Spending review: I delivered what Welsh government wanted, says chancellor
Rachel Reeves has defended the UK government's spending plans for Wales, telling BBC Wales she delivered what the Welsh government had asked for.Opposition parties have been critical of the chancellor's spending review, calling the money earmarked for the railways a "drop in the ocean" compared to what the country needs.The chancellor said the plan to spend £445m on Welsh railways was a "significant package" and defended the £118m earmarked for coal tips, which is short of estimates previously made by the Welsh government.Reeves denied the spending review had left Wales short changed and said Wales was getting a "record" amount of cash.
Rachel Reeves made the comments on a visit to the Taff's Well Transport for Wales depot on Friday.The Treasury is providing £300m for five new stations around Cardiff and Newport between 2026 and 2030, and a series of improvement works including measures to improve capacity in north Wales.Another £48m is going on the South Wales Metro, while £90m is being allocated over 10 years to work on future schemes.Speaking to BBC Wales, Reeves said: "This investment delivers the five train stations from the Burns review in south Wales, improvements to the core valley network as well as the level crossing improvements in north Wales to link people to the jobs that are available."This is significant investment that the Welsh government asked for. A Labour government in Westminster working with the Labour government here in Wales to deliver for people in Wales."At the same time there's the record devolution settlement for the Welsh government and, on top of that as well, the £118m for coal tips to keep those safe in Wales."When it was put to her that it was far short of the up to £600m previously estimated to be needed for coaltips, Reeves said: "No, the £118m is what the Welsh government asked for from the UK government and we've delivered that in full."And we are also delivering in full the requests for investments for the Burns review stations for example."Asked if Wales was being short changed by the 0.9% cut to Welsh government capital spending, she said: "No, we're investing in the transport infrastructure, in the coal tips and a record devolution settlement."
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