Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the impact of the Integrated Rail Plan on Wales.

I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about transport infrastructure in Wales. The UK Government has already invested over £340 million in rail infrastructure in Wales, including the electrification of the Severn Tunnel and improvements to Cardiff Central Station.

By improving regional connectivity, the Integrated Rail Plan will unify labour markets, so that people can access a much wider range of jobs; bring businesses closer together; and improve access to key international gateways and markets so they become even more attractive locations for business investment. Crewe Northern Connection would improve connections from North Wales to the HS2 network, potentially bringing many passengers within 2 hours 15 minutes of London.

The Hendy Review also recommended a number of connectivity improvements for Wales. The UK Government is considering these recommendations carefully and will respond later this year.