Exactly what minister said as he signalled a major change in 20mph law

Mr Skates has pledged a "review" of 20mph but little detail has yet been available. Mr Skates will give a statement next week (April 23) where he says he will give more information.

But in a Senedd debate on Tuesday, April 17, Mr Skates told MSs: "I really strongly feel across the chamber there is support for 20mph in those areas where it's appropriate, especially where children and the elderly are at risk. And I think in such areas it will make sense if it all makes people feel safer. But we do need to make sure 20mph is truly targeted in those places, as we always promised it would be and we'll need to work exceptionally closely with our partners in local government, with town and community councils, and indeed citizens, in order to achieve that. Changes will be done with and for the communities that we all serve, with the voice of citizens right at the heart of all we do."

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His answers came in response to a Welsh Conservatives debate in plenary to call for the 20mph law to be reversed and replaced with a "targeted" approach to 20mph zones and "undertake a review of the current road-building tests with a view to implementing all previously scrapped schemes that will boost economic growth or enhance road safety".

Labour and Plaid Cymru put forward their own motions, and neither backed the Conservative call for a full reversal of the law.

Mr Skates' full contribution to the Senedd on Tuesday, April 17:

Diolch, Llywydd. I am very, very grateful to all members for their valuable contributions today, and I very much welcome the opportunity to respond to the debate with something of a flavour of the transport policies and priorities that I'll outline in greater detail next Tuesday. Indeed, there are, I think, aspects of the Welsh Conservatives motion that align with those priorities and that reflect much of what we've heard across the chamber today.

It's now more than a year since the Welsh Government published its response to the roads review, and, of course, it's right that we reflect, take stock and take time to listen—to listen to each other, to our colleagues in councils, at Westminster, in town and community councils and, above all, to the citizens that we serve. Since the roads review was published, we've continued to build roads, and the work currently underway at Dowlais at part of sections 5 and 6 of the A465 dualling is evidence of that, as well as being, I think, an incredibly impressive piece of infrastructure from an engineering perspective. We will continue to build new roads, whether that's to address localised congestion, pinch points and poor air quality, to improve safety, or, for that matter, to adapt our road network to the kind of extreme weather that we're now seeing here in Wales with alarming regularity. We will build new roads.

But, above all, we will build better than before. We will do so in order to meet the obligations that the last government rightly introduced to address the climate crisis. We'll build better than before by utilising new construction techniques being pioneered internationally that reduce embedded carbon, by reducing the impact on ancient woodland, as we're now seeing being implemented in Llanharan. And we'll also do so through designing in bus priority routes for better walking links from the outset of our designs.

And I've also been very clear that I want to listen on 20 mph. Since my appointment, I've been meeting with transport cabinet Members, and with local government leaders from across Wales. We've agreed to work in partnership in the coming weeks and months to deliver a national listening programme, to engage with elected representatives, with businesses, communities and citizens across Wales, including, in my view, crucially, children. There is, I believe, a growing consensus in this debate that we can at least build from that 20 mph is right around our schools, hospitals, nurseries...

Andrew RT Davies then interjected and said: "... that's very pleasing to see. But could I just check with the Minister—he talks about this conversation that he and the Government are having around 20 mph—what is the backstop for that conversation, because people do want to see a conclusion one way or the other, and, obviously, radical changes to the policy?"

Mr Skates continued: "Well, I say to Andrew R.T. Davies that next Tuesday I'll be making an oral statement on transport priorities where I'll be outlining measures that will be taken in the coming weeks and months in regard to all matters related to transport, and particularly to 20mph. But I must say again that I really strongly feel across the chamber there is support for 20mph in those areas where it's appropriate, especially where children and the elderly are at risk. And I think in such areas it will make sense if it all makes people feel safer. But we do need to make sure 20mph is truly targeted in those places, as we always promised it would be and we'll need to work exceptionally closely with our partners in local government, with town and community councils, and indeed citizens, in order to achieve that. Changes will be done with and for the communities that we all serve, with the voice of citizens right at the heart of all we do.

"Now, the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru both reference public transport, and of course I recognise the need for continued investment. Indeed, I was part of the Welsh Government that first committed to wholesale transformation of our rail network in Wales, with £800 million investment in brand-new trains. Now, it's worth remembering that put Wales near the top of the table when it comes to new trains, whereas in the past we've been near the bottom of the age profile with our fleet. Then there's also the transformation of the devolved core Valleys lines, which will deliver a turn-up-and-go service, a metro service, which will undoubtedly transform lives across the region. And also—make no mistake about it—I want to see more investment in public transport in north Wales, including making sure that the UK Government are true to their word when it comes to investing in rail infrastructure, because it's they, not us, who are wholly responsible for that.

But as I think everyone in this Chamber knows, comparing the development funding for north Wales with investment in the core Valleys lines is not comparing like with like, and that's because ownership of the CVL has been transferred to us so we have the powers to invest there. North Wales remains the sole responsibility of the UK Government in terms of rail infrastructure, and additionally, the Cardiff capital region city deal is investing in the transformation programme.

The north Wales growth deal is not structured the same. It cannot fund equivalent rail projects and so we are completely reliant on the UK Government to provide all of the funding for rail enhancements that they themselves are responsible for. I hope to convince Ministers in Westminster to fund what the north actually needs, and I'll work with them and others to deliver a bespoke transport network for the north as well as the south-west and mid and west Wales.

And I must say this: I desperately want to help to change the tone and tenor of debate on transport. I'm very pleased that opposition spokespeople have agreed to meet with me for regular discussions on how we can work more collaboratively, because as I've always said, we don't have a monopoly on good ideas. I look forward to working with Members across the Chamber when it comes to developing solutions to transport challenges we face here in Wales.

Now, in that spirit, I recognise that the Plaid Cymru motion has some merit, too. It rightly identifies some of the deficiencies in the devolution settlement, and I agree that connectivity for north Wales is a priority issue, and that we must continue to review the impact of the 20 mph speed limit. But the solutions it suggests need further development.

Llywydd, I am determined to shape the future of transport as an economic and social enabler. I was humbled to be asked to take on this portfolio by the First Minister, because transport isn't just about getting from A to B, it's about connecting people, public services, work, education, to friends and family, and for leisure, and for tourism. This is the ethos that underpins my commitment to listen to people and communities in every part of Wales.

So, Llywydd, we sought to produce a government amendment that recognises the common ground across the Siambr and demonstrates we are listening to the voices of Members here and to people right across Wales. I look forward to collaborating across this Senedd Siambr, and I hope that all Members feel today able to support our amendment.