Cwestiwn ysgrifenedig WQ85288
- Gofynnwyd gan
- Darren MillarCeidwadwyr
- I'w ateb gan
- Minister for Climate Change
- Cyflwynwyd
- Dyddiad ateb
- Atebwyd
- Amser i'w ateb
- 6 diwrnod
Cwestiwn
Mae'r cwestiwn a'r ateb yn Saesneg gan nad oes fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael.
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to reinstating the gigabit broadband top-up scheme which came to an end earlier this year?
Ateb
Atebwyd gan Deputy Minister for Climate Change
The responsibility for addressing broadband issues in Wales rests firmly with the UK Government. The budget for this work is not devolved to Wales, and it is regrettable that there are continued calls for the Welsh Government to intervene.
We have already demonstrated considerable commitment to bolster the UK effort by providing devolved funding to top-up a UK voucher scheme. However, in the face of escalating budget pressures, we cannot continue to underwrite this UK Government voucher scheme and our top-up funding was withdrawn on 31 March 2022.
Suppliers that submitted project requests to the UK Government by 31st March can request vouchers with the top up element until 30th September 2022, subject to budget being available. We understand from the UK Government that the scheme is heavily subscribed.
The volume of funds provided under similar top-up schemes elsewhere across the UK indicates that the upper cost threshold of this UK scheme should be reviewed to reconsider and reflect the cost of deploying gigabit broadband in rural and remote areas. I have written to Julia Lopez MP, Minister of State for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure to emphasise this point.
You will also wish to note that the UK Government is planning to pause its scheme in Wales, as it has done elsewhere, ahead of the anticipated procurements for Project Gigabit later in the year.