Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Barnett consequential as a result of funding allocated to the new Oxford–Cambridge railway line for (1) Scotland and (2) Northern Ireland.

At the Spending Review 2025, the Barnett formula was applied at department level using departmental comparability factors. This means that Barnett consequentials generated in relation to specific programmes cannot be determined.

The UK Government is responsible for heavy rail infrastructure across England and Wales and so directly spends money on this in Wales rather than funding the Welsh Government to do so through the Barnett formula.

This approach applies to our investment in rail in England and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

As part of the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced at least £445m for railways in Wales over ten years, including new funding for Burns Review stations, North Wales Level Crossing, Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West Junction.

The UK Government continues to work closely with the Welsh Government, including open discussions with HM Treasury to provide clarity on changes that have an impact on their funding, and to ensure the smooth delivery of funding arrangements.