I'd like to thank Mark Reckless for allowing me a minute in this debate today and, as a proud Newportonian, I'm glad to speak today. Newport has a rich culture and history and is well placed to take advantage of the opportunities ahead. It was a pleasure to host the Cabinet Secretary at a business summit that I held at the Celtic Manor in my constituency in April. Representatives from a wide range of successful local businesses—big and small—attended the event overlooking the exciting international convention centre, which is set to open next year. 

Innovation in the private sector and support from the Welsh Government have greatly boosted the local economy. Established businesses like GoCompare, Airbus, Tata Steel and the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales have all chosen to be based in Newport. We have the Intellectual Property Office, the Office for National Statistics and their excellent data science campus. The new economy relies heavily on access to superfast broadband, and I note that, to date, the Welsh Government's Superfast Cymru programme has invested over £2 million across the city, facilitating greater connectivity for thousands of households and businesses. 

Newport is the gateway to Wales, and the abolition of the Severn bridge tolls in December will bring great opportunities to the city. Yet, as with every opportunity, there are challenges and we cannot ignore the congestion problem, and this must be tackled. Newport is a great place to live and we know that more and more people are choosing to make their home in this city. This brings with it the challenge of ensuring we have the right infrastructure to support the growth.