This week sees the first reduction in the tolls on the Severn crossing since 1966. The Conservative Government's action to remove the value added tax from the tolls is the first step towards scrapping charges on the bridge altogether by the end of this year. The benefit of this to the Welsh economy, Presiding Officer, of abolishing these charges, is about £100 million a year. By this action, the Conservative Government has started the process of removing the symbolic economic barrier that discourages businesses from expanding into Wales. Also, on the other hand, some of the hauliers are going to save more than £50,000 a year. We know that. That's a great saving and a great development for our local economy. The Secretary of State for Wales, Mr Alun Cairns MP, mentioned, in his words:

'The tolls’ removal will cement the ties between the economies and communities of south Wales and south west England, creating a growth corridor spanning from Cardiff, through Newport, to Bristol.'

The Welsh Government must take the necessary steps required to ensure Wales obtains maximum benefit from this action. That means dealing with the frustrating and costly traffic jams and congestion that we saw all too frequently in 2017 and beyond that. The traffic analysis firm INRIX estimated that traffic jams on our roads last year cost the Welsh economy almost £278 million. As I said earlier in Minister's questions, you could build at least two state-of-the-art hospitals in Wales. That is the loss we are facing with this congestion. 

Cardiff suffers the largest adverse impact. The congestion cost to Cardiff is £134 million, to Newport is £44 million, and also to Swansea is £62 million. These are staggering figures. I think this isn't important for the Labour Party, only four backbenchers are sitting here. It's such an important topic and only one Cabinet Minister is in front, which shows that the interest in the transport system in Wales is not there. At least for this Conservative Party, if we come in power, this will be one of the most foremost priorities, to get connectivity—by air, by road and by sea.

The worst congestion hotspot in Wales is at the Brynglas tunnels. Presiding Officer, I live only a few metres from there and the congestion for the last 10 years, since I've been in this Assembly, is so horrendous it's unbelievable. It takes more than an hour to travel only 10 to 12 miles in the morning if I come after 7 o'clock. But if I come before, between 6.30 a.m. and 7 a.m., then it takes less than half an hour. That is at present. So, conditions previously were worse than this. 

The westbound tunnel saw no fewer than 465 jams last year. The worst lasted almost an hour and stretched back 4 miles. Sometimes, we know, they virtually close the entire M4 for some accident, and that's pretty frequently. These tunnels are the most congested stretch of inner-city motorway in the UK, apart from the M25 around London. Indeed, the M4 in south Wales is synonymous with traffic upholds and the stretch around Newport is Wales's busiest length of road. Gridlock is taking its toll on the Welsh economy and it is Welsh businesses and motorists that are bearing the brunt. We need to make urgent progress on the M4 relief road. The latest announcement before Christmas of a further delay to this vital project will be met with dismay by Welsh motorists. The opening of the M4 relief road will be delayed by almost two years and will now cost an extra £135 million. 

Back in 2014, the Welsh Government's own report said that this vital stretch of motorway does not meet modern motorway design standards, resulting in poor, sometimes horrendous, travelling conditions for its numerous users. It identified 17 problem areas relating to capacity, resilience, safety and sustainable development. But this is not the only project subject to completion delay and escalating cost. Work on dualling the A465 Heads of the Valleys road was due to be completed by spring 2019. This project is running over its £200 million budget and is behind schedule. Presiding Officer, this is not on. This Government has failed to deliver a transport system to Welsh people, and I'm sure they'll learn very quickly that this will create in our economy something better if their senses are getting better also. Thank you.