Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:52 pm on 22 September 2020.
Can I ask for two statements, Trefnydd, one from the Minister for the economy and transport regarding his recent announcement on the red route proposal relating, of course, to the A55 along the Flintshire corridor? I've been absolutely inundated by constituents who are very concerned and who actually see legitimate and clear parallels with the decision around the M4 relief road in Newport. Clearly, there are concerns around cost—the projected cost of £210 million in 2016 is now over £300 million. We know that we've declared a climate and biodiversity emergency here in Wales. Well, if that means anything, then it surely means that the Government needs to step back and at least look at alternatives other than just a four-lane highway. And, of course, the COVID pandemic has changed the terms of the debate, in that more people will be working from home, which means there will be less demand on our road infrastructure in years to come. Now, the Welsh Government has said that it wants a coronavirus recovery that, 'Builds back a fairer, greener, more resilient economy'. Well, if that doesn't mean revisiting this proposal, then it's clearly business as usual for Welsh Government and absolutely nothing has changed.
And the Welsh Government also—and this relates to your role as finance Minister—is withdrawing the rates grant scheme for all commercial hydropower generators. I think around 50 will be affected. I appreciate that you're still retaining support for seven community hydro schemes, but, more broadly, the sector is very angry, actually, that it hasn't been able to participate in meaningful discussions that might have influenced your decision. Many of the schemes are now—