A UK Government minister has assured the Welsh Government it will look at giving it borrowing powers to fund the M4 Relief Road.

However a deal between ministers in London and Cardiff over the project has been put off until at least the autumn.

The reason for the delay is that negotiations on the M4 are tied up with the UK Government's response to the first part of the Silk Commission's work, which has recommended borrowing and some taxation powers for the Assembly.

Today Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, said that the UK Government wants to consult with businesses on devolving stamp duty land tax, one of the commission's recommendations.

Mr Alexander said: "There is a very strong case for devolving fiscal and economic levers to the Welsh Government, but it is right that we fully understand the potential impacts so that we can ensure that the decisions we take are right for Wales and for the UK as a whole”.

He said the government will make its response to the commission based on the "short" consultation.

But in a ministerial statement he said: "The Government will also sort out how this can help, including through looking at the Welsh Government having early access to borrowing, to support a funding solution for the M4 improvement scheme in south Wales."

The consultation work will delay the response to Silk which is now not expected until the Autumn The chancellor George Osborne had said in June that he would shortly given details of "impressive" plans for the M4.

Welsh Government finance minister Jane Hutt said the assurance about borrowing powers was "welcome" but said Welsh ministers were "impatient for a full response to Silk which was first due in the Spring."

She said she fully expected any issues to be resolved in September "which is crucial if we are to meet the timetable for draft legislation to be published in the Autumn."

Plaid Cymru's Treasury spokesperson Jonathan Edwards MP said the manner in which the Treasury have coupled these new powers with a specific infrastructure project "smacks of Big Brother government."

Welsh Tory Assembly leader Andrew RT Davies AM said his group continues to support full implementation of Silk recommendations.

Eluned Parrott, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Minister said: "Any improvements to the M4 itself must also be taken alongside public transport improvements."