Dr. John Curtis:

The further development of the roads in the midlands was mentioned. The preamble to the chapter on transport is very clear about the importance of the transport network, including roads. There is nothing in the report that we produced saying that roads are bad. We need them. They are important not just for economic and social activity but to get workers closer to jobs, etc. We do not disagree with what the Deputy has said but there are challenges within the sector, in terms of its emissions production, that we have to address. We are not coming out and saying that parts of the country do not need road improvements. To some extent, the transport chapter looks at passenger transport, deals with getting a lower emission transport system and examines how to get workers to their jobs. We will always need trucks to move stuff. We are certainly mindful of their importance to the economy. On rail, we have not been specific on the topic of converting the rail network for heavy use of commercial goods or commercial rails.