Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has spoken out about the fact that the Welsh Labour Government still has not received a commitment by the UK Labour Government that a single penny of consequential will be sent to Wales as a consequence of building HS2 in England.
Welsh Labour ardently campaigned for full consequentials of £4 billion to be given to Wales whilst in opposition. However, they have now dropped that figure to £350 million. As of yet not a single penny has been received.
During the new Chancellor’s first budget, Rachel Reeves MP made a commitment to fund tunnelling work to take HS2 high-speed rail line to Euston station in central London, but mentioned no funding for Wales.
In response to questioning by Mrs Finch-Saunders as to why there was no funding, Mark Drakeford MS, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, had stated:
“The UK Budget on 30 October was the first stage in a two-stage budgetary process. We remain in discussions with the UK Government on the issue of rail funding and investment. This will form part of the UK Government’s considerations for the second phase of the Spending Review, which will be announced in the spring.”
Commenting on the response, Janet said:
“The Chancellor was able to make a commitment to take HS2 into London, but completely ignored Wales.
“With the First Minister’s failure to get any commitment for Wales’ fair share of funding, it is apparent that the two Labour Governments are not working together to benefit Wales.
“Here in Aberconwy the lack of commitment by the UK Government to the electrification of the North Wales Main Line, and HS2 consequentials for Wales, means that much needed transport improvements are even less likely to happen.
“This scandal has rolled on for too long. I urge the UK and Welsh governments to reach and agreement urgently”.
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, AS Aberconwy, wedi siarad am y ffaith nad yw Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi derbyn ymrwymiad o hyd gan Lywodraeth Lafur y DU y bydd yr un geiniog o arian canlyniadol yn cael ei hanfon i Gymru o ganlyniad i adeiladu HS2 yn Lloegr.
Ymgyrchodd Llafur Cymru yn frwd dros roi symiau canlyniadol llawn o £4 biliwn i Gymru tra roedden nhw’n wrthblaid. Maen nhw bellach wedi gostwng y ffigur hwnnw i £350 miliwn, heb dderbyn yr un geiniog hyd yma.
Yn ystod cyllideb gyntaf y Canghellor newydd, fe wnaeth Rachel Reeves ymrwymiad i ariannu gwaith twnelu i fynd â rheilffordd gyflym HS2 i orsaf Euston yng nghanol Llundain, ond ni soniodd yr un gair am unrhyw gyllid i Gymru.
Mewn ymateb i gwestiwn Mrs Finch-Saunders ynghylch pam nad oedd unrhyw gyllid, dywedodd Mark Drakeford AS, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid:
“Cyllideb y DU ar 30 Hydref oedd y cam cyntaf mewn proses gyllidebol dau gam. Rydym yn parhau i drafod mater cyllid a buddsoddiad rheilffyrdd gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Bydd hyn yn rhan o ystyriaethau Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer ail gam yr Adolygiad Gwariant, a gaiff ei gyhoeddi yn y gwanwyn.”
Wrth sôn am yr ymateb, dywedodd Janet:
“Llwyddodd y Canghellor i wneud ymrwymiad i fynd â HS2 i Lundain, ond gan anwybyddu Cymru yn llwyr.
“Gyda methiant y Prif Weinidog i gael unrhyw ymrwymiad i gyfran deg Cymru o gyllid, mae'n amlwg nad yw'r ddwy Lywodraeth Lafur yn cydweithio er budd Cymru.
“Yma yn Aberconwy, mae'r diffyg ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth y DU i drydaneiddio prif lein y Gogledd, a symiau canlyniadol HS2 i Gymru, yn golygu bod gwelliannau trafnidiaeth mawr eu hangen hyd yn oed yn llai tebygol o ddigwydd.
“Mae'r sgandal yma wedi para'n rhy hir o lawer. Rwy'n annog llywodraethau'r DU a Chymru i gyrraedd cytundeb ar frys”.
DIWEDD
