Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on the letting of the Wales and Borders railway franchise.

I am delighted that we have settled a deal between the Department for Transport and the Welsh Government to deliver the full electrification package. Our investment in this transformational project shows our commitment to deliver long term social and economic benefits to Valleys communities by helping people access the job opportunities being created in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. As part of that deal, the UK Government has agreed to devolve executive franchising functions for the Wales and Borders franchise to the Welsh Government before the start of the next franchise in 2018.