MP welcomes extra £64.5 million for Wales

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has welcomed the announcement that Wales will receive an additional £64.5 million as a result of UK Government funding allocated to Transport for London earlier this week.

The UK Government has so far announced over £2.2 billion of additional funding in Wales to support people, business and public services in the ongoing fight to tackle COVID-19.

This funding is in addition to the UK-wide measures that the people and businesses in Wales can access, such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Simon Baynes said: “Transport organisations across the UK are facing hardship as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, and those in Clwyd South and Wales are no exception. 

"While the Government is urging people to work from home where possible and only travel when absolutely necessary, there are still those who need to travel by train and bus to work and people need to be able to travel safely while respecting social distancing once restrictions are gradually lifted.

"In addition, with schools, private hire and the tourism industry currently closed, life is particularly difficult for coach companies – of which there are a sizeable number in Clwyd South – and they like the rest of the transport sector need additional support during the Coronavirus crisis.

"I really welcome this additional funding, and encourage the Welsh Government to spend it wisely to help support Wales’ economic recovery from COVID-19.”