MEDIA RELEASE

Statement from the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (6 September 2016)

The Chair of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, Nick Ramsay AM, has released the following statement in response to the Wales Audit Office report ‘Welsh Government Investment in Rail Services and Infrastructure’.

Mr Ramsay said:

“Issues relating to rail-infrastructure investment in Wales and the future of the Wales and Borders rail franchise were a key concern for the National Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee in the fourth Assembly.

“The Auditor General’s report sets out details of a significant investment by the Welsh Government in rail-infrastructure projects and enhanced services over recent years, along with evidence of an overall improvement in services over the life of the current franchise.

“The Welsh Government needs to generate better evidence to demonstrate the overall value for money of this investment and support future decision-making as it makes plans for the procurement of the next Wales and Borders franchise alongside the delivery of the South Wales Metro, ahead of the expected transfer of functions for executive rail franchising from the UK Government in 2017.

“The Public Accounts Committee will be considering the Auditor General’s report shortly.”