Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Montgomeryshire Assembly Member Mick Bates challenged the Labour-Plaid Government in the Assembly today over their failure to provide broadband in rural areas across Wales.

Responding to Mick Bates’ challenge in the Assembly the Minister recognised that action to support the roll out of broadband to homes and businesses across Wales is important.

Mick Bates AM: “I am pleased that the Minister has recognised the vital need to provide more secure and affordable access to broadband in rural areas, but what good is recognition without action?

“In a modern society which relies heavily on the use of internet, small businesses in Mid Wales need a strong infrastructure to support them if they are to survive and prosper. A Welsh Consumer Council report highlighted that people in Mid and West Wales are least likely to have a broadband connection – this problem needs swift action now.

“I am extremely concerned that people in Montgomeryshire are being let down by the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government since it appears not to recognise that rural solutions to broadband may be different to urban solutions. I have heard from people who have to travel 20 mile round trips to access a connection - clearly this is not acceptable.

“It is impossible for our businesses to compete in the global or even UK market without the benefit of broadband. You can’t even update software with ease if you don’t have broadband, you certainly can’t upload web sites and it’s practically impossible to send or receive large documents by e-mail.

“We have time to catch up but the Labour-Plaid Government must take swift action now and invest in the infrastructure necessary to deliver high bandwidth affordable data communications infrastructure to businesses and homes in Mid Wales.”



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