King’s Speech
Baroness Wilcox of Newport Excerpts(3 weeks, 4 days ago)
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Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Lab)
My Lords, I am grateful for the gracious Speech and for the opportunity to reflect on its implications for transport across our United Kingdom. I also pay tribute to the House of Lords Library for its excellent preparatory work.
Transport is not just about infrastructure; it is about opportunity, connectivity and fairness. It determines whether people can access work, education, healthcare and community life—and nowhere is that more important than in my homeland of Wales.
The King’s Speech sets out an ambitious programme of change. The task is now for this ambition to translate into communities across the United Kingdom. For the public, what matters is simple: not what is promised, but what actually improves their daily journey.
Let me begin with the Railways Bill and the creation of Great British Railways. The intention to simplify a fragmented system is welcome, and the case for change is clear. But success will not be judged by structure but by outcomes. Passengers in my native south Wales will rightly ask: will services be more reliable? Will journeys be quicker? Will connections improve? Change must be measured in punctual trains, better connections and shorter journey times—not in organisational charts.
It is vital that these changes work for every part of the United Kingdom. That means genuine partnership with the nations and regions and ensuring that investment is fairly balanced—which has not always happened in the past. If this is truly a national railway, it must deliver for every nation—not just some parts.
On road safety, the Government’s proposals have the potential to make a real difference, and measures that save lives must always be supported, as we have seen in the 20mph rollout in Wales. However, we must recognise the realities faced in many communities. In rural Wales, driving is not optional—it is essential. Change must therefore be proportionate, protecting safety while maintaining independence, particularly for older people in our communities.
I welcome the Government’s intention to address micromobility. In cities such as Newport and Cardiff, e-scooters and similar devices are already well in use, so clear, balanced regulation is needed to support sustainable transport while maintaining public safety. Similarly, modernising the law on powered mobility devices is both necessary and timely. For many people, these are important and vital to maintaining independence.
What links all these issues is the need for integration. Transport policy must work as a system and not in silos. In Wales, that means better co-ordination between rail and bus services so that there are seamless journeys. It means recognising the importance of cross-border travel, particularly between south Wales and the west of England. More people move between Cardiff, Newport and Bristol every day than between Liverpool and Manchester. Connectivity therefore does not stop at borders—and nor should transport policy.
The real test is not whether we change the system but whether we improve the services. This House has an important role in ensuring that ambition is matched by accountability. Through careful scrutiny, we can help ensure that these proposals achieve their full potential. Above all, we must keep our focus on the people who rely on these systems every day—the commuter, the business owner, the rural resident. For them, transport is not abstract; it is essential.
I look forward to working constructively with colleagues to support our Government’s reforms and to ensure that they deliver real and lasting improvements across Wales and across the United Kingdom.
High-speed Rail Services: West Coast Main Line
Baroness Wilcox of Newport Excerpts(1 year, 9 months ago)
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Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
The first performance meeting that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport had was with the Avanti management on the Network Rail route. Its performance is far from satisfactory. The contractual position prevents the rapid action that one might want to take, but we are pressing it extraordinarily hard to deliver the service that passengers and taxpayers need. On the football match last Saturday, I do not have the details to hand but I will write to the noble Lord.
Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Lab)
My Lords, notwithstanding the issues in train services to the north of England, can my noble friend the Minister say whether the department could also look at the constant difficulties experienced on the south Wales to London main line, an important link between our two countries that fails on a daily basis?
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Lab)
The performance of the Great Western main line has been the subject of a great deal of discussion and a change of management in Network Rail, and the infrastructure is improving. Nevertheless, I will take away my noble friend’s remarks on it, and we will press both Network Rail and the train operator to do better.
