The National Infrastructure Commission for Wales

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:36 pm on 3 December 2019.

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Photo of David Rowlands David Rowlands UKIP 1:36, 3 December 2019

I thank the First Minister for that answer. As you say, on 27 November, the commission presented its first annual report. No Assembly Members were invited, and I am informed that even the Chair of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, Russell George, was not informed of the presentation. It would seem massively disappointing that, after sitting for 12 months, the report simply outlined a series of areas on which the future work plan will concentrate. However, just a cursory glance at this report tells us that all of these aspects have already been identified and discussed at length in Assembly committees, and in the public inquiry into the M4 relief road. It would appear to be simply a cut and paste exercise, surrounded by the usual preamble. So, First Minister, if it has taken the commission, with 12 members, 12 months to come up with the questions, how long will it take to come up with the solutions? Given this process is again a considerable cost to the taxpayer, is the First Minister truly satisfied with the progress made so far?