Frustrated that many residents across Wales still do not have access to decent and reliable broadband, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has made fresh calls for the Access Broadband Cymru scheme to be reactivated.
The Access Broadband Cymru grant scheme, which provides grant support to install alternative broadband solutions capable of delivering stable superfast download speeds, was paused from August 7 for a period of six months.
In October last year, Darren questioned the Welsh Government over why it was paused when it was and urged Ministers to look at reinstating it as soon as possible.
He is therefore disappointed that five months on there has been no movement on this.
Calling again for it to be instated in yesterday’s Business Statement in the Senedd, he said:
“I’d like to call for an update from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning on the Access Broadband Cymru scheme.
“Members will be aware that this scheme was paused in August of last year, but it was very important in helping lots of our constituents to get online and to make sure that they had decent broadband services in those parts of Wales where Openreach’s plans were not able to reach.
“I do think that, given that there’s been a pause now of seven months, with no new applicants being received, it’s time that we have an update to make sure that this important scheme is now re-available to help our constituents get online and get access to high-speed broadband services.”
Responding, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, said she would be doing a statement on digital inclusion shortly and would respond to the points raised by Darren then.
Speaking afterwards, Darren said:
“It is very frustrating that this scheme has still not been reinstated, particularly when constituents are constantly telling me that they are finding it difficult to access proper broadband speeds to get online.
“Digital infrastructure is transforming our way of life and the way we do business - we can not afford to let Wales lag behind.”
Watch Darren’s contribution in the Welsh Parliament below:
