5. Statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales: Future of Rail — Details of the new arrangements

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:16 pm on 3 November 2020.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 5:16, 3 November 2020

Can I thank Mick Antoniw for his support for the action that we've taken? I'd agree with everything that he said, actually. We only need to look at the public ownership of some of the most successful international airports around the world to recognise that public ownership works, and I'm sure Members will be quite surprised to learn that some of the most successful international airports are in the hands of the public sector. That demonstrates just how important it is to have a degree of public ownership over not just services, but the actual physical assets as well—the infrastructure—and that's why we wish to see rail infrastructure devolved to the Welsh Government, and for a fair funding settlement to accompany it.

Now, in terms of the Pontypridd headquarters, I'm delighted that TfW chose Pontypridd for their headquarters. It will make an enormous difference in terms of placemaking, in terms of improving the vibrancy of the community, and I'm pleased to be able to tell Mick Antoniw that we see that particular location as being amongst the first of our remote working hubs. Our 'town centre first' approach being led by Hannah Blythyn is going to be important in terms of regeneration, but also in terms of providing alternative opportunities for people to be able to work away from large office blocks within city centres, and instead within their communities, contributing within the Valleys communities to the important Better Jobs, Closer to Home agenda as well. And I'm hoping that we'll be able to look at other stations across the Wales route as opportunities for opening remote working hubs, opportunities that will lead people to be able to leave their cars at home, utilise active travel routes or public transport to get to and from work, and in so doing, also contribute to the regeneration of communities across the length and breadth of Wales.

In terms of reopening railway lines, we remain committed to all of those projects that we've been working on. We remain committed to the stations that we wish to see reopened, those stations that we wish to see built, but of course, there is a requirement of DfT funding for those projects to be delivered, and we are regularly pressing the case for the necessary infrastructure improvements and funding to come to Wales. I would agree with Mick Antoniw regarding the Railways Act; obviously, it's a matter for the UK Government, but I think revocation of that particular section will be necessary, because at the moment, operator of last resort can only be utilised for what is described as a temporary period. Well, let's face it, a huge number of franchise agreements are going to be subject to OLR for some time to come, and therefore I think it makes perfect sense for the UK Government to visit this issue with a degree of urgency, and to deal with section 25 in an appropriate way, and that means revocation.