In the Seventh Senedd, transport debate has centred on the M4 around Newport and the Menai crossings. Members have also argued over bus reform and the new north-south coach, rail devolution and funding, the default 20 mph limit, and congestion in Cardiff. School transport, potholes and port resilience have come up repeatedly.
The main arguments
Transport Minister Mark Hooper (Plaid Cymru) announced an 18-month study of road-based solutions for the M4 around Newport, plus junction changes. Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour) and Natasha Asghar (Welsh Conservatives) oppose junction closures; Art Wright (Reform UK) asked where the traffic would go. Contributions: [1]
May 2021Mar 2026
2,742 contributions in the Sixth Senedd touched on this. The busiest month was Mar 2023, with 194.
Who raises it
Labour57%
Conservative30%
Plaid11%
Lib Dem1%
Reform0%
Independent0%
Share of the 2,414 contributions on this subject, by the speaker's party.
Darren Millar and Andrew RT Davies (Welsh Conservatives) say the black route is the fastest option. Paul Rock (Wales Green Party) says it was dropped for its environmental impact and cost. Jason O'Connell (Reform UK) says Reform would build a relief road paid from a UK sovereign wealth fund. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On Menai, Mark Hooper committed to a third crossing and to restarting development work. Officials said development takes three to five years. Cai Parry-Jones (Reform UK) questioned funding, citing a £670 million estimate against £20 million to £25 million budgeted. Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) wants UK Government funding. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Mark Hooper announced a north-south coach service from autumn and confirmed commitment to bus franchising. Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) raised the T4 service; Sera Evans (Plaid Cymru) asked for local feeder routes; Ken Skates (Welsh Labour) urged a £2 fare cap. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
On rail, Mark Hooper and Elin Jones (Plaid Cymru) want devolution and fair funding. Jason O'Connell (Reform UK) opposes further devolution and questions capability. Welsh Labour's Huw Thomas points to the UK Government's £14 billion commitment; Darren Millar wants a new UK funding mechanism. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On the default 20 mph limit, Reform UK (Jason O'Connell, Helen Jenner) moved to scrap it, citing costs and casualty figures. Vikki Howells (Welsh Labour), Sarah Cooper-Lesadd (Plaid Cymru) and Paul Rock (Wales Green Party) defended it on safety grounds; Mark Hooper disputed the 91 deaths figure. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Members raised local roads and school transport. Mike Hedges (Welsh Labour) and Natasha Asghar raised potholes and funding. Paul Davies (Welsh Conservatives) and Llŷr Powell (Reform UK) asked for review of learner travel rules; Ken Skates cited costs of around £200 million. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Where the parties stand
Welsh LabourShifted
Opposes M4 junction closures and now backs a relief road (Jayne Bryant, Ken Skates, Vikki Howells). Welcomes the north-south coach as following its earlier work, defends 20 mph on safety grounds, and cites the £14 billion UK rail commitment. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
How this has shifted: In June Jayne Bryant asked whether the blue route and junction closures were ruled out; by October Labour tabled a motion for a relief road. Plaid Cymru's Peredur Owen Griffiths said this contradicted its earlier position.
Welsh Conservatives
Presses for road building, especially the M4 black route and Menai crossing, and opposes junction closures. Calls for action on potholes, and opposes the default 20 mph limit. Janet Finch-Saunders welcomed the coach and the third crossing. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Plaid CymruShifted
In government, Plaid Cymru's Mark Hooper commits to a third Menai crossing, an M4 study, bus franchising, a north-south coach and rail devolution. Members defend 20 mph, and say Labour could not resolve the M4 in office. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
How this has shifted: In June Paul Rock noted the Minister confirmed the black route would not be revisited. In October the Minister announced a study of road-based solutions for the M4 and restarted Menai crossing development.
