Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance – in the Senedd at 1:48 pm on 24 January 2018.
Diolch. I don't disagree with what you've just said, finance Secretary, and I appreciate that there's currently an ongoing public inquiry looking into the different possible solutions and routes for the M4 and that should be allowed to take its course. I also appreciate that there's a policy issue to be debated here, and you're not the Secretary to do that with. However, I'm asking you specifically about the financing of the scheme, and, as finance Secretary, you do have an overall view for achieving and securing public value for money for the taxpayer. As I understand it, the current estimated cost is in the region of £1.4 billion. However, apparently, this doesn't include estimations of VAT, inflation, or future maintenance costs. Have any of these been factored in and what is your current estimate of the total cost of the M4 relief road?