Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:54 pm on 2 May 2017.
This is something that has been discussed and considered previously, but it is much more difficult in practice than in principle as regards what kind of definition you place on a second home. But, having said that, I understand exactly what the Member is saying about the impact on communities, and we’ve ensured that there’s more social housing available and ended the right to buy; other considerations have been made, such as land trusts to help people buy their own homes and also sharing of property equity. One thing that may have to be looked at in future is how the Government could purchase houses from the private market so that houses are available, particularly in villages where it is very difficult to create social housing. So, there are a number of ways in which we can secure a future for those people who wish to live and remain in those communities, but perhaps we need to think more imaginatively than the traditional ways of thinking to date.