Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Digital Connectivity: Rural Wales

Wednesday 1 March 2023 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government committed to improving digital connectivity in rural Wales through Project Gigabit and shared rural network initiatives.
  • Minister will make representations to ensure areas lacking decent broadband and mobile signals are prioritized in Project Gigabit.
  • Government acknowledges progress in broadband connectivity but emphasizes more work remains to be done in Wales.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ben Lake PC Ceredigion Preseli
Scotland
Context

The MP raised the issue of digital connectivity, referencing Project Gigabit and recent pilots.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on improving digital connectivity in rural Wales?

Answer from James Davies

The Government are committed to improving digital connectivity as demonstrated by our commitment to Project Gigabit, the shared rural network and, most recently, the new very hard-to-reach pilots, two of which are located in Wales.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues or any concrete actions taken as a result.

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Q2 Ben Lake PC Ceredigion Preseli
Science & Technology
Context

Ofcom reported that some 30,000 premises across the UK have no access to decent broadband or 4G signal.

Question

Will the Minister make representations to colleagues in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that areas lacking decent broadband and mobile signals are prioritised in the next iteration of Project Gigabit?

Answer from James Davies

The hon. Member is right to raise that issue. We have Project Gigabit, an ambitious £5 billion project to reach hardest-to-reach areas outside commercial scope, and Alpha trials using satellites, two in Snowdonia National Park. Opportunities through the Mid Wales growth deal are also available.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm representation to colleagues or prioritization of specific areas.

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Q3 Michael Fabricant Con
Wales Science & Technology
Context

The MP noted progress in broadband fibre installation in the Dysynni valley, Gwynedd.

Question

Can my hon. Friend the Minister carry on with the hard work to ensure that there is gigabit connection within Cymru—Wales?

Answer from James Davies

I know that my hon. Friend is a regular visitor to Wales. He is quite right to raise the importance of broadband both to people's modern way of life and also to business. There has been progress, but there is much more to do.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide any concrete commitments or timelines for gigabit connections in Wales.

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Q4 Jo Stevens Lab Cardiff East
Education Scotland Wales Brexit
Context

EU structural funds have helped universities deliver research, innovation, skills development in digital transformation, now facing a cliff-edge as EU funding ends.

Question

What conversations has he and the Secretary of State had with Cabinet colleagues to protect valuable skilled jobs?

Answer from James Davies

I thank the hon. Lady for that question. She is right that academic institutions have been reliant on EU structural funding in the past. There is, of course, the shared prosperity fund coming forward, which universities will need to apply to. I know that my colleague the Secretary of State is visiting all universities across Wales.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm any specific conversations or concrete actions to protect jobs.

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Q5 Jo Stevens Lab Cardiff East
Scotland
Context

Project Gigabit aims to deliver lightning-fast reliable broadband across the UK, but Wales has the lowest coverage among home nations.

Question

Does that not represent yet another broken promise by the Tories to Wales?

Answer from James Davies

The hon. Lady is aware that the geography and topography of Wales make digital connections more tricky than in some other areas. She is also aware that it is the Welsh Government who have been leading on the roll-out of broadband in Wales in conjunction with Building Digital UK, and I agree that more work needs to be done to improve those figures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address whether low coverage represents a broken promise or provide any commitments to improve it.

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Q6 Liz Saville-Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Housing Business & Trade Local Government
Context

Poor connectivity in rural areas is a factor holding businesses back, along with trade barriers.

Question

Can he come up with a solution to protect Holyhead from his Government's policy?

Answer from James Davies

The right hon. Lady recently attended a debate that I responded to in Westminster Hall, where she was making the case for a freeport in Holyhead. She knows that there are opportunities, through freeports, to boost the trade through Holyhead and other ports in Wales seeking designation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a concrete solution or commitment to protect Holyhead's trade.

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Q7 Liz Saville-Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Northern Ireland Wales Brexit
Context

The Prime Minister said Northern Ireland has privileged access to the UK and EU markets, raising questions about Plaid Cymru's policy.

Question

Why is it not good enough for Wales?

Answer from James Davies

Wales voted to leave the EU quite decisively. The right hon. Lady knows that the situation in Northern Ireland is really quite different from that in Wales, and this is a carefully put together deal to accommodate that situation. I feel quite sure that the EU is not in the business of allowing what she suggests.

Not addressed: Did not address the suitability for Wales or provide any solution.

How: Criticised Previous Government'S Actions, Compared Northern Ireland Situation

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