Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what opportunities they envisage, via the Industrial Strategy and the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, for making (1) Wales and (2) the UK a global leader in rail research, testing and innovation.

The Department of Transport continues to engage closely with the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in developing its proposal for world-class research, testing and certification site in South Wales. Department for Transport officials contribute through the cross-government GCRE steering group, which also includes representatives from the Department for Business and Trade and Welsh Government, to discuss options for Government support and to ensure alignment with the Government’s priorities such as the Industrial Strategy. Partnership with devolved governments will make the Industrial Strategy a UK wide effort and support the considerable sectoral strengths of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.