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Comprehensive Spending Review

We heard about the Severn tunnel very early in the debate, when it was used as an excuse for not bringing electrification into Wales. It is funny what a bit of pressure did at that point because when we talked to Network Rail, it overcame those problems. One can overcome problems. We know that the Severn tunnel is old but it has been well maintained and is extremely fit for purpose. We have other issues with that tunnel but we have overcome the electrification one—after a great deal of pressure. Somebody has already talked about £1 billion for a railway station in London and £1 billion for electrification. I was on the Select Committee that considered the Crossrail Bill for 23 months. They made a mistake because, unlike a lot of the people on that Committee, I am what is known in rail terms as a chuffernutter, so I was quite happy to discuss rail and I enjoyed the visits to various exciting rail places such as Royal Oak, which we pass on our journeys in from south Wales.