely dependent on UK Government decisions on how to respond to the Williams review and the time frame based on the orderly transfer of powers and budgets to the Welsh Government. But I've said in the vision document that this is a 20-year vision for improving infrastructure and increasing services and service frequencies across the Wales route.

I think there is consensus across the Chamber here that is beginning to influence a Chamber in another place. I detect recently a change of heart within Westminster towards the possible devolution of responsibilities and funding for rail. I have to say I've enjoyed a number of conversations with the new Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, recently, primarily concerning, of course, the challenge faced by the collapse of Thomas Cook, but one specific conversation concerning the potential devolution of responsibilities for rail and devolution of an appropriate funding settlement. That conversation will be one of many that will happen in the coming months, as he determines how to respond to Williams, and as I continue to press for devolution. I said in my statement as well that I am now confident that our submission to the Williams review will be viewed favourably, and we await very keenly the full review to be concluded, delivered to UK Government, and a response accordingly.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, like Russell George, rightly said that many passengers will reflect on the services that they currently have, and what I would say is that, right now, we are improving stations across the Wales and borders network. By Christmas, an additional 150 stations will have undergone a thorough deep clean. We are recruiting those ambassadors, we are creating more community partnership schemes. Trains are being built right now, including here in Wales, at CAF in Newport. The Holton curve service is now up and running between Liverpool and Wrexham. 

I'd just like to make a very small point on toilets on tram trains. I think recently some misinformation has been relayed to Members of this Chamber and the general public concerning toilets on trains. There will be three lines in the metro area where tram trains will operate. Those lines are lines where we wish to see extendibility, i.e. services extend into other communities—into town centres, for example. And for obvious reasons, you cannot run trains like Pacers on roads. You simply cannot do it. And therefore, you have to look for a solution that enables you to run vehicles on roads and at the same time on existing rail tracks. Nowhere on this planet, as the First Minister said earlier, will you find a metro-type system that also offers toilets on board. The only one that does is in Germany, but it doesn't offer toilets that are compatible with legislation in this country concerning persons of restricted mobility. So, instead, we made the decision to invest very heavily indeed—£15 million is already being spent on stations within the Wales and borders area, primarily within the metro—to ensure that we have improved, step-free access at 99 per cent of metro stations, and toilets that are accessible for disabled travellers and those with restricted mobility. It means that 95 per cent of passengers will never be more than around about 10 minutes from a toilet. And that is incredibly important, given the debate that has happened recently, to reflect on.

I think also the Member has made a very important point concerning developing an ongoing, I think, effort to influence the UK Government to make the right decision on this. I’ll be updating Members whenever stages are reached in terms of the Williams review, but I think it would be helpful at the appropriate time for this Chamber to make another collective submission, perhaps when the UK Government is ready to respond to Williams review, that pushes, on all sides, for devolution of responsibilities and funding.