Janet:

I have two questions. One is, firstly, in relation to Superfast Cymru and the previous roll-out scheme. I've been made aware of a very concerning issue relating to this. The delivery of superfast broadband, as part of the Superfast Cymru scheme, has been achieved, of course, through the handing of the contract to Openreach. However, I'm given to believe that Openreach then sub-contracted to Telent, who have then sub-contracted to Wavetec Limited, which has ended up employing individual contractors, including a constituent of mine, working freelance, and is still doing so, to help build the fibre network. Having been shown a copy of an aged creditors' breakdown by my constituent, I understand that he is now owed thousands of pounds and has not been paid for services rendered to Wavetec since the end of November. Trefnydd, would you be able to liaise with the responsible Minister and explain to me why Superfast Cymru has resulted in such a protected contract, which has seen several subcontractors in the chain, which is now resulting in my constituent facing financial hardship? That's No. 1.

And then, No. 2: will the Trefnydd explain why the Welsh Government does not deem it necessary for the Planning Inspectorate to consult with all the interested parties when new material or planning policy updates come forward during the course of the Planning Inspectorate process? Now, the reason I ask this is that, last week, the Planning Inspectorate approved a residential development, comprising of 110 dwellings, in Llandudno Junction. This, in my opinion, and others', was despite breaching a number of planning policies, and over 1,300 objections submitted. Due to the delayed process following the inquiry in September, where the actual decision breached its own ministerial target deadlines, the introduction of 'Planning Policy Wales', edition 10, had to be considered. Whilst the local authority and the appellant were consulted, all other interested parties, including myself, as the democratically elected Assembly Member, were not allowed to give further information forward, based on the interpretation of 'Planning Policy Wales'.

Now, subsection 47(7) of the Town and Country Planning (Referred Applications and Appeals Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2017 states an appointed person needs to notify those involved in the inquiry about new material to allow them to make representations about new evidence, or to ask to reopen the inquiry before making their decision. However, the new material excludes Welsh Ministers' policy. This is wrong and undemocratic. So, would you agree with me that Welsh Ministers' policy should be subjected to the notification representations request to reopen provisions in the same way as any other type of new material? And, if so, would you be prepared to consider my proposal to change this flawed legislation, and the regulations, so that all interested parties are allowed to be part of the actual planning inspectorate process and regime?

Response from Rebecca Evans AM, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd:

Thank you very much for raising those questions with me today. On the issue of broadband, if you would share with me the details of your constituent's specific circumstance, I'd be happy to explore that with the Minister and let you have the outcome of that. 

Your questions regarding 'Planning Policy Wales' and how it intersects with existing planning applications, and so forth, is probably best directed to the Minister with responsibility for planning.