Question
In May, the Government announced £57 million in nationwide funding for wi-fi on trains. Some other parts of the country have had many rail upgrades, but the south-west has terrible rail lines, and delays due to the High Speed 2 works at Old Oak Common. Will the Minister commit to a minimum fair share of £12 million for the south-west, to cover the entire Great Western Railway network of 93 inter-city express trains?
Answer
The fact that Great Western Railways will come into public ownership on 13 December presents an opportunity. The hon. Gentleman talks about the importance of wi-fi; I hope to have more to say on that in the months ahead, because I know how important good connectivity is for people who use our railways.25% vibes
Verdict: RED (15/100)
The question asked whether the government would commit to a minimum of £12 million for the south-west, and the reply does not answer that. It discusses wi-fi on the Great Western Railway and the move towards public ownership, but gives no figure, allocation mechanism, or yes-or-no commitment on the £12 million minimum. Its only forward-looking line, that there is "more to say in the months ahead", is vague, so the asker would likely need to ask again for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister commit to a minimum allocation of £12 million for the south-west from the £57 million nationwide funding for wi-fi on trains, to cover the entire Great Western Railway network of 93 inter-city express trains? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply engages with the subject (wi-fi on Great Western Railway, now heading into public ownership) but never addresses the requested commitment to a £12 million minimum for the south-west, gives no figure or allocation mechanism, and neither commits nor declines. Its only forward-looking line, "more to say in the months ahead", is vague and does not answer the yes/no question of whether the minimum will be committed to. |