2. Will the First Minister make a statement on mobile phone coverage in Mid and West Wales? OAQ51634

We recognise the ever-growing importance of mobile communications in rural areas. And our mobile action plan sets out how we plan to work with the industry and regulator to improve mobile connectivity across the country.

I thank the First Minister for that reply, and I know the Government is giving a high priority to improving connectivity in the countryside. But I'm sure he'd agree with me that a lot more is yet to be done. There is a significant potential problem with lack of mobile phone coverage in regard to public transport. A constituent has written to me from Llan-non in Ceredigion, which has only four buses on a Sunday to Aberaeron, to say that he was waiting for the 11:27 bus recently, which didn't arrive. On the website, you're encouraged, of course, to check the website for timetable changes and delays, but he couldn't do that, because—

Much as I'm interested in bus times in Llan-non, this question is about mobile phone signal.

Yes, correct. But people with mobile phones are encouraged to check the website for delays to the service, which couldn't be done in this particular instance because there was no mobile coverage at the bus stop at which he was waiting for the bus.

Well, no-one's going to pretend that mobile coverage is exactly universal, in many parts of Wales. I live in the middle of a town and I can't get mobile coverage in my house. So, we know that there is a challenge for the industry—this is not devolved of course—to make sure that it does extend coverage, as in other countries now. What are we doing as the Government? Well, the mobile action plan is well under way, with good progress being made. We are currently working to define eligibility for business rate support for new mast sites, and I know that the Cabinet Secretary has appointed Innovation Point to advise, stimulate and co-ordinate activity on 5G in Wales, including opportunities to secure funding from the UK Government testbed and trials challenge fund.

Good afternoon, First Minister. You'll know that the Office of Communications report found that 12 per cent of the Welsh land mass is unable to get any mobile phone coverage, and given, for example, in the last six months, the appalling storm damage we've had and emergency situations, I wondered if your Government has spoken to, or would consider talking to some of the innovators—companies such as EE—about using drone technology or the helikite system, which works off a helium balloon, which will provide people with temporary mobile phone coverage during times of emergency. Of course, it would not only help to co-ordinate emergency services but let people know that they're in dire straits or that they need help.

It's certainly an interesting idea. I'm informed that the Cabinet Secretary has met with industry representatives in order to discuss this. It's hugely important that, where we have emergencies, there is a sufficiently robust communications network in place in order to deal with those emergencies. As I say, a meeting has recently taken place to discuss that very point.

Although you mention the importance of the availability of mobile phones, 4G has only just got to Mynydd Rhiw and the Llŷn peninsula. There are some areas that are gravely behind in rural Wales. One thing that's often forgotten is how important the mobile phone will be for automation on farms and robotics. It's coming to a point now that you can control farm machinery and other aspects through a telephone system and using the phone signal—not the phone itself but the signal. Will you ensure, therefore, that that's available as we leave the European Union—that that best technology is available in all parts of Wales, particularly for our farmers?

Yes, we have to ensure that. What I've noticed in other countries—. I was in Uganda three years ago, and the network there was much better than the United Kingdom's. I was in very rural areas that were very difficult to access by road, but when you got there, there were five bars of 4G available. Why? Well, there hadn't been any investment at all in landlines and so they only had mobiles. Therefore, that's where the investment had gone. But we must ensure that we don't pretend that there is a network of lines there already that have been there for many years, and use that as an excuse not to progress with a stronger mobile phone network. We want to see a situation where there are many more places in Wales that can get a signal. At the moment, it is true that it's difficult in rural areas, but the same is true of some urban areas as well. For example, people complain to me—I don't know as I don't live there—about the Pontcanna area. There is no mobile phone signal right in the centre of Cardiff. So, there is a lot of work to be done in rural areas as there is in urban areas.