Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary for State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she plans to launch the next round of Project Gigabit procurement projects in Wales.

As part of our £5 billion investment in Project Gigabit, we are delivering procurements across Wales to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans.

We are working closely with the Welsh Government to deliver a number of procurements across Wales which are set to be launched in early summer this year.

Pre-Procurement Market Engagement will commence later this month for areas of North, South East and South West Wales. Pre-Procurement Market Engagement for Mid and North West Wales is already underway, as part of a wider exercise for a cross-regional procurement.

On top of this delivery, the earlier Superfast contract in Wales is currently providing gigabit-capable connections, with the project set to complete by the end of March. Approximately 32,500 premises have been reached to date, and by completion, up to 37,000 premises will be reached as part of the contract.