Julie James: Indeed, and the Member is indeed a prolific correspondent on the subject, as are many Members in the Chamber. But, yes, I think it is important to recognise the cultural change that’s happened during the course of this programme. In 2013, when we started this programme, amongst the most common comments from people were, ‘Ah, you’ll never get it to us, and we don’t want it anyway....
Julie James: Can I say to Darren Millar how very much I’ve missed his righteous indignation; it’s been absent from the Chamber for a little while now, so it’s nice to see it back in full flood. Sadly, it is a little over-zealous in this instance, because I think he failed, really, to listen very carefully to my previous answers to Members. So, I’ll just reiterate them. We haven’t moved the...
Julie James: Okay, Llywydd, I’ll refrain from explaining it again, but I have explained it several times already. So, I don’t accept what he says. The final thing he said, though, I do accept very much: it has gone from a luxury to an essential, and that is why this Government is promising to get it to everybody. What I said about fibre broadband was that not everybody would be cabled. I said...
Julie James: Thank you. On that last point, as I’ve said repeatedly, BT needs to get to as many premises as possible as fast as possible to get through its contractual requirements, and I know that it’s taken a review of the cabinets that it previously put forward to see if it can increase the capacity on it. And if you want to write to me again about cabinet 16, which is the one I assume you’re...
Julie James: Today’s news of redundancies at British Airways’ maintenance facility is unfortunate. BA is seeking voluntary redundancies where possible. The Welsh Government is working closely with BA. Job Centre Plus and Careers Wales will be asked to support all staff affected, and the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure will keep the Assembly updated as we know more.
Julie James: Well, thank you very much for those questions, which are all very important indeed, and I’ll try my best to answer them fully. In terms of when, the Government has, via its officials and on a political level, been in touch with BA throughout this year. Senior-level meetings were held earlier this year in London. A range of officials are engaged with BA at all times as part of the Welsh...
Julie James: Well, I’m not in a position to give you chapter and verse of the strategy for BA at the site; I think it’s a matter for them to do that, as a corporate entity. And that’s what I said, when I said the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure would keep the Assembly informed—as it’s right and proper for the Assembly to know what the plan is, and as it’s announced to the...
Julie James: Formally.
Julie James: It’s 30 Mbps here too.
Julie James: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I begin by thanking the Welsh Conservatives for bringing forward this motion today? I also thank Members for their contributions to the debate. I thank them because it’s very clear that there is a critical importance around digital infrastructure for the people, communities and the economy of Wales. As has been made very clear in the contributions...
Julie James: Diolch, Lywydd. Following my written statement yesterday I want today to just restate those plans for further investment superfast broadband following the completion of Superfast Cymru next year. We’ve been very clear about our ambitions in ‘Taking Wales Forward’ to bring fast, reliable broadband to every property in Wales. Our achievements to date should not be underestimated....
Julie James: Thank you for those questions. Russell George didn’t mention the fact that in committee last Thursday morning, he pressed me as to when my next statement would be, and I promised him it would be before Christmas. So, I was rather hoping you’d give me credit for having got there really quite rapidly, only two days later. In terms of the take-up, we have independent research to show us what...
Julie James: Reiterating my answers to Russell George then, we have a £1.15 million local broadband campaign and a £12.5 million superfast business project, which are marketing the scheme for take-up and to businesses. We work closely with Business Wales as well to make small businesses in particular aware of what superfast can actually do for their business. So, it’s not just about the take-up for...
Julie James: What we’re going to do in the next stage is that we’re working on the specifications right now, in terms of whether we’re going to have priority areas, whether there are going to be geographical priorities and so on. As I said, I anticipate that we will probably let a series of batched contracts really—although please accept that I’m not in a position to say so categorically at this...
Julie James: Exactly. One of the things that we’ll be looking to do in the next stage of the project is to futureproof it, and, as I said, make sure that we can spend any gainshare money on making sure that that futureproofing exists. So, one of the things we’re very keen on doing is making sure that we use all of the available new technologies and that we set up the new procurement with a view to...
Julie James: In terms of FibreSpeed, I think it would be best if the Member and I have an e-mail correspondence. If you want to write to me and set out the exact questions you want answered—we’ve had this conversation in the fourth Assembly as well—I’m more than happy to set it out again for the Member. In terms of whether we’re taking the innovation research into account, the answer is ‘Yes,...
Julie James: The Member eventually got around to a very good point, I think, which is we are very frustrated by the information that has been available. I hope the Member thinks that the website has improved very recently. If he doesn’t, then I’m happy to look at individual issues and so on. I make the same offer to Rhun ap Iorwerth as I’ve made to many other Members: I’m happy to come to your...
Julie James: Diolch, Lywydd. Supporting people to enter, remain and progress within sustained employment is a vital part of ensuring a prosperous and secure future for Wales. ‘Taking Wales Forward’ commits the Welsh Government to reshaping ‘employability support for job‑ready individuals, and those furthest from the labour market, to acquire the skills and experience to gain and maintain...
Julie James: I outlined in July the Welsh Government’s early thinking on the development of a single all-age employability programme, bringing together the activities from our current employability programmes to better meet the needs of those requiring support to enter, remain and progress in the workplace. As I said then, this programme will enable us to better respond to the labour market challenges...
Julie James: Thank you for those questions, Llyr. I’ll start with the apprenticeship levy, just to be clear. I do feel, deputy Llywydd, that I have made these remarks several times in this Chamber but I’ll just make them again. The figures that have been released by the Treasury do not mean that significant new money is coming to Wales, because they don’t take into account reductions made to...
