7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle the inequality in broadband speeds in west Wales? OAQ54837

I thank the Member. Although provision of broadband is not a devolved matter, the Welsh Government has stepped in to protect Welsh citizens from market failure. Over £32 million has been invested, for example, in providing over 111,000 premises across west Wales with average broadband speeds of 82 Mbps.

Thank you for that, although I have to say that your efforts to protect broadband speeds haven't been altogether successful. A report released by consumer group uSwitch last week reinforced the discrepancy between broadband speeds. For example, in Penffordd, the slowest average download speeds were recorded, which meant a two-hour Netflix HD film would take more than 11 hours to download. However, in Clare Walk in Pembroke, that same film could be downloaded in a mere 11 minutes. My concern about this is because, as we know, broadband speeds are vital for health, for education, for communications and for entertainment. You have had serious sums of money, and I note that in the Labour manifesto, you are offering free broadband to all in your Christmas festive getaway. But, what can you do to ensure that the money that you've been given by Westminster for these projects already [Interruption.]—I'm going to ignore the squeaks in the background—actually ensure that we have broadband fit for purpose? You've had loads of money.

Llywydd, the Welsh Government is not given money by the UK Government for this purpose because this is a non-devolved responsibility. So, the Member's questions would be much better directed to those who are responsible for this matter. What the Welsh Government has done is to use money provided to us for other purposes, and money that we get from the European Union, to make good the failure of the Conservative Government to address the matters—the real, very proper matters—that the Member has raised.

She is quite right to say that the Labour Party, in our manifesto, makes proposals that would address the difficulties that the Member has identified. Under the current universal service obligation. We have a position in Wales that is not universal. It is certainly not an obligation. In some parts of Wales, it's barely a service. The Labour Party and our manifesto recognises that, in the future, broadband will not be a nice-to-have service or an accessory; it will be an important utility, and ought to be treated as a universal service.

We will invest to make sure that those communities right across Wales who rely on broadband for their businesses and for their homes will have it under a Labour Government. People in Wales who are interested in that and who have heard what the Member says will know who they have to vote for in order to get it.