5. Will the Leader of the House provide an update on the availability of superfast broadband in Monmouth? OAQ51806

Certainly. Under the Superfast Cymru project, we have provided access to fast-fibre broadband to 17,767 premises across all parts of Monmouthshire, equating to just over 76.2 per cent completion, and they have an average download speed of 83.84 Mbps. 

All credit to you for managing to find different answers to all the questions on broadband today and different statistics. I think your file will be running out soon.

As my colleague Russ George said earlier in questions to you, many families in rural areas dropped off the Superfast Cymru scheme originally, which was very disappointing. Can you update us on your assessment of the potential for using new technologies to plug the remaining gaps, such as the use of tv white space, which a company in Monmouthshire has been trialling? Also, the 4G network has got capacity that could be used for broadband. And, following on from all that, have you considered whether it might be appropriate to devolve some more funding to local authorities directly so that they can come up with bespoke, localised solutions that will drill down and address the broadband gaps specifically located in their areas?

Yes, I'm very happy to say that we're considering all forms of availability for broadband. The programme has never been technology reliant. In fact, we let the programme to BT and they used their two big technologies for it. But we've always, through the ABC programme around the ultrafast programme, supported all technologies in Wales of whatever sort, as long as it gets the speed to above 30 Mbps. So, that's the criterion and continues to be the criterion. As I've said a number of times in this Chamber, we're looking to have very bespoke solutions for particular communities of people, and I'm very happy to discuss with any community any particular solution that gets them to that 30 Mbps-plus provision. But, whatever works, we're happy to work with whatever works. I'll say to the Member though that, in terms of the take-up, in Monmouthshire, the take-up is only just over 40.13 per cent. So, if he would like to work with me and my officials to see if we could get that up, I'd be very grateful.