Transport: South Wales
Baroness Wilcox of Newport Excerpts(3 years, 4 months ago)
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Baroness Wilcox of Newport
To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to implement the eighth recommendation of the Union Connectivity Review, published on 26 November 2021, to invest in the South Wales main line and ease congestion on the M4.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Vere of Norbiton) (Con)
My Lords, we are engaging with the Welsh Government and other stakeholders to develop transport connectivity improvements across Wales. I am delighted that we are today announcing a £2.7 million investment by the UK Government to develop options for new stations and services on the south Wales main line, which could relieve M4 congestion and support growth in the region.
Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Lab)
Despite the Chief Whip’s comments, I beg leave to convey sincere condolences from this side of the Chamber to the First Minister of Wales, the Prif Weinidog, on the sudden and tragic loss of his dear wife, Clare Drakeford. Er cof annwyl—may she rest in peace.
The Minister’s announcement is very welcome because, in terms of figures, we have 5% of the UK population and 11% of track miles but just between 1% and 2% of rail enhancement funding. I hope this funding will actually take place as stated; we were going to have electrification to Swansea but it did not happen. Can she assure me that the Government will show the people that they understand the importance of upgrading the relief lines between the Severn tunnel and Cardiff?
HS2: Wales
Baroness Wilcox of Newport Excerpts(3 years, 7 months ago)
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Baroness Wilcox of Newport
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact, if any, of the HS2 rail project in Wales.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Vere of Norbiton) (Con)
My Lords, HS2 will free up capacity on the existing west coast main line and enable faster journey times from the rest of Great Britain to both north and south Wales via new interchange opportunities. Journey times from many places in north Wales to London could be reduced to around two and a quarter hours, changing at the refurbished Crewe station.
Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Lab)
The continued categorisation of HS2 as an England and Wales project by the UK Treasury scuppers the Welsh Government’s ability to invest in rail in Wales. In July 2021, the Welsh Affairs Committee concluded that HS2 should be reclassified as an England-only scheme. Will the Minister review this profoundly unfair situation?
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
My Lords, it is the case that Wales does not receive Barnett funding from HS2, as the UK Government remain responsible for heavy rail infrastructure in England and Wales, but the use of departmental comparability factors in the Barnett formula at spending reviews means that the Welsh Government have received a significant uplift in Barnett-based funding.
Railways: Bridge Strikes
Baroness Wilcox of Newport Excerpts(4 years, 9 months ago)
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Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
The noble Baroness has taken the Question a little more broadly than the brief, and I am afraid I will not be able to comment on the capacity of trains in the south-west. However, I agree that bridge strikes are dangerous, disruptive and costly. The solution does not lie in any single intervention; we must maintain our focus on getting bridge owners to put up the relevant signage and getting highways authorities to put up warning signs ahead of these bridges, and of course we must double down on our efforts to communicate with HGV drivers and bus drivers to ensure that they know exactly how high their vehicle is—indeed, by law they must know this, and it must also be displayed in the cab.
Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Lab)
My Lords, the Minister has already noted that the Government support Network Rail in recovering costs from operators of HGVs involved in avoidable crashes. Network Rail also said that it will report bridge strikes to the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, the regulator responsible for licensing professional drivers, who have the power to suspend or revoke licences. Will Her Majesty’s Government support Network Rail in its pursuance of the suspension or revocation of HGV licences in this situation?
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
Absolutely, and I can reassure the noble Baroness that I have already been on the case in this matter. Bridge strikes have not suddenly arrived on our doorstep recently, although I am pleased to say they seem to be coming down in number, which is a relief. I wrote to the Traffic Commissioners on 17 September last year, after a terrible bus crash—noble Lords may remember it—where the top of the bus, which had children on board, went into the bridge. It was a very serious matter. I asked the commissioner to remind all operators of their obligations, and he wrote me a very helpful response just a week later setting out a range of measures he would take, not only communicating with the drivers and operators but setting out what steps must happen when an event has occurred—there is usually a public inquiry, the driver may face suspension or revocation in more serious cases, and the operator can face sanctions relating to their licensing. So the Government do take this matter very seriously.