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Comprehensive Spending Review

On funding reports, I am reliably informed that the Welsh Assembly Government received a Barnett consequential and money will be disbursed under English regional funding. [ Interruption. ] The hon. Member for Pontypridd asked me a question and I have supplied him with an answer. The good news for Wales concerned the announcement of the order for the A400M—the strategic tanker aircraft—and the £500 million that has gone into the Scout combat vehicles that will form a vital part of the British armed forces’ future capabilities. Their development is a further vote of confidence in the work of Airbus in Flintshire and General Dynamics in Gwent. We are also improving the rail infrastructure in the Cardiff to Barry corridor, and improving the M4-M5 interchange between London and Cardiff. Improved rail infrastructure and shorter journey times are vital components for delivering a successful economic recovery in Wales. As I have said to the hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, I remain fully supportive of rail electrification. Electric trains offer lower carbon emissions than their diesel equivalents; they are cheaper to buy, operate and maintain; they allow journey-time reductions; and they certainly offer passengers a more comfortable ride. As a first step, we will electrify the Great Western main line from London to Didcot by 2016. For services beyond that, and into Wales, we must work with the Welsh Assembly Government to produce a joined-up business case. My Department is holding meetings on the matter on almost a daily basis, with the Department for Transport, the Welsh Assembly Government and key stakeholders. It is not enough to electrify the main line to Wales—for Wales fully to benefit from electrification, we need to work with the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure that there are joined-up improvements to commuter lines beyond Cardiff. I remind Committee that, under the previous Government, not a single inch of line was electrified in Wales.