Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Geraint Davies Excerpts
Wednesday 13th January 2016

(8 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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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.

Geraint Davies Portrait Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op)
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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?

Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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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.