6. Statement by the Leader of the House: Update on Digital Connectivity in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:26 pm on 15 May 2018.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 6:26, 15 May 2018

Diolch, Llywydd, and thank you again. Just to reiterate, really, you've been extremely helpful and co-operative to concerns I've raised with you, and I think it's fair to say I've raised plenty. But just taking you back quickly to the meeting that you came to where we had over 100 people very concerned in the room, and one of the big things that came through was the issues with BT themselves, in terms of their communications with our constituents and then them having to ultimately come to me. One of the constituents asked, and was supported by the whole room, as to going forward—and I know it's a difficult one for you—but going forward with the tender processes. If there's this feeling, the lack of confidence in BT itself, how will this impact on (a) you going forward in terms of having confidence in dealing with them again? But my bigger concern is in your statement today where you mention: 

'To date, we have paid BT £300 for every premises, however, the closure of the delivery phase means that we must now work together to balance the books'.

And when it says 'work together', who with? And:

'ensure that all expenditure is eligible and fully evidenced. This process will take several months to conclude, but it is essential to ensure that BT does not benefit from any oversubsidy.'

That, to me, is a little bit vague, and in terms of audit processes, I just wonder how you can actually just give us a little bit more confidence that there will be a rigorous look at this, because I know, in my constituency, you were probably surprised by how many people themselves believed they were getting it—they were told they were getting it, they still haven't got it, and yet they are actually in this current roll-out phase.

So, there are still a lot of questions to be asked about BT's part in this, and I think you've probably taken a lot of flak over the past few months for something that's not actually been your fault, but it's what influence and what power you have as a Cabinet Secretary, as the Welsh Government, against BT, because I think they're well aware of my concerns, because I had them at the meeting as well.