1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure a greater roll-out of superfast broadband in Aberconwy? OAQ53091

Yes. In our continued roll-out of fast fibre broadband, we have identified around 3,773 premises across the region that could potentially see connectivity coverage under the new initiative. Assistance with connectivity also continues with our Access Broadband Cymru and ultrafast connectivity voucher schemes.

[Inaudible.]—concerns to you regarding individual properties and in some instances, you've been able to help me. I know the figure of 96 per cent sounds really good, actually, but if some of the 4 per cent are in your constituency, and they're living next door to people who do have this superfast broadband, it gives them very, very little consolation. You did attend a very packed broadband surgery in my constituency, and you did announce that you were going to be bringing phase 2 forward. We had your recent statement, but I’m being asked all the time, 'Why are you not rolling out the next phase?' It’s a case of, 'Well, the Welsh Government says one thing, but does another.'

I have got schoolchildren who cannot do their homework. I've got farmers who cannot go online. I've got whole communities, actually, in some of my more rural, isolated parts who just believe that it’s a bit of a myth and a dream that they are ever going to get superfast broadband. So, at what stage are you going to show some commitment and make that new announcement going forward? And, you know, if not, communicate far better. We know the first roll-out was a farce in terms of information. We had it coming forward, but people didn't know when or how. And I just feel that you could do more to engage with those in those populations now that do not have it at all, because, right now, they're very, very despondent with your Government over this.

Right, well, thank you for that, I think. The meeting was indeed packed. I did explain at great length—as I have at all of the meetings around Wales that I've attended, and I think I've been almost to every constituency now—that the big problem is that this is not regarded as infrastructure; this is still regarded as the procurement of a luxury product. And so, we have to go through a very complex process, including with Broadband Direct UK, to get state aid cover for what we do. And, as I explained in the meeting, would that I could. If I had the power to roll it out as infrastructure, then I would be doing that, but we do not. We have to go through the process of the procurement, we have to do the open market review, we have to find out where the commercial companies are going, and we then have to procure. We have to see what the procurement brings back, and that’s brought back the 3,773 premises. We're in the process right now of identifying exactly which those premises are, and then we'll be trying to fill in the gaps for the rest of it.

Actually, since the last time I spoke about this in the Chamber—I do have a slight groundhog day feeling every time I stand up to do questions—since the last time, the UK Government has actually announced a way forward for its universal service obligation. So, it does look as if we will have some clarity on that in the foreseeable future. There are some issues with that. There is a cost cap on it, and, actually, most of the premises that you're talking about will fall outside the cost cap. So, there’s some work to be done, but I think there will be some movement around the universal service obligation that will put another string to our bow about getting there.

But, if Members do have a whole community, or actually five or six houses together that are isolated, then we'd very much like you to proactively tell us about them, because we're very happy to get our business exploitation teams out to them to see if we can get a community solution out to those communities. And those community solutions have been very effective across Wales; they can be bespoke to the particular community, and there are various arrangements for doing that. So, I encourage the Member to proactively tell us about any clusters of people who we might be able to help.

With the others, we will be able to say very shortly now exactly which premises. That will obviously identify the ones who don't get it as well, and then we'll be able to do some more proactive work with them. But, with the best will in the world, Deputy Presiding Officer, some of the premises are tens of thousands of pounds to get to, and other solutions will have to be found.