Reform UK
Prioritises road building: an M4 relief road, A55 improvements and scrapping the default 20 mph limit. Opposes further rail devolution, questions costings and Menai funding, and presses on reliability of the coach service. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Jane Dodds wants investment in rail and buses across Wales rather than a roads focus. She backs rail devolution, claims credit for the £1 bus fare for young people, and raised the T4 service. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
Wales Green Party
Paul Rock opposes the black route on environmental grounds and fears road spending would reduce public transport investment. He defends 20 mph and urges support for footpaths and walking. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
What the government is being pressed on
1Will M4 junctions be closed? Jayne Bryant and Natasha Asghar asked. Mark Hooper said he recognises the concerns, will engage councils, traders and communities, that one junction faces full closure and the others lesser changes, and that he will publish the resilience studies. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
2Where will money for a third Menai crossing come from? John Clark and Cai Parry-Jones asked. Mark Hooper said there were 'no ifs, no buts' on commitment; officials said development takes three to five years and construction follows. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
3Will the north-south coach be reliable and affordable? Jason O'Connell and Peredur Owen Griffiths asked. Mark Hooper said it launches in the autumn, that pricing must be accessible, and that he would return on booking for those who struggle online. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
4Does Wales have the capability to take on rail? Jason O'Connell asked; Jane Dodds disagreed. Mark Hooper said there is broad consensus on devolution, and the task is to show how it makes a difference. Contributions: [1][2][3]
5When will Holyhead breakwater work start? Janet Finch-Saunders asked the First Minister for a timetable. Mark Hooper referred to a £150 million scheme and promised a six-month update on the Irish Sea taskforce this autumn. Contributions: [1][2][3]
What the public is asking for
Petitions ask the Senedd to stop junction closures in Newport (13,892 signatures, open) and to reject the M4 junction closures (11, open). A petition for a new Menai crossing (7,788) is completed; others cover the Garw route (1,291), 20 mph and fare caps.
Who ministers are meeting
Ministers have met port operators and groups (Welsh Ports Group, Fishguard Port), rail bodies (Great British Railways, Railway Industry Association, Transport for Wales), trade unions, road safety and cycling groups, bus operators and officers, and a school transport campaign.
In the Sixth Senedd (2021 to 2026)
From the previous Senedd's record, for issues that run across both. The rest of this analysis covers the Seventh Senedd only.
In the Sixth Senedd, transport debate centred on the roads review and M4 congestion, the default 20 mph limit, HS2 consequentials, buses and electric vehicle charging. Opposition Members criticised road-building decisions; Labour Ministers defended investment in public transport and safety.
On 20 mph, Natasha Asghar (Welsh Conservatives) wanted 30 mph kept except near busy places; Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) and Jane Dodds (Welsh Liberal Democrats) said slower speeds save lives; Lee Waters (Welsh Labour) defended the policy. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On roads, Natasha Asghar criticised the 2023 roads review and the cancelled M4 relief road; Jane Dodds called the economy-or-environment choice a false binary. In 2025 Ken Skates cited the Burns commission measures and Sam Rowlands pressed for the relief road. Contributions: [1][2][3][4][5]
On rail funding, Plaid Cymru Members and Rebecca Evans (Welsh Labour) argued Wales lost out because HS2 was classed as an England-and-Wales project; Evans put the shortfall at around £350 million to 2024-25. Contributions: [1][2][3][4]
On buses and electric vehicles, Lee Waters said £150 million kept bus services running; a committee report on electric vehicles prompted criticism from Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru) and Janet Finch-Saunders (Welsh Conservatives) over slow charger roll-out. Contributions: [1][2][3]
Written by AI on 6 November 2026 from 240 contributions in the Senedd between 12 May 2026 and 4 November 2026, with the petitions and ministers' meetings on this brief. Each point links to the contributions it draws on; check them before quoting. How the analysis is written. Report an error
Where things stand
Statistics published by the Welsh Government. Each chart covers the years since the 2016 Senedd election, or as far back as the figures go, and marks each election since.
Bus journeys
71.7 million
2024-25
A year earlier
71.4 million(2023-24)
Passenger journeys on local bus services in Wales each financial year, in millions.
