Part of 5. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 4:26 pm on 20 October 2021.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. That's really reassuring to hear after what you will understand has been a concerning weekend in west Wales due to a press report release that said to the contrary. Your office said, 'We understand the interest in this project. It is right for the scope of this review to be as broad as possible. Beyond that, we cannot predetermine the views of the panel', clearly indicating that the A40 project at Redstone Cross/Llanddewi Velfrey was part of the review. And on the floor of this Chamber to myself and to my colleagues, you gave assurances four times, and again today, which I'm very grateful for. The people in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire and Llanddewi Velfrey will be very grateful for this, as will the former Her Majesty's coroner, Mark Layton, who also called for this following a series of nasty fatal accidents on this dangerous stretch of road.
I am very thankful that this happened, and the reason that I bring it forward today is that this is about more than this project alone; this is about taking the assurances that Government Ministers give us as backbenchers and opposition Members—that we are able to take them at face value, that we are able to believe the assurances that we get to written questions and to oral questions here in the Chamber. As I said, Deputy Minister, I heard your response to my colleague Natasha Asghar earlier regarding the Conservatives and roads. This is about more than this road, Deputy Minister; this is about making sure that the information we receive as Members is correct, and that there is unnecessary conflict avoided when press reports are out saying that the contrary is true. So, I do welcome your commitment to this project. I know everybody in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire will welcome it, businesses will welcome it, as will the community of Llanddewi Velfrey, who've been calling for this project for a number of years. Diolch.