Carl Sargeant: My officials are working with partners across Wales in order to offer advice and guidance on the development of the detailed business cases required to allow appropriate scrutiny of proposals seeking ‘Building for the Future’ funding.
Carl Sargeant: Since April 2015, local housing authorities are able to build their own council homes and have committed to deliver 1,000 new council homes under our housing pact with the WLGA and Community Housing Cymru. In your area, Swansea council are developing two sites which will be built to Passivhaus standards.
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Llywydd. Llywydd, thank you for the opportunity to update Members on the actions being taken by Welsh Government, landlords, and fire and rescue services in Wales, in the light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. I am committed to keeping Members updated on our actions, and I’m sure Members will agree that this is not a party political issue, but one of concern to us all, and of...
Carl Sargeant: To understand the experiences of those living in the affected properties, yesterday, I visited tenants in Swansea, where I had some very positive and insightful discussions, which will be helpful in shaping our activity as we move forward. I was also able to explain the steps being taken to ensure that the high-rise tower blocks are safe. I was able to hear from tenants, first hand, what...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you for your questions, David Melding. Llywydd, if I may—several questions there. First of all, on the issue around cavity spaces, the Member raises issues around that. I would be reluctant to offer a view on that in the prematurity of the public inquiry into that. I do think there were several aspects of the Grenfell Tower that appear to have significant factors in contribution to...
Carl Sargeant: I thank John Griffiths for his questions. I’ll take his last point first and, I think, his most pertinent, actually. The people we really need to think about here are the residents of these blocks, and that’s what our primary concern must be, both in making sure that there is a reality of safety but also that the perception of safety is addressed in terms of what their views are. I will...
Carl Sargeant: The Member raises two interesting points. I think it is something for the future to consider in terms of, initially, smoking in hotel rooms in general. The other issue about regulation of hotels is: I think what’s important here is that we don’t get pushed into a false sense of insecurity and doing something for the wrong reason. It has to be based upon the evidence provided. Can I give...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you for your questions. First of all, I am very comfortable with the scrutiny that takes place in the Chamber by yourself or any other Members on this issue. I am very clear that I do believe that this shouldn’t be partisan; it is about constituents who we all share an affiliation to and making sure the safety of this is paramount. So, I don’t mind the scrutiny in any case. Can I...
Carl Sargeant: Really useful questions from the Member today, and I thank her for her comments, particularly around the fire and rescue services and their ability to act on the issues that she’s raised. Can I first of all take the issue around testing and private sector testing? We are working with local authorities to identify the individuals at the first point, and they will be given guidance on what...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you for your comments. I’m not aware that there was a formal question there, Llywydd, but I do recognise the comments made by the Member, and we’ll take that on board.
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for the discussion I had with her this morning, and also the issue she raised with me this afternoon. The issue about the third party element of this is something I will take up with Lesley Griffiths in terms of building regulations and the compliance methods used for accessing buildings of risk, and it’s something that I will ask them to look at. I think I mentioned...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Llywydd, and thank you for the opportunity to provide—the opportunity to debate and talk about hate crime, and the positive steps we’re taking here in Wales. First of all, I sat and listened slightly astounded by the contribution that Neil made, and his colleague, around there, because you, like Paul Nuttall, describe the position of hate crime technically as a fabricated...
Carl Sargeant: Well, we certainly do disagree on that issue, because I believe that the recording procedure for individuals to even step over the mark to report hate crime is very brave in the first place—and that they are recorded appropriately in the UK. We’ve all seen the history of hate crime repeat itself time after time: the rise of Hitler and the Nazis; we’ve had Oswald Mosley and the British...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Llywydd. I move the motion today. I’m pleased to open this debate on the general principles of the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill. I introduced the Bill last March, and it aims to protect the supply of social housing from further erosion in the face of a high level of demand and shortage of supply. As well as abolishing the right to buy and right...
Carl Sargeant: Thank you, Llywydd. I welcome the opportunity to have this debate on the Bill and the comments made by most of the Members today. Undoubtedly, there are points of detail that, as we progress through the scrutiny process, we will need to consider further. There are also commitments that I’ve made in areas that need development, and I thank the Chair and all of the committee for their...
Carl Sargeant: And it’s very clear also that the Member raised the issue of the performance of this Labour administration since 1999, and he was ably supported by Mark Isherwood’s shout and contribution. Let me give him some facts about the right to buy and, indeed, Joyce Watson’s intervention was absolutely right. The Conservative Governments under Theresa May and David Cameron have failed to...
Carl Sargeant: Formally, Llywydd.
Carl Sargeant: Thank you for the question. Whilst the Welsh Government takes the safety of young people in custody very seriously, responsibility lies with the Ministry of Justice and the youth justice board. I have previously visited Parc prison and will raise the issue the Member raises with the UK Minister.
Carl Sargeant: I think the Member raises some really interesting and important points about the state of the nation and particularly young people and how we have to ensure that they are protected at all costs in terms of where they are within the sector. I can say that the youth justice board relationship with Wales is very good, and there has been an inspection prior to the release of that report, and...
Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her question. My officials have been supporting lead delivery bodies to deliver their transition plans for this year. A number of mitigation measures have been established to support arrangements going forward. Local authorities are engaging with partners to ensure future delivery reflects local needs.
