§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of(a) the impact of the 180W Severn bridge on the economy of Cardiff and South Glamorgan and (b) the impact of bridge closures and queues on the business promotion of south Wales.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThere can be no doubt that the Severn bridge and the M4 are vital to the economy of Cardiff, south Glamorgan and the whole of south Wales in providing good, speedy communications to southern England and Europe.
I am aware of no evidence that the occasional traffic delays at the bridge or the very infrequent temporary closures have deterred business promotions in south Wales. Inward investment, the creation of new businesses, the fall in unemployment, and the clearance of derelict land have all been at remarkably high levels.