Senedd backs call for faster £14bn rail delivery and Wales Reserve freedoms

The Senedd has backed a call for the Welsh and UK governments to work together on faster rail investment in Wales and more freedom for Welsh ministers over the Welsh budget. Members voted 59 to 31, with no abstentions, for motion NDM9307 at the end of Tuesday's plenary session, according to the Senedd's draft minutes. The motion was tabled by Heledd Fychan and Lynne Neagle. The Welsh Government says Cabinet Minister for Finance Elin Jones led the debate.

What the motion asks for

It asks the two governments to enhance the Welsh Government's fiscal flexibilities, including removing all restrictions on the Wales Reserve, and to review the operation of the Barnett formula to strengthen fairness and transparency. It also asks the Welsh and UK governments to reaffirm support for the £14bn commitment for rail infrastructure in Wales, and to accelerate delivery and provide sufficient funding for improvement projects during the current spending review period.

The numbers behind the call

The Welsh Government says only £302m has so far been allocated for UK Government-controlled rail infrastructure enhancement in Wales during the spending review period to 2029-30. The £14bn commitment and the £302m allocation cover different scopes and periods, so one is not a share of the other. The Wales Reserve lets ministers carry money between financial years. The government says its current restrictions have required temporary waivers in three of the last four years. Elin Jones said: "The more Wales speaks with one voice, the greater chance we have of being heard."