House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee
Inquiry : Rail Infrastructure in Wales
Rail infrastructure is an important area of work for many of Wales’ civil engineering contractors. However, responsibility for most of Wales’ rail infrastructure, with the exception of the Core Valley Lines, remains a reserved matter for politicians at Westminster. This means that CECA Wales needs to work with both governments if we are to influence policy and, in particular, to address the continued under investment in Welsh rail infrastructure.
The House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee has launched a new inquiry on rail infrastructure in Wales. Its launch comes as Wales continues to experience significant under investment in its rail infrastructure which is further exacerbated by investment in HS2 for which Wales, unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, will receive no Barnett Consequential despite the UK Government’s own report stating that the Welsh economy will take a hit of between £150-200million per annum.
Here is the link to the details of the inquiry : https://committees.parliament.uk/work/849/railway-infrastructure-in-wales/
As always, the delivery of such investment will ultimately fall to civil engineering contractors. To this end, it is imperative that the experience and knowledge within our industry are considered by MPs ahead of their oral evidence sessions and, ultimately, their final report of recommendations to the UK Government.
The deadline for written submissions is 26th February 2021 and we would like to get your views on this matter via a “virtual” roundtable on 26th January 2021 and then submit our evidence in a single document of around 3,000 words.
Please let me know, by 22nd January 2021, if you are willing and able to take part in this short virtual session and we will reserve a place for you. The session will last no more than 90minutes.
Further details of the Inquiry and the format of the roundtable session will be provided to you following registration and a copy of our submission will also be sent to you separately.