Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:18 pm on 27 November 2018.
On the M4, I'll try to be as crystal clear as I possibly can be. We are in a legal process. We had a local inquiry. That report has been received by the Government. It is subject to official advice and legal advice. When the official and legal advice and clearances are through, it will be submitted to the First Minister for his executive decision. It is not a collective decision of the Cabinet; it is an executive decision of the First Minister.
Once that has been done, to be clear, I have made it very clear that, because of the scale of the project and the interest across Wales, unlike any other highway project, we will bring forward a debate in Government time. There is still some possibility that we could do that next Monday. We would have to have the Llywydd's indulgence to do that. It was discussed at Business Committee this morning that there is still that possibility. However, as I said before, if that's not possible—if that's not possible because we haven't got to that point in the process—then we'll see what else can be done.
If it does go out past the end of this Assembly term, then I will be recommending to the incoming First Minister, whoever she or he would be, that the commitment by this Government is honoured, that that debate comes forward, and I don't see any reason why that couldn't happen. But it must be in the correct sequence. We can't have a debate in Assembly time before the making of the Orders, because that is not a relevant consideration in terms of the way that that decision must be made. So, there's a very clear set of processes, and the Assembly debate must come at the right point in that process. So, it's still not inconceivable that we could do it next Tuesday, but, if we can do it, we will. If we can't, then we'll have to see what else can be done.
We are very committed to the debate, but it has to be at the right point in the process. The process is immensely complex. The amount of things that have to be done in order for the First Minister to be able to take that decision lawfully, taking into account all the relevant considerations, is hugely complicated. So, we need to get the process right, and then we need to move on to the debate. So, I hope that that is clear. I don't know how to make it any clearer than that.
In terms of Transport for Wales, the Cabinet Secretary has indicated to me that he's very happy to ensure that Transport for Wales give a weekly update to all Members on where we are with the transition arrangements and the handover. So, I'll make sure that that happens.