6. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on how the Welsh Government invests in transport in Islwyn? OAQ51703

Yes. Thank you. Our plans for investment across Wales are detailed in the national transport finance plan, which was updated, of course, at the end of last year, and our responses are directed to achieving a sustainable and integrated transport system across the length and breadth of Wales, including in Islwyn.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Thank you for that reply. An independent report released just last week that evaluated the Valleys rail strengthening project noted—and it was a groundbreaking project—that it improved air quality, it delivered a 19 per cent increase in capacity on the Valleys rail network, and also generated evidenced access to the jobs market. Indeed, the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line formed one of the main strands in this project, and was created to reduce the level of car usage. Cabinet Secretary, with independent evaluation validating the success of this line, which does run through the heart of my Islwyn constituency, what further measures can the Welsh Government take to enhance our Welsh rail network, including ensuring the critical service from Ebbw Vale to Newport?

Well, I was very pleased to note the findings of the report. It fully justified the significant investment made by the Welsh Government in the area over many years, and it also demonstrates what can be done when investment is provided in a way that can meet the aspirations of passengers. We've been underfunded for too long. Certainly for the whole of the last control period, we were underfunded: 1 per cent of investment for about 5 per cent of the network. But we as a Welsh Government are investing very heavily, and as we take forward the vision of the south Wales metro, we're determined to ensure that we link in developments in transport with developments of our hospital and health estates, and with school estates as well, to get maximum value for the public purse.