The case for a relief road for the M4 around Newport remains strong, Minister. First proposed way back in 1991, it tackled the problem of congestion that has never been properly addressed. The M4 is Wales's strategic gateway to the rest of the UK and Europe, but we are serviced by substandard dual carriageway that fails to meet modern motorway standards. In the last two years this stretch of road has been forced to close over 100 times; 100,000-plus vehicles travel on the M4 around Newport every day. This increases when major events such as concerts and rugby, football and cricket matches take place, and will do so again when the new convention centre at the Celtic Manor Resort is completed. Constrained by the oldest motorway tunnels in the United Kingdom, this stretch of road causes increased vehicle emissions, poor air quality and accidents around Newport.

The National Assembly's own planning inspector spent more than a year considering the case for a new M4 route south of Newport. Minister, there are six junctions that actually go towards Newport, around Newport, and the motorway is not a motorway—it's like a zig-zag around it. It's a slow motorway; it's a car park around it. The inspector gave the proposal his overwhelming backing. In his report, he details the economic, environmental and health benefits of the project. Yet, his recommendation was rejected by the First Minister. This decision was met with dismay, anger and frustration by industry and business groups in Wales. The Confederation of British Industry said, and their quote is:

'This is a dark day for the Welsh economy…Congestion and road pollution around Newport can only increase. Economic growth will be stifled, confidence in the region will weaken and the cost of an eventual relief road will rise'.

The Freight Transport Association said, in their quote:

'The M4 is a vital stretch of infrastructure with international economic importance, yet it is blighted by heavy congestion'.

Another quote from them is:

'It is frustrating that the opportunity to deliver this essential investment into South Wales’ infrastructure has been missed.'

The situation can only get worse. The Welsh Government predicts severe operational problems on congestion around Newport by 2020. The removal of the Severn bridge tolls, also set to inject over £100 million of economic activities into Wales, has increased congestion. Projection by the Department for Transport shows that traffic along the M4 is set to increase by nearly 38 per cent over the next 30 years. Failure to act is simply not an option, Minister. We need to look again at the alternatives to the black route.

One option considered was to improve the existing A48 by upgrading the present junction on the route that impedes the free flow of traffic. This would entail new bridges and underpasses. The cost of this option was a great deal less than the black route. Could we not look again at using a combination of the A48 southern distributor road and the former steelworks road to create a high-standard dual carriageway that would be called the blue route?

Much of the traffic is caused by commuters heading to or from work. The south Wales metro proposal is an ambitious scheme to get more commuters on our railways, but it is a long-term scheme that will take 10 to 15 years to deliver. We need options for rail now. We need a direct link between Newport and Ebbw Vale, Minister. We need to provide more communities, such as Magor and Undy, with railway stations.

I know that the commission set up by the Welsh Government will report on its interim findings with recommendations for immediate practical interventions within the six months of its formation. I urge the Minister to stick to his timetable. The people of south-east Wales have waited long enough for the problem of congestion on the M4 to be addressed. Now is the time. Minister, it was music to the ears when you said it's time to change. How, when and which end of Newport? And I’m sure you will do your best to make sure that congestion is eased, the environmental side is covered and the lesson has been learned over the last eight or nine years of wasting time and money in the area. Thank you.