English: Superfast broadband coverage in Wales has increased to 93 per cent of homes and businesses from 89 per cent last year, according to Ofcom's 'Connected Nations 2018' report, and so, whilst I accept that some progress is being made, much more needs to be done to tackle those areas left with substandard broadband provision. I'm sure that the Deputy Minister will agree with me that it's absolutely crucial that areas like Pembrokeshire are brought up to speed to enable local communities to be on an even playing field with the rest of Wales, and indeed the rest of the United Kingdom. According to the Welsh Government's own figures, £85 million has been allocated for the second phase of Openreach's efforts to roll out an adequate broadband service across Wales. Now, we know that phase 2 of the project is expected to cost £22 million, which would leave over £60 million left in Openreach's pocket. I understand that, in responding to recent questions on this specific matter from my colleague Russell George, the Deputy Minister confirmed that he was not aware of how the surplus money will be used, as the Government is still thinking through the implications of how to do just that. Therefore, perhaps, in responding to today's debate, at the very least the Deputy Minister will now commit to providing a breakdown of exactly how much money will be spent in each local authority area so that, in the interests of transparency, the people of Wales can see where the money will be targeted and how their communities will be prioritised once the Welsh Government makes a decision on how to move forward. Now, Members will remember the 2012 Welsh Affairs Select Committee report into broadband in Wales, which found that 'Increasingly, reliable internet access is seen as a driver of economic performance and vital for business, education and people living alone or in isolated areas.' Indeed, that's certainly the case in my constituency, where small businesses and farmers have been disadvantaged by limited broadband coverage. That Welsh Affairs Select Committee report highlighted evidence from the Country Land and Business Association, who argued that, and I quote: 'Without broadband, rural areas will continue to struggle, this being exacerbated by Government efforts to digitalise most forms of administration, such as the single farm payment and the whole-farm approach.' Unquote. Indeed, the annual National Farmers Union broadband and mobile survey also showed that 45 per cent believe their current speed is not fast enough for their business needs. At this point, it's worth reminding Members that farmers in Wales are having to become increasingly reliant on online services and applications, and so it is crucial that they have adequate access. In areas like Pembrokeshire, farming is a hugely important industry for the local area, and so it is crucial that those farmers have every tool possible to help their businesses continue to flourish. Therefore, the Welsh Government must redouble its efforts to provide adequate broadband in rural areas so that these farmers can continue to be competitive in the future. However, it's not just farmers in Pembrokeshire that are struggling, but small businesses, families and even a school. As Members will be aware, Pembrokeshire enjoys a healthy tourist industry, largely made up of smaller accommodation providers and food and drink businesses. It goes without saying that those businesses desperately need to be able to market themselves online in order to attract and generate business and to attract visitors from other parts of the UK and, indeed, from all over the world. Dennis O'Connor, tourism liaison manager for Pembrokeshire Tourism recently said, and I quote, 'Tourism is worth circa £585 million annually to the Pembrokeshire economy, but, in order for future growth to be achieved, tourism providers need to have a good connectivity to be able to maintain or increase market share. They are no longer able to rely upon destination marketing being undertaken by the local authority, because of shrinking budgets, which means increased emphasis is on the business to carry the burden.' Unquote. It remains the case that Pembrokeshire's tourist operators are at a disadvantage compared with other parts of Wales, and certainly the rest of UK. Now, the 2017 digital exclusion heatmap by Go ON UK has identified Pembrokeshire as one of the Welsh counties where digital exclusion is high. It shows that 3,747 households in Pembrokeshire do not receive broadband speeds of at least 10 Mbps, with just over 13 per cent of adults in the county having not been online in the last three months.