The Department for Transport collects these figures from bus operators, and advises caution with single year-on-year changes.
Create a more integrated public transport network by expanding tap‑on, tap‑off, pay‑as‑you‑go ticketing, introducing simpler and fairer fares across bus and rail to improve services for passengers and communities across Wales, making travel simpler and more affordable.
Continue to provide £1 single bus fares and £3 day tickets for children and young people aged 5‑21 and retain bus passes for over 60s and disabled people.
Latest figure: Bus journeys, 71.7 million, 2024-25.
Transform bus services through franchising, bringing routes, fares and standards under a single publicly accountable system that puts passengers first. We will enhance links between communities through the new North‑South coach service and deliver an integrated network that improves access to services, supports economic growth, and helps reduce carbon emissions.
Latest figure: Bus journeys, 71.7 million, 2024-25.
Put active travel at the heart of Wales’s transport system, making it a practical, safe and inclusive choice for more everyday journeys. We will reduce barriers to walking, wheeling and cycling to support our ill health prevention mission, and promote wellbeing and economic opportunity.
Put children and young people at the heart of a joined‑up approach to learner travel, strengthening cross‑government working so that public services work together to improve access to education, including by addressing barriers to Welsh‑medium education.
Work with Welsh ports to strengthen their resilience and maximise their contribution to the Welsh economy, while pursuing full devolution of port regulation.
Fight for the rail funding we are owed and that we need to invest in Welsh rail – including consequential funding from HS2 – and for rail to be devolved.
Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.
From the Welsh Government
The Welsh Government's latest press releases and Cabinet statements on this brief.
The Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper, has welcomed new figures showing a continued fall in road collisions and casualties across Wales, with clear reductions seen on roads with 20mph and 30mph speed limits.
Go-ahead for a third Menai crossing and plans for roads-based solution for the M4, along with a programme of other transport measures, have been announced today.
Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper visited Tonyrefail Community School Thursday 24 September to launch new virtual reality (VR) road safety content aimed at young drivers.
In the news
The latest headlines on this brief, linking to each outlet's story.
The Welsh Conservatives, led by Paul Davies, asked the Senedd to regret the scrapping of the M4 relief road and to call on the Welsh Government to build one. Labour's Jane Hutt replaced this with support for the Burns Commission's alternatives. The Senedd agreed Labour's version.
Jane Hutt's amendment (Labour), replacing the whole motion with support for the Burns Commission's transport recommendations and criticism of past Conservative governments' funding.
The final vote on the motion as changed by Labour's amendment, which backs the Burns Commission's alternatives instead of a new M4.
Agreed
For 23Against 21
Welsh Conservatives Debate - 20mph speed limits
The Welsh Conservatives, led by Darren Millar, asked the Senedd to call for the default 20mph limit to be repealed (scrapped). Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour each proposed replacement wording. The Senedd rejected the Conservative motion and Plaid Cymru's amendment, then agreed Labour's version, which backs a targeted approach to 20mph limits.
The Welsh Conservative motion as originally written, calling on the Welsh Government to repeal the default 20mph limit and work with councils on a targeted approach.
Amendment 1 from Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru): replace the motion with wording saying 20mph limits can help when applied sensibly, regretting delays, and asking for a properly resourced review.
Welsh Conservatives Debate - The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022
The Welsh Conservatives (Darren Millar) asked the Welsh Government to repeal the 20 mph default speed limit order, due to start on 17 September 2023. Plaid Cymru (Heledd Fychan) replaced this with wording that keeps the limit and asks for reviews, more local exemptions and funding. The Senedd agreed the Plaid Cymru version.
This was the vote on Heledd Fychan's amendment, which replaced the whole motion with wording that notes the benefits of 20 mph and asks for reviews, local exemptions and funding.
Agreed
For 38
Welsh Conservatives Debate - The roads review
The Welsh Conservatives, led by Darren Millar, tabled a motion regretting a lack of engagement by the Welsh Government's roads review panel and criticising its advice to scrap road projects. Plaid Cymru's Sian Gwenllian amended it to seek more investment in public transport and electric vehicle charging. The Senedd agreed the motion as amended.
