The Secretary of State for Wales would be happy to meet Welsh Government Ministers and the Noble Lord to discuss the development of the M4 relief road.

As it stands, the Welsh Government have a moratorium on new road building and have ruled out a M4 relief road. The UK Government continues to urge the Welsh Government to reconsider its position to enable congestion to be unblocked around the Newport area.

I and my officials meet regularly with our counterparts in the Welsh Government to discuss roads which are a matter devolved to the Welsh Government. I am deeply disappointed by the First Minister’s decision, particularly as the UK Government had already enabled the Welsh Government to borrow the money needed to fund this vital road and we confirmed we would review increasing that amount even further had it been needed.

HM Treasury ministers and officials have regular discussions with counterparts in the Welsh Government on a number of issues of importance for Wales and the rest of the UK, including infrastructure.

At Budget 2018, the Chancellor committed to review the Welsh Government’s capital borrowing powers at the forthcoming Spending Review, to consider whether the borrowing cap should be increased by up to £300 million to support the delivery of a new M4 relief road. We will work with the Welsh Government to consider this review in light of their announcement that they will not be taking forward the M4 relief road project.

HM Treasury ministers and officials have regular discussions with counterparts in the Welsh Government on a number of issues of importance for Wales and the rest of the UK, including infrastructure.

At Budget 2018, the Chancellor committed to review the Welsh Government’s capital borrowing powers at the forthcoming Spending Review, to consider whether the borrowing cap should be increased by up to £300 million to support the delivery of a new M4 relief road. We will work with the Welsh Government to consider this review in light of their announcement that they will not be taking forward the M4 relief road project.

The Welsh’s Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance wrote on 26th April to request an increase in borrowing capacity, including for the M4 project. I note that the Welsh Government has now published this letter, and I will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Following a dialogue between the UK and Welsh Governments in the intervening period, I was pleased that the Chancellor was able to announce at Budget a review of the Welsh Government’s capital borrowing powers to consider whether the borrowing cap should be increased by up to £300m to support this vital project.

The Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance recently wrote to me setting out his intention to see an increase in the Welsh Government’s borrowing limits at the Spending Review to deliver investment priorities in Wales, including the M4 project.

At Budget, we announced that the government will support the delivery of a new M4 relief road through a review of the Welsh Government’s capital borrowing powers at the Spending Review, to consider whether the borrowing cap should be increased by up to £300 million to support this vital project.

The Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance recently wrote to me setting out his intention to see an increase in the Welsh Government’s borrowing limits at the Spending Review to deliver investment priorities in Wales, including the M4 project.

At Budget, we announced that the government will support the delivery of a new M4 relief road through a review of the Welsh Government’s capital borrowing powers at the Spending Review, to consider whether the borrowing cap should be increased by up to £300 million to support this vital project.

I have frequent discussions with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on a wide range of issues. I was pleased that the Chancellor was able to announce at Budget a review of the Welsh Government’s capital borrowing powers to consider whether the borrowing cap should be increased by up to £300m to support this vital project.

I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a wide range of issues. The Welsh Government requested an extension to their borrowing powers to fund the M4 and I was pleased that the Chancellor was able to announce at Budget a review of the Welsh Government’s capital borrowing powers to consider whether the borrowing cap should be increased by up to £300m to support this vital project.

The M4 is one of Wales’ vital arteries and an important strategic route across Britain. It has been clear for some time that congestion on the M4 corridor around Newport is damaging the Welsh economy, and that an upgrade is urgently required. The Secretary of State for Wales met with the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure following his appointment to discuss options for upgrading the M4.

The Welsh Government has announced that an independent public inquiry to examine its preferred route for the M4 relief road will commence in the Autumn. I look forward to seeing the inquiry’s findings and to a positive outcome to the benefit of both businesses and commuters.

Consideration of the case for alternative options to the M4 relief road south of Newport is a matter for the Welsh Government. However, we are working closely with the Welsh Government on the development of the next Rail Investment Strategy to ensure that relevant Welsh priorities for rail investment in Control Period 6 (2019-2024) are reflected. No decision on any major investment in Wales is made without taking into account the views of the Welsh Government.

The Welsh Government will gain much greater control over the development of rail services in Wales as a result of the agreement reached between the two Governments in November 2014 to devolve executive franchising rail functions in Wales, so that the Welsh Government can lead on the procurement of the next Wales and Borders franchise from 2018. Subject to agreement on final terms, I would expect the Welsh Government to be leading on the specification of future service levels in Wales in the next franchise.

We regularly have discussions on a range of issues, including transport infrastructure. The M4 is one of Wales’s vital arteries. The need for an upgrade was identified decades ago by business leaders as a No. 1 priority.

What discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly on the contribution of the M4 to the economy in South Wales.

It is hard to believe that the former right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks was Secretary of State for Wales when the upgrade was first committed to, only for it to be cancelled by Labour Members. It was reconsidered later by a Plaid Cymru Welsh Government Minister, only to then be cancelled. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made additional resources available, and we just want the Welsh Government to get on with it.

The Minister will surely be aware that the ongoing delays on the M4 are causing problems for the economy in south Wales. Will he outline what steps he is taking to enable the Welsh Assembly Government to make improvements to this vital piece of transport infrastructure?

The route is a matter for the Welsh Government, and we encourage them to consider all options. We want the project to start as soon as possible. Even if it started to the earliest possible timescale outlined by the Welsh Government, it would still not be completed until the end of 2022, which is unacceptable.

In the light of the serious flooding caused by climate change, will the Minister ensure that the newly proposed M4 relief road will double as a flood defence for the Severn estuary?