David Melding: Okay. Well, you know, Mike, I've said that we need to build more houses. I've said that I'm happy with councils building houses now. In fact, I said that, I think, before colleagues in Westminster, in my party, came round to this. We just need to build. Whatever the necessary mechanisms or the help that would allow us to do that, I'm going to be very pragmatic. That's all I can say. So, it...
David Melding: Can I just concede one point, that the 12 months, in effect, is more than that? Because it's during those 12 months you've got to express your intention to exercise the right to buy, and then if that intention is expressed, then it could actually formally then be exercised during the period after 12 months. So, that is a help, and I was pleased that the Government made that clear in...
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. As you said, this is the final group and I move the lead amendment—amendment 12. This amendment will ensure that the abolition of the right to buy and associated rights may not come into effect until at least two years after the Bill receives Royal Assent. As currently drafted, abolition would come into effect after one year. Additionally, amendment 4 is a...
David Melding: Llywydd, the weakness of the example reflects the weakness of the Government's position. I urge Members to support my amendment.
David Melding: Llywydd, I move amendment 10. The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee noted their concern that section 9, as drafted, gave very wide powers to make consequential amendments. This amendment narrows that power by deleting the words 'or expedient'. As part of the CLAC committee—and I'm sure that I have a certain reputation for these issues and their importance, even if they're not...
David Melding: I think that, in terms of the information that should be given, these are sensible amendments and we will support them. I don't need to make any more general remarks at this stage, as there are two groups left in which we will be fully engaging, but we would support these amendments.
David Melding: Llywydd, you will have probably seen by now that I'm fairly resigned to my fate. But I have to say it is a new one that we don't need an absolute duty because we already know who they are. Well, you know, that's going to be rigorous over the years, isn't it, if you have a similar approach in other areas? I really think it's important that you have an absolute duty, because even if you are...
David Melding: I'll withdraw it; there's no point now.
David Melding: Likewise, I withdraw.
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Amendment 7's purpose—and I'd like to move amendment 7—is to incorporate the recommendations made in the report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, namely that section 8 of the Bill makes provision for information to be provided to landlords and tenants about the effects of this Bill. This amendment imposes an absolute duty on the Welsh...
David Melding: Thank you, Llywydd. I'm a little surprised by the Minister's response because, in fairness to the Cabinet Secretary, during the committee proceedings, he did concede that some form of sunset clause could be reasonably considered. He thought a far longer period than 10 years would be most appropriate, if the Government went down that road. But we now hear from the Minister that complete...
David Melding: Thanks, Llywydd, and I move amendment 6. I'll speak to the other amendments. Amendment 6 has been submitted with the intention of limiting the Act's operation to 10 years, following which the Welsh Ministers may lay regulations proposing that the abolition is made permanent. These regulations would be made subject to the affirmative resolution procedure, and so would require a vote by the...
David Melding: Well, we've not lost housing stock, have we? The tenancy has changed, obviously, and that's significant. There's a whole debate to be had about that, but to somehow say we've lost 150,000 homes in Wales is really a rather silly argument. In other amendments that I'm proposing, I will return to this issue of whether sensible reform could be suggested, and a different balance. And should we...
David Melding: Thank you, Llywydd. I’m grateful to Members who have taken part in the debate around amendment 5. I’m very frustrated, naturally, that this whole issue of equality and equity has been dodged. Let me just reiterate why that causes us real concern on this side of the Chamber. When tenants were consulted on the suspension in those authorities, they took comfort in the thought that the...
David Melding: But, obviously, that argument has been aired and we have lost it. But I still think it's important to put them in some perspective. I will give way, if—.
David Melding: It was a suspension, not abolition.
David Melding: Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. And I move amendment 5. Before I speak to amendment 5, can I just say a few words about Carl Sargeant, who was, of course, the Cabinet Secretary at Stages 1 and 2 of this Bill? I have to say, after concluding Stage 2, in which there were many very serious debates around issues of principle, I never for a moment thought that I would be in this position of having to...
David Melding: Can I make it clear I'm speaking at the moment in my role as chair of the ministerial advisory group? Deputy Presiding Officer, this is the first chance I've had to pay tribute to Carl Sargeant, so I will take that opportunity, because Carl showed great vision and leadership in this area. To convene the group as a ministerial advisory group under the chairmanship of an opposition Member, I...
David Melding: First Minister, according to the freedom of information request put forward by the Residential Landlords Association, Rent Smart Wales is currently operating at over double its projected cost. At the end of February 2017, it had hired 50 full-time equivalents to administer the scheme, which is five times the projection of your regulatory impact assessment. Was the Welsh Government naive in...
David Melding: 1. Will the First Minister make a statement on the budget of Rent Smart Wales? OAQ51384
