<p>Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople</p>

Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children – in the Senedd at 2:34 pm on 28 June 2017.

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Photo of Carl Sargeant Carl Sargeant Labour 2:34, 28 June 2017

Okay. Let’s take the two points that the Member raises. First of all, the Member’s incorrect in her assertion that I had an option in terms of the land issue regarding the prison. The Member said that we would discuss this at a further date, and I am more than happy to do that.

The second point, and a very important one with regard to fire safety, is that my understanding, through advice, is that I don’t have the powers to compel authorities or RSLs to conduct tests, because they are an entity in and of themselves. But what I have done is had contact with all of these. I don’t believe it is in any of the interests of the RSLs or local authorities not to test where they see or perceive risk. And that hasn’t come back to me in terms of where they wouldn’t do that. And that discussion continues.

The advice I received last week—and it stands today—is that the ACM product that was used in the Grenfell fire disaster is not in place in any of our buildings here in Wales, but there are ACM panels, which I have also instructed authorities to have tested on the basis of fire integrity. I’m seeking advice from my senior fire adviser and a panel of individuals who can give us professional advice on the integrity of buildings. But I think we are learning more each day, and I had a long conversation with the UK administration yesterday about ACM products, about insulation, and about the integrity of whole units. And that’s what we’ve got to consider here: making sure that the first and foremost position for myself, as Minister with responsibility, is the safety of residents in these premises.