1. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Economy and Transport on the impact of environmentally friendly transport on pollution levels? OAQ53454

Thank you. I have regular discussions with the Minister for Economy and Transport about sustainable action required to reduce emissions from transport, for example through work on our Welsh plan to tackle roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations, and the decarbonisation ministerial task and finish group, which I chair and of which the Minister is also a member.

Thank you, Minister, for that, and I welcome this opportunity to ask my first question to you in this Chamber. I'm sure the Minister will agree with me that plastic pollution levels are an issue globally, but Wales has an opportunity to lead from the front. Sometimes, we also need to look elsewhere as to how we think differently about transport. In Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city, decision makers have come up with a different way to encourage residents to recycle waste, giving free bus rides in exchange for used plastic bottles. Under a scheme launched by Surabaya in April, communities can ride red city buses by dropping off plastic bottles at terminals or directly paying for a fare with bottles. Llywydd, a two-hour bus ticket costs 10 plastic cups, or up to five plastic bottles, depending on their size. The city hopes to meet their ambitious target of becoming a plastic-free city by 2020. 

Alongside the Government investing in the future of technology and green transportation, will the Minister also discuss with the Minister for economy, as well as local government leaders, how we might be able to replicate a similar system in pilot areas here, which falls in line with our future generations Act?

Thank you. It's certainly a very interesting initiative. We had a lively conversation with officials this morning when we were going through the oral questions, and I'll certainly discuss it with my colleague Ken Skates. I think it's also important to discuss it with the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Housing, Hannah Blythyn, who obviously leads on that part of the portfolio, but also local government leaders as well. 

The Member will be aware that Hannah Blythyn also announced a consultation on the merits of a deposit-return scheme for drink containers earlier this week, and the UK Government are consulting at the same time, but, clearly, plastic is an area where we've done well with our recycling. We have very high recycling rates of plastic, so we want to avoid unintended consequences. 

As we heard at the recent cross-party group on transport, chaired by Russell George, it's buses and heavy goods vehicles that contribute primarily to the diesel pollution. And while lorries get replaced fairly frequently, buses don't. Previously, Welsh Government gave Swansea Council quite a lot of money towards the Nowcaster system—I haven't mentioned it for a while, so I thought it deserved a bit of an airing—and as far as we can tell—somebody may contradict me here—it has not been used to redirect traffic at any point. So, it's, as far as I'm concerned, a failed system. Would Welsh Government consider putting money into helping councils upgrade their public transport, if you like, making that more anti-pollution, rather than investing in these monitors that don't seem to have made any difference?

It's certainly something I'd be very happy to discuss with my colleague Ken Skates. 

Minister, you mentioned the level of nitrogen dioxide, and you'll be aware of the study being undertaken by Professor Paul Lewis at Swansea University in this regard—figures showing 81 out of 916 places exceeding safe limits, including eight in Carmarthenshire, and one example being the Felinfoel road in Llanelli. What evaluation are you and your officials making of moves like the 50 mph limits on certain trunk roads and parts of the M4 since they were introduced? Are we yet able to see what difference those are making?

What recent discussions have you had with local authorities to improve the monitoring of pollution levels, because you will be aware that there are communities that are concerned that they've got levels that they feel may be dangerous but the monitoring just isn't there. And have you given any further consideration to the need for a new clean air Act for Wales?

Thank you. In relation to the five areas that we've got across Wales that relate to the reduced 50 mph speed limit, this is obviously an area that Ken Skates leads on, but I do have one in my own constituency and I know that they are being monitored very closely, but I don't know if any figures have been brought forward as yet. The speed restrictions have been identified as the only measure that will achieve compliance with nitrogen dioxide limit values in the soonest possible time. I think we need to get the message out a bit better. Certainly, the one in Wrexham, people don't understand why we had the 50 mph there, why it wasn't being enforced, was it for safety, was it for emissions. So, I think it's really important that we have signage, and that's something that I've been discussing with my officials.

You asked about a clean air Act, and, again, that was something that was in the new First Minister's manifesto that I am looking to deliver on as we take forward this term, looking at what we can do within the legislative programme we have.