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Transport (Wales) Bill

I have a good deal of sympathy with Amendment No. 2. At Second Reading in the House of Commons, the Welsh Secretary of State said that a well functioning transport network,"““plays a crucial role in the development of a diverse, competitive, high-value-added economy and is the backbone of economic growth””.—[Official Report, Commons, 16/6/05; col. 449.]" Almost every Member who took part in that debate and those who took part in the debates in Standing Committee F recognised the enormous importance of transport in the Welsh economy. Flowing from that, it is puzzling that the promotion of the Welsh economy has not been identified as one of the policy aims in Clause 1, which is silent about the promotion of the economy. Is there any good reason why the amendment cannot be agreed to?