Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:31 pm on 25 June 2019.
I'll just move that point on one step further as well and say that it's not just a question of devolution of money and responsibility and powers for rail infrastructure—although that is obviously desperately needed and we put our case to Keith Williams—it's also about having responsibility for the trains that actually operate on the tracks in our country. At the moment, we're in a ridiculous situation where the UK Government is able to be consulted and advise us on services that operate in Wales, and the Wales and borders franchise, and yet, when it comes to services that they're responsible for procuring, which operate on our lines in Wales, we have no say, and that cannot be allowed to continue, because, as has been proven by Grand Union Trains's approach to the UK Government, if we could introduce more services onto the railways that exist in Wales, we could reduce the reliance on cars.
I can tell Members today, regarding the timetable for putting together and inviting the commission to report, that we'll see members appointed—they will be agreed, Llywydd, between me and the chair—before the summer recess. Their work will commence immediately, and I have already met with the chair to discuss the work and the inspector's report, and the assessment and the analysis that has taken place to date. Meanwhile, in response directly to the point raised by Jenny Rathbone, we are taking forward, with immediate effect, measures to reduce congestion on the M4 in the event of incidents and accidents, and contracts are being drawn up at present to get additional patrol services and recovery services onto the road. From the commission, I expect an interim report within six months, but I've been very keen and clear in saying to the chair and to the public that if the commission is able to bring forward viable suggestions that can be delivered in a shorter period of time, or even immediately, then it should do so within the six-month period.
Llywydd, transport is an area where this Welsh Government has bold and ambitious plans for the future: perhaps the best rail franchise agreement in the UK, valued at £5 billion—as I said earlier, an unprecedented investment in active travel; the development of a new Wales transport strategy; and, in all probability, the most radical overhaul of legislation and the most radical overhaul of bus services that will improve lives and connectivity right across the length and breadth of Wales.
Resolving the congestion issues around the M4 is an important part of those plans, and I can assure Jayne Bryant, with whom I completely sympathise, that the first call for money from the cancellation of the M4 black route will be for the commission for interventions designed to solve that specific problem in and around Newport. I know many Members and parties have already come forward with ideas on how that money can be spent, not just in Newport, not just in the south-east of Wales, but across the length and breadth of Wales. I've been keeping a list of those projects; they amount to more than £3.5 billion of wish list money. That money that was allocated, the original envelope for the M4 relief road of £1 billion, will be used first and foremost to resolve that specific congestion point in Newport. Now, I am happy to facilitate meetings between particularly local Members and the commission, but if any Member in this Chamber has a suggestion for how to solve congestion on that particular part of the M4, then please bring it forward and the commission will gladly receive it.
I think it's worth saying that, as we saw from the inspector's report, no easy or uncontested answers exist with regard to the congestion that has plagued the M4 around Newport, but we are committed to taking a collaborative approach to finding innovative, affordable and, probably most importantly of all, Llywydd, sustainable solutions in the shortest possible timescales. I do genuinely look forward to working with others to achieve that ambition.