Can I thank Russell George for his questions and say that, in terms of, first of all, the consultation that has taken place, I’d be very happy to publish data concerning the responses? In brief, the inquiry will look at the responses to the consultation and the exhibitions that took place between September 2015 and March 2016. In brief, the consultation resulted in a total of 192 supporter submissions, compared to 267 bespoke objections. But if you actually look at the numbers that stem from within Wales, that came from Welsh-based residents, the number of supporters was 143 compared to 118 objections. I will publish these data. The largest objections, in terms of volume, came from organised campaigns including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Woodland Trust. It’s for that reason that I’m keen to meet with those wildlife groups as soon as possible to discuss a range of mitigation projects that wildlife groups would like to see delivered as part of the M4 relief road project.

In terms of the timescale that we’re looking at, three-to-five months is what we estimate for the actual period of being able to carry out the inquiry. If the inspector wished to take less than five months, and four months or three months were sufficient, that would be up to the independent inspector. Likewise, I’d have no objection to the inspector taking meetings outside of the centre of Newport, if the inspector so wished. This is very much in the hands of an independent inspector and I wish that inspector to have every opportunity to liaise and to discuss this very important project with the people whom it will affect.

In terms of north Wales, in terms of mid Wales and in terms of west Wales, it’s absolutely crucial that the M4 and the metro in south-east Wales, and indeed the metro across south Wales, form part of a national infrastructure plan, and, for that reason, I’m very keen to progress with work. We’ve already begun in Newtown with the bypass around Newtown, but I’m very keen to progress with work right across Wales that benefits people in every community in all parts of the country, whether that be with the development of a business case for the third Menai crossing, the Caernarfon bypass, or significant upgrades to the A55 and the A494 that will amount to more than £200 million, and of course the A40 as well. I want to ensure that the M4 and the metro are not seen in isolation but as part of a fully national and integrated transport plan. Indeed, a plan that will incorporate travel and integrated travel just across the border. That will be of particular significance to the north-east Wales metro proposals.

If I can just touch on the actual inquiry itself—the Member asked about the time frame. Draft statutory orders and an environmental statement were published in March of this year. It’s my intention to have the public local inquiry commenced in autumn of this year and I would hope that by summer of next year, pending receipt of the inspector’s report, a decision can be made on whether to make the orders and proceed with construction. The spring of 2018 would mark the commencement of the motorway works and I would hope that, by the autumn of 2021, the work would be completed and the relief road opened.

We’ll be proceeding to the public local inquiry with a firm view that the black route is the preferred option. However, the public local inquiry is very much like a court. An independent inspector will hear evidence from us, Welsh Government and our technical experts, as well as from objectors and from supporters. The inspector will examine all alternatives suggested by objectors, including the blue route, as I’ve already said, and the inspector will then make a recommendation to Ministers on whether to proceed to construction.

I should point out as well that the Planning Inspectorate appoints the independent inspector; it is not a Welsh Government appointment. And, at the inquiry, the independent inspector would consider an entire range of questions, including the need for the scheme; the land-take proposed to be compulsory purchased; the proposals for changes to side roads; and reclassification of the existing M4. The inspector will consider environmental surveys that have been carried out; potential environmental impacts across an entire variety of issues, including ecological and archaeological and including noise issues and visual impact; as well as the mitigation measures that are being proposed. The inspector will also consider the impact on affected stakeholders, such as Associated British Ports, Tata and, of course, residents. And the inspector will consider the application of Welsh Government policy in decision making—and I know that Members have raised it in the past—such as the application of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Presiding Officer, the inspector will also scrutinise the traffic demand for the scheme and the traffic modelling work carried out on it. Finally, the inspector will consider alternatives proposed by objectors, regardless of whether they have already been considered and rejected. For example, other routes, the widening of existing roads, greater expenditure on public transport and, of course, doing nothing will all be considered by the inspector.