The Welsh Government has intensified its call for greater investment in Wales, urging the Chancellor to accelerate delivery of the UK Government's £14 billion rail funding commitment as preparations continue for the Autumn Budget on 28 October.
In a letter to the Chancellor, Welsh Finance Secretary Elin Jones outlined a series of priorities designed to secure a fairer funding settlement for Wales and boost economic growth, infrastructure improvements and support for households facing financial pressures.
Central to the Welsh Government's proposals is a request to bring forward £1 billion of the promised £14 billion rail investment package, allowing key transport projects across Wales to progress more quickly.
The call comes amid concerns over the level of rail funding currently reaching Wales. According to the Welsh Government, only around 1% of Network Rail's expenditure across England and Wales is currently being invested in Welsh rail infrastructure, despite longstanding concerns over historic underinvestment.
Ahead of the Chancellor's Budget statement, the Welsh Government is seeking support in four key areas:
Rail Investment
- Accelerate delivery of rail upgrades by bringing forward £1 billion from the existing £14 billion commitment for Wales.
Cost of Living Support
- Unfreeze Local Housing Allowance rates to help prevent homelessness.
- Protect Cynnal, Wales's child payment scheme, from tax and benefit deductions to maximise support for low-income families and tackle child poverty.
Public Spending
- Reverse real-terms reductions to both day-to-day spending and capital budgets allocated to Wales.
Strategic UK Investment
- Support major infrastructure projects, including the decarbonisation of Pembrokeshire Power Station.
Speaking about the proposals, Welsh Cabinet Minister for Finance Elin Jones said:
“Wales has waited long enough. This budget is the UK Government's chance to show it's serious about delivering for our communities.
“Right now, just 1% of Network Rail's spending across England and Wales is going towards our railways. That's not good enough. The UK Government has committed to invest £14 billion to address the historical underfunding of Wales’ railways and I want to see that promise turned into action, starting with this budget.
“Families across Wales are still feeling the squeeze, and I want the Chancellor to go further to help them, whether that's through housing and energy support or protecting the payments that matter most to families on the lowest incomes.
“Wales already makes a strong contribution to the UK economy, and investing in our future will help deliver the Prime Minister's own ambition to spread prosperity and opportunity to every part of the UK. This budget is the moment to match that ambition with action.”
The intervention highlights growing pressure on the UK Government to demonstrate progress on commitments made to Wales, particularly around transport infrastructure and regional economic development. With the Autumn Budget approaching, Welsh ministers argue that early action on rail investment would not only improve connectivity but also help unlock economic opportunities and support long-term growth across Welsh communities.
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