5. What is the Welsh Government doing to boost the rural economy? OAQ51323

Well, rural Wales has specific opportunities, and also specific challenges, that must be faced, and these have been brought into sharpened focus as a consequence of Brexit. We are considering all the levers at our disposal, across all ministerial portfolios, in shaping and influencing an agenda of prosperity for all. 

Well, that doesn't sound like much, to be honest with you, Cabinet Secretary. If we are going to create an economy that leaves no-one behind, then we have to ensure that there's a level playing field. When you look at transport infrastructure, broadband speeds—crucial building blocks for many businesses to make a success of things—there's an overwhelming disparity in provision, and companies are at a competitive disadvantage. I recently visited a sawmill in Ceredigion, with my colleague Simon Thomas and Ben Lake, which needs decent broadband speeds in order to monitor the equipment, and that's broadband speed that they don't have most of the time. Incidentally, that system works fine in most of the other countries worldwide who use the same machines. Now, I know that broadband is not your direct responsibility, but what are you doing within your jurisdiction to ensure that communities and businesses located outside of the urban areas of this country are helped rather than hindered with their economic development?

Well, the Member is simply not right to suggest that rural Wales fares far worse than urban Wales in terms of—

Go and speak to the sawmill owners.

—superfast broadband connectivity. I recall, when I was responsible for skills and technology, that we chose Gwynedd as the pathfinder area for business exploitation of Superfast Cymru. If you look at some parts of rural Wales, they're amongst the best-connected parts of the UK. Superfast Cymru—[Interruption.] Superfast Cymru has delivered superfast broadband faster, sooner, at a quicker pace than in many parts of the UK. Yes, there are areas. I admit that there are areas of Wales that are still not connected, but that will be for the next phase—those hard-to-reach areas. We are providing the solutions. I know that you're providing many criticisms, but we are providing the solutions to what is a challenge that is global. There are only a few countries on this planet that currently have 100 per cent access to superfast broadband. Wales today, as a consequence of direct interventions of this Welsh Labour Government, stands as one of the best-connected countries, but we will continue to go further and connect businesses and dwellings to superfast broadband across the country.

Minister, one of the key things that the rural economy needs is, obviously, people to get their produce to market and sell that produce at the best price possible. Many constituents of mine, in the northern part of the region, access Raglan livestock market, along the Heads of the Valleys road. You've already answered part of the question when Mohammad Asghar, the Member for South Wales East, posed it to you, but I wonder: are you able to give us any clarity at all as to the timelines now in operation for the finishing of the eastern part of the upgrade, and, importantly, what likely cost overruns might be incurred by the Welsh Government? It is vital that we do understand that, because I have many constituents who've actually stopped going to Raglan livestock market now because of the chaos they've found themselves in, either stuck early in the morning going, or on their way back.

I'd like to take up that very issue, if I may, on behalf of the constituents that the Member has spoken with, and I'll ask my office to make direct contact, if that's okay, so that we can discuss with those businesses the problems that they face. The review should be with me imminently, and it's my intention to make a further statement as soon as it is available. That statement should provide details on the overrun, in terms of the schedule, and any cost overspend as well. This is, as I said to Mohammad Asghar, a hugely ambitious project, not without many, many challenges, not least the fact that it involves work through a very narrow gorge that is protected. However, we are delivering the project, the contractors are delivering the project, and it will lead to improved connectivity in the long term for the region.