2. Will the Minister make a statement on cross-border transport co-operation? OAQ(5)0011(EI)

Yes. I fully recognise the importance of cross-border connectivity for the social and economic benefit of both sides of the border. We are engaged with various partners across all modes to seek to maximise the benefits that connectivity can bring across the whole of Wales.

Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. I hope you will be aware of a long-standing issue in my constituency for a proposed bypass for the Llanymynech and Pant area, and I have been in previous correspondence with your predecessor, Edwina Hart, on this. I recently met with Andrew Jones, the transport Minister from the UK Government, in Llanymynech with community representatives. He certainly expressed a willingness to meet with you to discuss this specific project. Would you agree to that meeting, and also would you agree to perhaps provide some information on progress on the specific scheme?

Yes, I would agree to that meeting, and I’d like to thank the Member for bringing this to my attention. I know that he’s given it considerable focus in his time as Assembly Member, and we’re continuing to work with Highways England regarding that particular stretch, and we will continue to meet with them to promote joint working and to develop feasibility studies for future cross-border schemes. Also, my officials are taking into account the work of Highways England on their A5 corridor study, as the outcome could have implications for the scheme that the Member raises.

Cabinet Secretary, you’ll know as well as I do that for north Wales to prosper economically, we not only need strong and effective transport links across the region, but across the border with our near neighbours in the north-west of England. Improvement to road links like the A55 and A494 are critical, but we also need a wider transport plan to support crucial cross-border economic collaboration with the north-west of England. Will you therefore provide an update on the development of the north-east Wales metro alongside to boost cross-border economic co-operation?

Can I thank the Member for her question, and say that the economy of north Wales has phenomenal potential? It is our gateway to the world and we wish to see it take flight. We have begun work to advance the development of a north-east Wales metro system. It’s important that we have connectivity across the whole of the region to maximise the opportunities further west and to provide reliable, efficient and quality connectivity south and across the border. Outline proposals are being prepared, and we will be setting out that vision within the first 100 days of this Government. Likewise, I’m keen to ensure that cross-border economic development is a focus of my work, and I intend to host a summit in July for interested parties on both the Welsh and English side of the border.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rydych yn ymwybodol nad wyf wedi bod yn Aelod o’r Cynulliad yma am bum mlynedd—roedd pum mlynedd o fwlch—ond, rwy’n cofio gofyn yn y Trydydd Cynulliad ynglŷn â’r angen dybryd i drydaneiddio’r rheilffordd rhwng Llundain ac Abertawe. Yn y cyfamser, rwy’n gweld fawr ddim datblygiad yn y maes yna. A allaf i gael diweddariad ynglŷn â’r cynllun i drydaneiddio’r rheilffordd o Lundain i Abertawe?

First of all, can I welcome the Member back to the Chamber, and say that rail electrification is crucially important to the economy of south Wales, indeed, to the economy of the whole of Wales, and I’ll be pleased to be able to present Members with a written update on this matter?

The Severn crossing tolls on the border are a restriction on the south Wales economy and a cause of congestion. Would you agree with me that we should see those crossings become the responsibility of the Welsh Government as quickly as possible and, when that is the case, that those tolls should be abolished to ease that restriction on the local economy, and, indeed, end what is a long-running injustice that has annoyed an awful lot of people and organisations for a long time?

Can I thank the Member for his question and say that we declared very publicly that we believe the tolls should be in the hands of the Welsh Government. Now, it’s estimated that removing the tolls would boost productivity in Wales by something in the region of £100 million or more every year, and I can see no justification for continuing to disadvantage Welsh businesses once the concession ends. Now, it’s our intention, were we able to, to reduce levels of the tolls, alleviating the burden on the economy, but the Member also points out rightly that the tolls are a cause of congestion. So, we also need to ensure that if we remove that cause of congestion, we don’t simply add to the burden and the troubles that are caused at Brynglas tunnels and, instead, we make sure that we resolve the M4 as well.