Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the future liabilities of the proposed transfer of the Valley Lines to the Welsh Government for (a) the UK Government, (b) Network Rail and (c) the Welsh Government.

Agreement has been reached on the key principles relating to the proposed transfer of the Valley Lines. The principle that the Welsh Government and Network Rail have worked to is that Network Rail’s business should be held harmless as a result of the transfer and that Network Rail will not retain liabilities for assets that it no longer owns. Subject to this principle, discussions on the details of future agreements, including on the specifics of future liabilities, are ongoing.