Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Friday, 9 July 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 16 July 2004. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Friday, 16 July 2004 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve transport links between Wales and England; and when he next plans to meet his Welsh Assembly counterpart to discuss this.

Answer: Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve transport links between Wales and England; and when he next plans to meet his Welsh Assembly counterpart to discuss this. [184036] Dr. Howells: My Department enjoys a good working relationship with the Welsh Assembly Government and my ministerial colleagues and I are always happy to meet our counterparts from the Assembly to discuss how transport links between Wales and England might be strengthened. Rail links between England and North Wales will benefit from the West Coast Main Line upgrade, which will improve both frequency and journey times. In addition, under its new franchise, Arrive Trains Wales is considering an improved timetable--the Standard Pattern Timetable, where trains depart at regular intervals throughout the day--for introduction in December 2005. Improvements to rail links between England and South Wales are being considered in the Strategic Rail Authority's Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy and Regional Planning Assessment, due for completion in autumn 2004 and spring 2005 respectively. The Highways Agency has two schemes in its Targeted Programme of Improvements which will improve road links: improvements to the A550/A5117 between Deeside Park and the M56 interchange; and the A483 Pant and Llanymynech bypass. The Agency has regular meetings with the Welsh Assembly to discuss how transport links between Wales and England can be strengthened.

Secondary information