Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the development of The Global Centre of Rail Excellence on the site of Nant Helen Open Cast Mine in Onllwyn.

There have been no recent discussions between the Secretary of State for Transport with the Welsh Government on this subject. The Welsh Government and its partners in the project have approached a number of UK Government Departments for support, including the Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The proposal will be considered alongside other options in the context of the 2020 Comprehensive Spending Review.