2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:32 pm on 13 December 2022.

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Photo of Natasha Asghar Natasha Asghar Conservative 2:32, 13 December 2022

Minister, can I ask for a statement please from the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on further delays in completing the south Wales metro project? One of the main aims of the south Wales metro project is to encourage people off the roads and, naturally, to use public transport. In February 2021, the chief executive of Transport for Wales said the completion of the south Wales metro project would be delayed by months, not years, as a result of the pandemic, with the completion date remaining as 2023. In May this year, TfW said the cost of the metro project was likely to be significantly over its £734 million budget, with the overspend likely to run into tens of billions of pounds. Completion of the project will be put back now to 2024. Last month, further delays have been confirmed to upgrades, with the 'majority' of the work being finished in 2024, with no date for full completion of the project being given. One of the reasons given for this further delay was COVID, which TfW had earlier said would not cause any more delays beyond 2023. Can I please have a statement from the Deputy Minister to advise when the work on the south Wales metro will finally be completed and what is the latest estimate of the total cost of the Welsh Government's flagship project to get people off the roads and to finally use public transport? Thanks.