Call to consider legal action to recover 'millions owed to Wales'

THE former leader of Plaid Cymru has urged ministers to consider legal action over £432m “owed” to Wales by the UK Government for rail spending and increased national insurance costs.

- By CHRIS HAINES

Adam Price warned that a decision to reclassify an Oxford-to-Cambridge railway line as a “England-and-Wales” project cost Wales £360m in consequential funding.

Mr Price asked Welsh ministers: “If the change was made - as it ostensibly was - without consultation or adequate reasoning, what legal hurdles would the Welsh Government face in bringing a case and what remedies might be available?”

Julie James, who is counsel general, the Welsh Government's chief legal adviser, replied: “I don’t think that’s something we want to particularly take to court.”

Ms James pointed to an extra £445m for rail in Wales in last week's UK Government spending review, welcoming a “step change” in the level of investment in the past year.

But Mr Price suggested the decision to reclassify East West Rail after four years as an England-only project created a legitimate expectation in legal terms for budget planning.