4. What is the Welsh Government doing to help connect more properties in north Wales to superfast broadband? OQ56945

Thank you for the question. Responsibility for connectivity lies with the UK Government, but we continue to step in to provide connectivity. Seven thousand five hundred and eight premises have now been given access to full fibre in north Wales under the Welsh Government's £56 million full fibre roll-out. We continue to provide connectivity solutions through our local broadband fund and our access-to-broadband scheme.

That's excellent to hear, Minister. Given the Welsh Government's commitment to combating the climate emergency, and also given the huge rise in the number of people who are working remotely and working from home as a result of coronavirus, would you agree with me that broadband should be regarded as a universal service, like the Royal Mail, and should be available to all? 

That is the key point in the debate that we need to keep emphasising. This is now an essential utility service. I hear from Members across the Chamber about difficulties their constituents have getting connected, and it is a real impediment to being able to carry out essential functions in society. But the UK Government, who have responsibility for broadband, refuse, either through ideology or through inertia, to take the action necessary to make sure everybody has a right to be connected. As a result, we see a hodgepodge of pragmatic schemes being devised to try and get round what is essentially a structural flaw. As you say, Royal Mail, a privately run company, has a legal obligation to deliver for the same cost a universal service, and the same must apply for broadband. 

Laura Jones. No. I'll move on. 

Question 5, Vikki Howells.