Question
I thank the Secretary of State for her answer, but over 1,500 people have signed my petition to make Chepstow station fully accessible. Currently, disabled travellers need to go east into England, cross over a road, get back on a train and travel back through Chepstow to go west to Cardiff, so Chepstow residents were incredibly disappointed that they missed out on the last round of Access for All funding, despite being nearly at the top of the priority list given by the Welsh Government to Westminster. Can the Secretary of State please confirm when the next Access for All round will begin, and when Chepstow station will be fully accessible to residents?
Answer
My hon. Friend paints a vivid picture of how critical accessible stations are, not just to her constituents but to people travelling across the country. She will know that Chepstow was nominated for Access for All funding in 2022, but was not selected for funding by the previous Government. Future funding, beyond what I spoke about in my first answer, will be considered at the next spending review, and I would be keen to work with my hon. Friend to understand how the case of Chepstow station can be raised at that time.20% point-scoring
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The reply only partly answers this exchange. It says future Access for All funding will be considered at the next spending review, but gives no date or window for when the next funding round starts. On Chepstow station, it gives useful background, including that the station was nominated in 2022 and was not selected by the previous government, and it offers to work with the MP on the case. However, it gives no timeline for when the station will be fully accessible. Because most of the response is hedged and leaves the key timing questions open, the person who asked would likely need to follow up for specific dates.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| When the next Access for All funding round will begin. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply says future funding will be considered at the next spending review, which indicates the timing is tied to that process, but it never gives a date or window for when the next Access for All funding round will begin. |
| When Chepstow station will be fully accessible. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply gives the station's funding history (nominated in 2022, not selected by the previous government) and offers to work with the MP on raising the case at the spending review, but it gives no timeline for when Chepstow station will be fully accessible. |