7. Plaid Cymru Debate: M4 Corridor Decision

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:06 pm on 28 November 2018.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 4:06, 28 November 2018

Of course, we need a solution to the M4 congestion issue—that's an issue that no doubt will be supported by every Member across the Chamber—but what we are waiting for is, of course, the full details of the public inquiry. And we as AMs across this Chamber need to see that report, and I'd say it's essential that the Government publishes the findings and conclusions of the public inquiry so that we and stakeholders are able to digest and scrutinise that consultation and the conclusions of that inquiry report. 

I won't be a lone AM in this Chamber in having a large e-mail postbag, especially over the last week, with views from all different sectors, and those views, of course, have all got to be balanced. But I do believe that the Welsh Government has dragged its feet on this issue. There have been 20 years of discussions and consultations, and no practical solution has been delivered. We have had the public inquiry, the inquiry has now presented its findings to the Welsh Government, so I'm disappointed that we, as AMs here, haven't had the chance to scrutinise those findings either.

And it does look like, as well, that we've had contradictory information as well on this issue. We've had the leader of the house, in answering First Minister's questions last week and in previous times as well, give us one position, we've had the economy and transport Minister providing evidence to the environment committee last week that appears to tell us something different, and the First Minister something else. So, what I do hope will come out of this debate when the Cabinet Secretary, or the leader of the house, perhaps, responds to this debate this afternoon, is again that clarity on the position and the timetable of the decision-making process. I think it's absolutely clear that we have that.

But I understand the motion that's put forward today; I'm willing to listen to the debate before we make any conclusion on this side about how that should be—which way we'll vote ourselves. We have constantly said a decision needs to be made as soon as possible. So, I don't want to see that put off, but I accept absolutely—