Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many meetings he has held with the Welsh Government since his appointment on 26 July 2026 to discuss its proposal to close junctions on the M4, on what dates those meetings took place, and what the outcomes of those meetings were.

I have held discussions with Welsh Government counterparts on a range of issues since my appointment in July 2026.

On 6 October 2026, the Welsh Government announced an 18-month programme of work to develop road-based and engineering solutions for the M4, including consideration of the potential closure of junctions in the Newport area. Decisions relating to the M4 are devolved and are therefore a matter for the Welsh Government, but I am deeply concerned by these proposals and their impacts.

The UK Government recognises the need to address congestion on the M4. The Burns Commission recommended five new stations in South East Wales as part of a wider network of transport alternatives intended to ease congestion, improve journey time reliability and deliver economic benefits across South Wales.

At Spending Review 2025, £95 million was allocated to the Burns Stations, with an ambition to bring two stations into construction by 2029. This investment forms part of the UK Government's wider commitment of £445 million for rail enhancements in Wales.

In addition, the Prime Minister has committed to delivering Transport for Wales's vision document, which includes projects with an estimated value of up to £14 billion. These proposals would strengthen connectivity between communities and key employment centres, support new jobs and housing, and drive economic growth across Wales. By enabling more frequent, reliable and integrated public transport services, they would also provide people with a genuine alternative to the car and encourage modal shift from road to rail.