6. Plaid Cymru Debate: Alternatives to the M4 Relief Road

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:35 pm on 12 June 2019.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 5:35, 12 June 2019

I take the point that the Member states and I'm very pleased for his clarification. I was basing my comments on many previous speeches and declarations from your colleagues in support of the route that has been so roundly trashed in the inspector's report. But I have to say that, moving forward, we all need to recognise that there is deep frustration with the congestion issues on the M4 network, particularly around the Brynglas tunnels, and the impact that it has on Newport and the economy of south-east Wales. I can assure you this is a problem that we are determined to resolve.

We have some incredibly exciting and bold plans for public transport in Wales, from the £5 billion plan that we've developed through Transport for Wales for the new and transformational rail franchise and metro, to major legislation that will help to re-regulate the bus network, to the biggest investment we've ever made in active travel. There is a huge amount of exciting work taking place right across Wales and it will inspire, it will encourage, and it will enable modal shift, which is so very important. 

I think Jayne Bryant's point about needing to avoid the cascading of high-carbon emitting buses when we introduce a new fleet of zero-emitting vehicles is very important. We'll use the bus services support grant to prevent this from happening and we will also look at developing a scrappage agreement with bus operators. 

Dirprwy Lywydd, we are committed to resolving the congestion issues around the M4 as part of our ambitious plans for transport in Wales and I have confidence that the commission can take us forward in the shortest possible timescale to meet that need, but I'd finally make two points. First of all, I'd say this to Members—don't suggest people should change their modes of transport unless you're willing to change yours as well. And finally, for the three years that I've been in this role, I've been giving very serious thought to the free public transport model that some Members have recently been speaking about, but in order to reach the point where we could deliver this, we first need to legislate and we first need to introduce the reforms—those radical reforms that I've outlined in the White Paper. For that reason, I do hope that Members across this Chamber will support me in implementing those radical reforms and bringing forward that legislation.