Part of 2. Questions to the Leader of the House and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:29 pm on 14 November 2018.
Yes, I'm very much looking forward to coming. I find it very useful to go around Wales talking specifically to individuals and their communities about why we are where we are now and what can be done to specifically address their individual and community issues. We know that it's frustrating when you're one of the people who've been left out of the previous programme. It did deliver 733,000 premises for connectivity, but, of course, if you're one of the people who's in the remaining few per cent it's very frustrating indeed, and that's indeed why I'm doing the tour—to try and understand exactly what we can do. We have just done the procurement for lots 1 and 3. That's complete; the successful bidder is BT plc, and a grant agreement was in fact signed yesterday, as it happens. We will be now looking to clarify with them exactly which premises are included in their roll-out plans, and as soon as we have that information, we'll be able to convey it to local representatives, so that they can ensure that people are aware. And also then, of course, we will know who isn't included, so that we can come forward with a large number of other schemes that we plan, to get communities together, to have individual bespoke solutions, to look at how we can adapt our voucher schemes, and in general find a solution for those people who are not included. So, that's the way forward, and I'm very much looking forward to discussing the specifics in your constituency when I come.