Welsh: Mae signal band eang cyflym iawn yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu i 93 y cant o gartrefi a busnesau o 89 y cant y llynedd, yn ôl adroddiad 'Cysylltu'r Gwledydd 2018' Ofcom, ac felly, er fy mod yn derbyn bod rhywfaint o gynnydd yn cael ei wneud, mae angen gwneud llawer mwy i fynd i'r afael â'r ardaloedd a adawyd â darpariaeth band eang is na'r safon. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn cytuno ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol fod ardaloedd fel sir Benfro yn cael eu cysylltu er mwyn galluogi cymunedau lleol i chwarae eu rhan yn gyfartal â gweddill Cymru, a gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig yn wir. Yn ôl ffigurau Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun, mae £85 miliwn wedi'i ddyrannu ar gyfer ail gam ymdrechion Openreach i gyflwyno gwasanaeth band eang digonol ledled Cymru. Nawr, gwyddom fod disgwyl i gam 2 y prosiect gostio £22 miliwn, a fyddai'n gadael dros £60 miliwn yn weddill ym mhoced Openreach. Rwy'n deall, wrth ymateb i gwestiynau diweddar ar y mater penodol hwn gan fy nghyd-aelod Russell George, fod y Dirprwy Weinidog wedi cadarnhau nad oedd yn gwybod sut y caiff yr arian dros ben ei ddefnyddio, gan fod y Llywodraeth yn dal i ystyried goblygiadau sut yn union y dylai wneud hynny. Felly, wrth ymateb i'r ddadl heddiw, efallai y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog o leiaf yn ymrwymo'n awr i ddarparu dadansoddiad o faint yn union o arian a gaiff ei wario ym mhob ardal awdurdod lleol fel y gall pobl Cymru, er budd tryloywder, weld lle bydd yr arian yn cael ei dargedu a sut y bydd eu cymunedau'n cael eu blaenoriaethu pan fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn penderfynu sut i symud ymlaen. Nawr, bydd yr Aelodau'n cofio adroddiad y Pwyllgor Dethol ar Faterion Cymreig yn 2012 ar y band eang yng Nghymru, a ganfu fod mynediad dibynadwy i'r rhyngrwyd yn cael ei ystyried yn gynyddol yn sbardun i berfformiad economaidd ac yn hanfodol i fusnes, addysg a phobl sy'n byw ar eu pen eu hunain neu mewn ardaloedd anghysbell. Mae hynny'n sicr yn wir yn fy etholaeth i, lle mae busnesau bach a ffermwyr wedi bod o dan anfantais oherwydd y ddarpariaeth band eang gyfyngedig. Tynnodd yr adroddiad hwnnw gan y Pwyllgor Dethol ar Faterion Cymreig sylw at dystiolaeth gan Gymdeithas Tir a Busnesau Cefn Gwlad, a ddadleuai, ac rwy'n dyfynnu: Heb fand eang, bydd ardaloedd gwledig yn parhau i frwydro, a gwaethygir hyn gan ymdrechion y Llywodraeth i ddigideiddio'r rhan fwyaf o ffurfiau ar weinyddiaeth, megis y taliad sengl a'r dull fferm gyfan. Cau'r dyfyniad. Yn wir, dangosodd arolwg blynyddol Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr o'r ddarpariaeth fand eang a symudol fod 45 y cant yn credu nad yw eu cyflymder presennol yn ddigon cyflym ar gyfer eu hanghenion busnes. Yn y fan hon, mae'n werth atgoffa'r Aelodau fod ffermwyr yng Nghymru yn gorfod bod yn gynyddol ddibynnol ar wasanaethau a chymwysiadau ar-lein, ac felly mae'n hanfodol fod ganddynt fynediad digonol. Mewn ardaloedd fel sir Benfro, mae ffermio'n ddiwydiant hynod bwysig i'r ardal leol, ac felly mae'n hanfodol fod y ffermwyr hynny'n cael pob arf posibl i helpu eu busnesau i barhau i ffynnu. Felly, rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru gryfhau ei hymdrechion i ddarparu band eang digonol mewn ardaloedd gwledig fel y gall y ffermwyr hyn barhau i fod yn gystadleuol yn y dyfodol. Fodd bynnag, nid ffermwyr yn sir Benfro yn unig sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd, ond busnesau bach, teuluoedd, ac ysgol hyd yn oed. Fel y bydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod, mae gan sir Benfro ddiwydiant twristiaeth iach, sy'n cynnwys darparwyr llety a busnesau bwyd a diod llai o faint yn bennaf. Afraid dweud bod angen dirfawr i'r busnesau hynny farchnata eu hunain ar-lein er mwyn denu a chreu busnes a denu ymwelwyr o rannau eraill o'r DU, ac yn wir, o bob rhan o'r byd. Meddai Dennis O'Connor, rheolwr cyswllt twristiaeth ar gyfer Twristiaeth Sir Benfro yn ddiweddar, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, 'Mae twristiaeth yn werth tua £585 miliwn y flwyddyn i economi sir Benfro, ond er mwyn sicrhau twf yn y dyfodol, mae angen i ddarparwyr twristiaeth gael cysylltedd da i allu cynnal neu gynyddu'r gyfran o'r farchnad. Ni allant bellach ddibynnu ar yr awdurdod lleol i farchnata cyrchfannau, oherwydd cyllidebau sy'n crebachu, sy'n golygu bod mwy o bwyslais ar fusnes i gario'r baich.' Cau'r dyfyniad. Mae'n wir o hyd fod gweithredwyr twristiaeth sir Benfro o dan anfantais o gymharu â rhannau eraill o Gymru, a gweddill y DU yn sicr. Nawr, mae map allgáu digidol 2017 gan Go ON UK wedi nodi bod sir Benfro yn un o siroedd Cymru lle ceir llawer o allgáu digidol. Dengys nad yw 3,747 o gartrefi yn sir Benfro yn derbyn band eang ar gyflymder o 10 Mbps neu fwy, gydag ychydig dros 13 y cant o'r oedolion yn y sir heb fod ar-lein yn y tri mis diwethaf.