4. Will the First Minister provide an update on progress with integrated transport in south-east Wales? OAQ(5)0614(FM)

I think you should thank Huw Irranca-Davies. [Laughter.]

The national transport finance plan is a live document and contains an ambitious programme of interventions that are in varying stages of development, and we will update the plan periodically to reflect developments over time, and of course the changing profile of need across Wales.

Would you agree with me, First Minister, that active travel must be an important part of integrated transport in south-east Wales, and now that local authorities are working up their integrated plans for the future, Welsh Government must continue to take a keen interest in those plans and make sure that they fit with that wider integrated transport agenda?

Absolutely so. The change that is happening—it’s not yet happened across every local authority—the change that is happening at the moment is that cycling and walking are seen as modes of transport rather than means of recreation alone. We know that many of our cities are well placed to deliver cycle paths and cycle routes. We know that the issue for many people who might cycle is they don’t want to be on the road with cars. For the brave, yes they do, and quite rightly so because they have every right to be on the road. But the more we can develop cycle routes that are physically separated from cars, the more people we will attract, I believe, onto those routes because they don’t feel they have to compete with cars and lorries on the road. And that’s very much part of course, as he will know, of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013.

Following the very welcome abolition of the Severn tolls, and we hope the construction of an M4 relief road, does the First Minister agree with me that the importance of rail as an alternative to integrate with the road system only increases? And does he welcome the decision of his Cabinet Secretary that the Magor-Undy proposal for a new train station should be taken forward, as well as Llanwern and St Mellons, which are identified within the first 12, as putting three new rail stations on that route between Cardiff and the Severn would transform the nature of the service?

I’m not sure the tolls have actually been abolished yet, but certainly that’s something that we would welcome. I always welcome statements made by my Cabinet Ministers, and it’s right to stay that, in different stages, we are looking at reopening lines to the east of Cardiff and Newport—an area that’s not been well served by the rail network. We know, for example, that the eastern part of the city of Cardiff has been historically very poorly served. There is a need to improve public transport links to the eastern part of the city and the same applies, of course, to settlements between Newport and the Severn bridge. We can’t simply build roads. We must make sure, as roads are improved and built, that we also provide better public transport connections as well.

One of the harder things to achieve with public transport is the travel card that enables passengers to travel on different types of transport. I know that your Government is going to be involved with negotiating the new rail franchises. How much of a priority will providing that kind of travel card form in your talks with the rail companies?

Well, there are two issues: firstly, it’s trickier dealing with travel card negotiations at railway stations because there’s more than one operator. In terms of the metro, it’s essential that there is an integrated Oyster-style travel card available, although even in London now, of course, it’s possible to travel simply by using a contactless debit card. So, actually, Oyster cards are now even less essential than once they were. For some people, of course, they’re important—for those who don’t have access to contactless cards, yes, they need them to travel—but it is absolutely crucial that the network of the south-east Wales metro has one card that covers all journeys within the metro area. Otherwise, of course, it’s not an integrated system.

Michelle Brown is not in the Chamber to ask question 5 [OAQ(5)0622(FM)]. Question 6, Hannah Blythyn.