Dirprwy Lywydd, I simply cannot accept that we should be working with the UK Government to deliver an M4 relief road. That decision has been made. And, if I may start with the M4, first of all, the First Minister has commented repeatedly in this Chamber and has provided his reasoning for not proceeding with the M4 corridor around Newport project. And I can assure all Members that we recognise congestion on the M4 is a challenge that has to be addressed. Do not think it is simply not an option, not on this side of the border nor on the English side of the border.

Here, we are grateful for the work that Lord Burns has already completed with the South East Wales Transport Commission in their December report. That report is just the beginning of the commission's work, and I look forward to receiving further updates this year. We've also been clear in stressing that this particular project was absolutely unique in terms of the scale and in terms of the impact on the site of special scientific interest, and that therefore it had to be considered in its own right. 

Now, in recent years we have completed several high-profile road projects, including Newtown bypass, which is, I think, a fantastic example of how Welsh Government investment and commitment is delivering for the people of Wales. And it was delivered, as I said earlier, ahead of schedule and completed, I think, to the very highest standard that the scheme could possibly achieve. It's providing a real step change in how people travel in the area, as well as to and beyond Newtown. Now, in contrast, by July of 2018, the UK Government's road schemes were running approximately £2.8 billion over budget and 85 of the 112 road schemes were delayed, and let's not forget either the tragedies caused by the UK Government's disastrous so-called smart motorways project, recently exposed by Panorama as 'killer' roads. There are no such schemes here in Wales.

Dirprwy Lywydd, as noted in our amendment, the Welsh Government is providing £1 billion of improvements to road and transport infrastructure in north Wales, including major upgrades of the A55 and the A483, active travel schemes and the north Wales metro, and this is in spite of the fact that the UK Government is demanding £200 million of money back from us with just six weeks of the financial year to go.

Now, we fully recognise the importance of cross-border connectivity, and, over recent months, officials have been working closely with officials from the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales to identify possible schemes that we can take forward, and I am grateful for that collaboration. There are two major projects identified by officials that could be prioritised for development and construction over the coming years. There's the A483 Pant to Llanymynech road scheme and the A5/A483 Shrewsbury to Wrexham scheme. Maximising the economic benefits such improvements can bring to Wales will require both Governments to commit resources, and the Welsh Government is prepared to allocate funding if the UK Government can do the same through the road investment strategy.

Now, our national transport finance plan highlights our commitments to improving the motorway and trunk road network in Wales, despite the decade of austerity that we have endured. The Welsh Government, not being funded to do so, has also invested in our rail infrastructure, choosing to connect communities through reopening lines and new stations, prioritising increasing capacity to provide valuable and popular services, and closing, of course, level crossings to improve safety and journey times. My oral statement yesterday informed Members of the need for ownership and funding of rail infrastructure to be in the hands of Welsh people. We for too long have been low on the list of Westminster's priorities for enhancing the rail network. That could end with the devolution of responsibilities and funding.

By the end of the next financial year, we will also have delivered a significant proportion of the south Wales metro transformation, reaffirming our commitment to carbon reduction. Now, transport decarbonisation will be a key theme in the Welsh Government's new transport strategy, which is to be published this year, and, in the next financial year, we have allocated an extra £74 million for decarbonisation transport measures.

Now, as I said in my answer to questions earlier today, £2 million is being invested to create rapid-charging points throughout Wales to enable longer distance travel and encourage the transition away from petrol and diesel cars, and this supports our ambitions to have a zero tailpipe emission bus and taxi fleet by 2028.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I must just take this opportunity to assure both Suzy Davies and Paul Davies that, in this Government's determination to level up Wales, we are taking forward projects across the country, including the alleviation of congestion at junction 47 on the M4 and two major projects on the A40. Clearly, though, if the Prime Minister decided to abandon his £15 billion idea of building a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland, he could not only make up the £1 billion great train robbery, he could also have plenty of money left to invest in the dualling of the A40.

Dirprwy Lywydd, this Government's ambition to see a more prosperous, greener, and equal Wales through better transport connectivity is one I hope all will aspire to in this Chamber, and the UK Government can and should provide Wales with a fairer share of funding to make it happen.