Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood AM has called on Labour Ministers to do more to tackle digital exclusion, which is affecting people in Wales more than any other part of Britain.
Summing up the Welsh Conservative Assembly Debate on the Digital Economy, Mr Isherwood quoted Shadow Business Minister William Graham AM who said “to be world leaders, we need to ensure awareness and take-up of broadband” and asked the Welsh Government to work in partnership with all sectors and the UK Government to realise digital inclusion opportunities for Wales.
Mr Isherwood said:
“My colleague Antoinette Sandbach referred to the UK Government funding being a good example of partnership working with the Welsh Government but of there being a long way to go.
“She said that those living in remote and rural areas are unable to take advantage of the digital economy, with 42% of mobile users having experienced no signal or reception on their phone. She referred to the impact of that on businesses, including farmers in rural areas. She said that the take of broadband in rural areas has increased over recent years, but speed remains a key issue. She concluded by saying that broadband is no longer a luxury but a basic service and that people should not be disadvantaged.”
“My colleague Janet Finch-Saunders talked of the rapid changes in how we do business and how we live our lives, shopping online and paying our bills and so on. However, she said that a quarter of adults in Wales are still digitally excluded. She talked of the impact on older residents, where just a third of single pensioner households are digitally included. She mentioned the need for specific IT training to enable digital inclusion but said that local courses are being withdrawn.”
“Russell George AM talked of his constituents being poorly served by the broadband infrastructure by comparison with their neighbours across the border in England. He mentioned that 90,000 houses or homes in Wales are without access to broadband altogether, falling disproportionately in rural areas. He mentioned the need to raise domestic and business demand by raising awareness.”
He added: “In the twenty-first century, information literacy is a prerequisite for digital engagement. It is increasingly important that digital skills are taught in schools and older people are more likely to be digitally excluded. Those with additional learning needs are helped significantly by using technology in their lessons, but ICT is not currently a core subject in schools. We have heard that, according to Ofcom, Wales has the lowest take-up levels of broadband in the UK—66% against a UK average of 75%.”
“Superfast Cymru was triggered when the Prime Minister announced £57 million of UK Government seed funding in this Chamber, leveraging in £425 million. In February, the UK Government announced an additional £12 million in the Superfast Cymru project for local projects, particularly in rural areas”.
“So, let us support this motion recognising the importance of the digital economy to Wales, and the development of the infrastructure to support it”.
