HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail

Part of 2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution – in the Senedd at 2:51 pm on 29 March 2023.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 2:51, 29 March 2023

Well, I totally agree with the last point that the Member has made. I'm sure he's probably not surprised to hear me say that. Wales is due £5 billion as a result of HS2. Wales is due a further £1 billion as a result of Northern Powerhouse Rail. So, to suggest that these English projects benefit Wales is a complete nonsense. The money would be transformational for Wales's transport network. The UK Government needs to do the right thing and to pay up. I believe what we actually have is an abuse of the Barnett formula. I can say that these issues are raised at every opportunity and through the current inter-governmental machinery, and Welsh Government is not leaving it there where it is at the moment.