Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Susan Elan Jones Excerpts
Wednesday 19th October 2016

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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My hon. Friend highlights the investment in the Great Western main line, and much attention is rightly drawn to the infrastructure of the electrification itself. However, it is fair to say that, as soon as we have electrified as far as Didcot or Swindon, the new trains will be operational, so his constituents, my constituents and those in Wales and the south-west in general will benefit from modern trains well before the infrastructure has been completed.

Susan Elan Jones Portrait Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) (Lab)
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Roads are critical in infrastructural investment—roads on both sides of the border. What conversations has the right hon. Gentleman had with the Welsh Government about the A5/A483, which goes from Oswestry towards the Wrexham area, given the particular road safety problems in the community of Chirk?

Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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The hon. Lady raises an important point. It is something that has crossed the discussions over the north Wales growth deal, and it underlines the interconnectivity of the region she mentions with Manchester, Merseyside and north Wales. We are working closely with the Welsh Government on their infrastructure plan and the national infrastructure plans for the whole of the United Kingdom. It is important that they dovetail appropriately.