Since becoming an Assembly Member, I now travel between north Wales and south Wales regularly, and I use the M4 around Newport to do this. Like other drivers, I adhere to the speed limit. However, the reduction of speed on the M4 comes as a bit of a surprise, as signage doesn’t give any reason for the change, and there are no warnings. The natural reaction is to slow right down sometimes, which is well below the 50 mph speed limit, and this is also hazardous. In these circumstances, I can see how accidents happen, and I know that even minor accidents bring this major piece of infrastructure to a standstill, and I only do this once a week; some people have to do this every day to get to work, make deliveries and so on. Could you think about more effective signage to alert drivers to the forthcoming reduction in speed limit and the reason why?

And I also know that the M4 around Newport and the feeder road into it are often at a standstill, because I have to drive on them coming into Cardiff, with cars idling on the roads for long periods of time and creating massive bottlenecks. I fail to see how the reduction in the speed limit helps when cars are sat spewing out exhaust fumes. I also understand that assessments of air quality have been taken after the speed limits have been reduced and the results have come out as inconclusive. I did think that the Welsh Government made decisions and policy based on evidence, and that doesn’t appear to have happened here—perhaps you could clarify that for me. As this is the case, does this Government plan to continue to assess, test and publish the results, and take action like extending the speed limit restrictions, or, where no difference is made, reinstating them? As someone who lives in a very, very rural area with good air quality, I really do notice the difference when I arrive in south-east Wales. I do, however, accept that there is also a fine balance to be struck between the quest for clean air and the ability of people to make their living and get to where they need to be, and I thank the Conservatives for bringing this debate to the Chamber today, and I will support this debate.