7. What discussions has the Minister had regarding funding allocations to the economy and transport portfolio? OAQ54694

Throughout the year I meet regularly with ministerial colleagues to discuss a range of financial matters, including the Minister for Economy and Transport in respect of priorities for investment within his portfolio. I recently announced an additional £87 million for the economy and transport portfolio as part of our capital investment.

Thank you very much for the reply, Minister, but work to widen the Heads of the Valleys road between Gilwern and Brynmawr began in 2014 and was due to end next month. In April it was announced that the completion date had been put back to 2020 and would cost an extra £54 million. Now we know and we hear that this project will not be completed until the end of next year. But it's claimed that this will not have an impact on the overall cost of the scheme.

Minister, have you discussed this matter with the Minister for Economy and Transport? And can you confirm that this delay will not in fact increase the funding required to complete this scheme, above the £324 million it's already expected to cost?

I can say the Welsh Government and Costain are reviewing the project, with a view to completing the project at the end of 2020 now. And the Minister for Economy and Transport did make that statement in April to the Assembly, and the situation that he outlined in April remains the position today.

He did say in that statement that it would now be 2020 before the dualling of the section would be completed, and section 2 involves the online widening of 8 km within the steep-sided and environmentally sensitive Clydach gorge. But when finished, it will complete a dual carriageway between the English midlands and the Heads of the Valleys, including the Ebbw Vale enterprise zone. And it is an ambitious project, and we are grateful for those people who are living and working in the area for their patience while the works are ongoing. But in terms of an update, the situation, as described in the statement that the Minister made in April, remains the situation today.