Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Davies of Gower Excerpts
Wednesday 13th January 2016

(8 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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The hon. Gentleman has been a strong champion of investment in the Ebbw Vale railway line, including in the new station at Ebbw Vale and the UK Government’s investment at Pye Corner, which has improved access to Newport. The scope of the valleys lines upgrade is a matter for the Welsh Government, but the Department for Transport has made £125 million available specifically for that purpose. To my mind, the valleys lines upgrade stretches from Ebbw Vale to Maesteg and down to the Vale of Glamorgan.

Lord Davies of Gower Portrait Byron Davies (Gower) (Con)
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The Government’s investment in the rail network is crucial to businesses and people across Wales and, in particular, in my constituency of Gower. Despite the negativity surrounding electrification from Opposition Members, will the Minister take this opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to the electrification of the line to Swansea?

Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Wales have confirmed that. Only last week, the Chancellor was in Cardiff and restated our position once again. We will electrify the Great Western main line the whole way to Swansea.