This vote was on the Welsh Conservatives' original motion, which regretted the panel's lack of engagement and criticised its call to scrap road projects.
This vote was on the motion with Sian Gwenllian's amendment in place of point 3, so it called for urgent investment in public transport and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Agreed
For 53Against 1
The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022
The Welsh Government, through Lesley Griffiths (Welsh Labour), asked the Senedd to approve an order lowering the default speed limit on restricted roads in Wales from 30 mph to 20 mph. Restricted roads are mostly those with street lighting. The Minister said it would start on 17 September 2023. The Senedd agreed the motion.
Whether to approve the draft order that lowers the general speed limit on restricted roads in Wales from 30 mph to 20 mph, as put forward by the Welsh Government.
Agreed
For 39Against 15
How these votes work: the Senedd first votes on the motion as written. If that fails, it votes on each amendment in turn, then on the motion with any agreed changes.
Explanations are written by AI from the published motion and the debate. Check the wording on the vote's page before quoting.
Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.
Each bar is the share of that party's speeches and questions in the Sixth Senedd that touched this brief, so large and small parties can be compared. The upright line marks the chamber as a whole: 1.3%.
Ministers' meetings with outside organisations and their engagements on this brief, from the register the Welsh Government publishes every three months. 3 since the 2026 election; the latest:
8 August 2026
Menai Suspension Bridge 200th Anniversary Event
Meeting, First Minister of Wales
15 June 2026
National Road Safety Board
Meeting, Deputy Minister for Transport
09/0/2021
20mph visit to St Brides Major Church in Wales Primary
48% of Welsh adults said the condition of streets, roads and pavements would be very important to their vote.
37% of Welsh adults said public transport would be very important to their vote.
15% of Welsh adults said the level of traffic congestion would be very important to their vote.
Ipsos asked 747 Welsh adults aged 16+ between 2 April 2026 and 8 April 2026, before the 2026 Senedd election. People could choose as many issues as they liked. More on public opinion.
Asked what the Welsh Government should prioritise, people put the cost of living (52%) and health (49%) far ahead of anything else.
In October 2026, people named health (48%) and the economy (44%) as the most important issues facing Wales, ahead of immigration (33%) and housing (24%).
All answers
Health48%
The economy44%
Immigration and asylum33%
Housing24%
Education20%
Welfare benefits16%
The environment15%
Crime12%
Britain leaving the EU10%
23% feel unsafe travelling by public transport after dark.
From surveys that publish their full tables. Each figure links to the source. Shares are rounded. The Welsh Government has paused the accredited official statistics badge for 2024-25 because samples were smaller than usual; it says national figures remain reasonable estimates.
Written questions
471 written questions to the Welsh Government on this brief in the Sixth Senedd, 463 answered so far. The latest:
The introduction of a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads in Wales in September 2023 generated significant public debate. The policy increased the share of roads with a 20mph limit from 2% to 37% as of September 2023.
Contributions tagged in each month of the Sixth Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2021, August 2022, August 2023, December 2024 and August 2025.Show the numbers
Month
Contributions
May 2021
3
June 2021
55
July 2021
20
August 2021
No sittings
September 2021
39
October 2021
22
November 2021
22
December 2021
22
January 2022
35
February 2022
24
March 2022
28
April 2022
5
May 2022
29
June 2022
66
July 2022
52
August 2022
No sittings
September 2022
25
October 2022
43
November 2022
29
December 2022
How this brief is put together
This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.
Show the phrases it uses
A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.
People killed in road collisions in Wales that were reported to the police, each calendar year. A death counts if it happened within 30 days of the collision.
Deaths are shown because police forces in Wales have been changing how they record serious injuries since 2023, so figures for serious injuries can't be compared over time.
Amendment 2 from Jane Hutt (Welsh Labour): replace the motion with wording noting fewer collisions and casualties, and asking the Government to keep backing councils on a targeted approach.
