Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reasons are for the time taken to transfer functions over the Wales and Borders rail franchise to the National Assembly for Wales.
The Silk Commission report highlighted the need for co-operation on the future of the English parts of the Wales and Borders rail franchise. Since reaching agreement in principle to devolve the franchise in November 2014, both Governments have been working collaboratively to give effect to the formal transfer of powers, which has required resolution of a number of detailed policy and practical considerations around cross-border and English services.