2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:39 pm on 15 November 2022.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:39, 15 November 2022

Thank you. Digital now plays a significant role in our society, from allowing people to engage with health and public services, for instance, or reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation by maintaining contact with their friends and families, or, of course, continuing to work and access learning. But of course, there are people who choose not to participate, or see no need to, and, of course, there are those who can't afford the costs that are associated with being online. I think we know, during and since the pandemic, that many services have now moved to digital channels, so it is absolutely critical to those developing these services that they're aware and consider the implications for people who are digitally excluded, from an equalities aspect, as well, of course, as the impact on the economic recovery. You'll be aware of our programme for government commitment, our digital strategy for Wales, and that absolutely makes clear our aim to equip people with the motivation, access, skills and confidence to engage with an increasingly digital world based on their needs. As a Government, our role really is to engage with and continue to raise awareness of the need for service providers, be they public, private or third sector, to ensure that people are able to access services in a way that meets their needs. 

You mentioned that the First Minister himself mentioned that he'd raised the issue of standing energy charges with the Prime Minister at last week's British-Irish Council. We know we need a major investment in the grid to develop it into a net-zero energy system that's resilient to help us as well. Obviously, the system we have at the moment places the greatest burden on those who can least afford it. That has to change. The standing charge is an element of the pricing system that really does not take into account the ability of an individual person to pay. As we both just said, the First Minister raised it with the Prime Minister, but I know as a Government we continue to raise this in discussions that we have with Ofgem. But it really needs a fundamental change going forward for certain energy users—rather than concessions for certain energy users, to have this done at the expense of others.