Railways: Electrification
19th March 2012
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport, (b) the First Minister of the Welsh Government and (c) the business community in South Wales on rail electrification from Cardiff to Swansea; and if she will make a statement.
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening) and the First Minister on rail electrification. The issue has also been discussed with members of the business community in Wales, through the Secretary of State's Business Advisory Group and, at the end of February, the Secretary of State discussed the matter with new chief executive of the CBI Wales.
The case for electrification between Cardiff and Swansea remains under review and the Wales Office continues to make a case for the economic benefits that electrification to Swansea would bring.
