Diolch, Llywydd. Can I start by thanking Members across the Chamber for their contributions today and for giving me an opportunity to respond to this debate? As a Government, we are absolutely determined to spread prosperity, growth and opportunity across Wales to generate prosperity for all, and that is the foundation upon which the work to refresh our economic strategy and develop the economy of each region is to be based. The Severn tolls, given their strategic importance to Wales, are very much part of that thinking. We’ve been in regular discussions with the UK Government about the tolls to ensure that future arrangements represent the best deal for Wales and we’ve made it clear on many occasions that the tolls on the bridge are an unfair tax on our people and on our businesses. It’s a barrier to business activity across the bridge, hampering Welsh growth and acting as a deterrent to inward investment, as Members have identified. In particular, the tolls adversely affect small businesses looking to operate in the south-west of England, as well as those engaged in the tourism, logistics and transport sectors, which rely heavily on Severn crossings links for their businesses.

A number of Members have identified our 2012 study—the one that we commissioned—which concluded that removing the tolls would increase the GVA of south Wales by £107 million. Although GVA has grown faster in Wales than across the UK as an average in recent times, we believe that the increase in GVA presented by the removal by the tolls would offer a huge boost to the regional economy. I would agree with Mark Reckless as well that the sum could be in excess of £107 million, and I also welcome his assertion that the economy today is now stronger along the M4 and that there’s a returning confidence to south Wales—that is, of course, thanks to this Welsh Labour Government.

Despite the Conservatives’ support at Westminster now for abolishing the tolls, the last time we debated the Severn crossings here in the Chamber, the UK Government’s opposition to removing the tolls was very clear. But, I am glad to see that the weak and wobbly position adopted by the Prime Minister has finally, albeit reluctantly, come around to a better position—one that has been championed by this Welsh Labour Government over many, many years.