4. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport: Llwybr Newydd — A New Wales Transport Strategy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:58 pm on 17 November 2020.

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Photo of Lee Waters Lee Waters Labour 4:58, 17 November 2020

Thank you very much. I completely agree with him that the location of the headquarters of TfW in Pontypridd offers a real opportunity for regeneration of the town, and I think is a really good example of the principle of 'town centre first', which the Government has adopted for public sector location of offices. It's unfortunate that the offices are ready at a time when people aren't using offices, but I think it does show the real potential, once people start returning—and I must pay tribute to him for the way that he has campaigned to take an eyesore of a shopping centre into a really first-class building, which has lifted one of the principal towns in his constituency.

I also similarly applaud his role in campaigning for the reopening of the railway line to Llantrisant. As he said, the study is going on as part of that. It's why we have been really keen to ensure—. One of the reasons why we've brought the rail contract in-house, rather than following the English model, is to try and maintain the development of the metro that's been going on. Even though people are staying away from the railways in the short term, we think it would be remarkably short sighted of us to choke off investment in metro development, which will be there in the years to come, when people do return to the railways. That creates a short-term financial challenge, but it is, I think, a key strategic investment.

He's absolutely right to point to the role that taxis have, and we do set out within the national transport plan a mini plan for taxis and public service vehicles, highlighting that we see taxis as a key part of an integrated transport network. It says in the mini plan that we hope to develop national standards for taxis and for dealing with issues like public hire vehicles, the suitability of applicants, safety vehicle measures, vehicle testing, driver training. There is a huge reform agenda that we had hoped to take forward in legislation this term. We will now look to do it in the next term if we are in the position to form a Government. Simplifying the licensing system is one of the key demands, I know, of taxi drivers and their unions, and that is a key part of what we want to achieve. So, I completely agree with him that taxis form a really important backbone, and we know that taxi drivers are having a really hard time at the moment, as many of their customers are not using their services. There is economic support available to them through the economic resilience fund, but I think more work needs to be done to help them to understand how to access that. I know Ken Skates, the Minister, met with transport unions this morning to discuss what support we can give to the taxi industry in this incredibly difficult time.

And a final couple of points. Road user charging: we absolutely don't want it to be presented as a tax on the Valleys, as he puts it, which is why we have encouraged a regional response, and why, through the publication of this report today, we want to see that as part of a national framework. If this is to be done, it will be done in an orderly and sensible way.

And just a final point on the legislative basis. We anticipate that the rail industry is going to be under emergency measures for some time to come. As I say, this is not just a Welsh situation; this is a UK situation. We do think that the legislation does need to change for us then to put the basis on which we've put the rail industry in the short term on a longer term footing, and that will require legislation at Westminster, and that's something we hope to discuss with the UK Government.