Janet’s Contributions  30/09/14
First Ministers Questions
Broadband in North Wales

14:02
Janet Finch-Saunders
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the roll-out of broadband provision in north Wales? OAQ(4)1863(FM)

14:03
Carwyn Jones/The First Minister
Good progress is being made with the roll-out of superfast broadband. Some exchanges have already been enabled with fast fibre broadband and other exchanges are planned for roll out later this year and early next year.

14:03
Janet Finch-Saunders
Thank you. However, as regards the superfast broadband roll-out and the significant investment therein, many constituents are requesting more information than is currently available, as to how, where and when they will be able to receive the service. Although more properties now access superfast broadband, take-up in Wales, percentage wise, is lower than it is in England. It appears that little has been done as regards the marketing and exploitation of the services forthcoming and available now. BT maintains that it has had no funding whatsoever for this. What steps is your Government taking to ensure that awareness is raised regarding the availability of this service across Wales, and have you set a budget aside to do this?

14:03
Carwyn Jones/The First Minister
It is surely within BT’s interest to do that itself. It is a partner in terms of the roll-out. Nearly 234,000 premises across Wales have now been given access to fast fibre broadband. I am not surprised that people are not using fast fibre broadband as they should, probably because they do not have access to it yet. I am sure that that will change as a result of Superfast Cymru. Let us remember that the market would never have delivered this. This is a Welsh Government initiative to ensure that many premises and settlements across Wales are getting access to superfast broadband in a way that would not otherwise be possible. This is an investment in Wales’s infrastructure, and one that we are proud of.

Local Government Reform
14:12
Janet Finch-Saunders
Following the Williams recommendations, we are now seeing some authorities taking forward the initiative to look at the prospect of merging with a neighbouring authority, but all of this, of course, takes time and will have serious implications in terms of our already stretched resources, signalling much change and doubt for many elected members but, more importantly, for our staff. What dialogue has taken place between the Welsh Government and your officials with the authorities already mentioned? How have you factored in the actual cost of reorganisation to the authorities as well as the cost to the Welsh Government of any financial incentives promised?

14:13
Carwyn Jones / The First Minister
The Minister met, I believe, with WLGA leaders last Friday. A prospectus inviting local authorities to submit proposals for voluntary mergers has been issued and expressions of interest are requested by 28 November. That prospectus contains a clear commitment to support local authorities that take part in early mergers.