Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Evans Excerpts
Wednesday 18th July 2018

(6 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Chris Evans Portrait Chris Evans (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op)
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The expanding digital economy will bring further opportunities for Welsh businesses, yet they tell me all the time that broadband speeds are still too slow to trade. What are the Government doing about this?

Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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On average, the superfast broadband threshold in Wales is higher than it is across the rest of the UK, but the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that more work needs to be done. Significant sums have been available, with £69 million going to the Welsh Government from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, in addition to the £56 million of gainshare that has come from that. Of course, the priority for how the Welsh Government spend that has largely been driven and directed by them. I am keen to work closely with them to see that we can get to the communities that have not yet received superfast broadband, because clearly that brings them opportunities economically.