Diolch, Gadeirydd. We reported on this Bill on 7 July, and we made five recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary. In general, we were satisfied with the balance struck between what is on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation, and also that human rights are engaged as set out in the explanatory memorandum and the Cabinet Secretary’s evidence to us.

However, we did suggest that we would have liked to have received a more thorough explanation as to why the Cabinet Secretary chose to introduce a Bill that amends existing UK legislation, rather than one that is consolidated and freestanding. So, I’m actually very grateful today, and the committee is very grateful, for him setting out his views and further clarification on the record here today in the Chamber. That was very helpful indeed—and also for his comments on bilingual Welsh law, as well as the future of consolidated legislation.

We made two recommendations in relation to section 8 of the Bill. Firstly, it has been a long-standing view of the committee that for law to be effective, citizens must know what is expected of them. So, we therefore welcome the requirement set out on the face of the Bill to prepare and publish an information document aimed at assisting tenants in understanding the effects of this Bill. However, we note that the Bill requires the Welsh Ministers to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to provide every qualifying landlord with a copy of this document. We did not consider that that went far enough, so we therefore recommended that the Cabinet Secretary should table an amendment at Stage 2 to place an absolute duty on the Welsh Ministers to provide all qualifying landlords in Wales with the information document.

Now, we recognise the challenges in accessing landlords based outside of Wales, and recommendation 3 of our report reflects that position. In the Cabinet Secretary’s remarks today, he noted in those remarks that the ELGC committee considered this matter too, and were content on the shape of the Bill proposals as they stand. So, we would simply ask the Minister whether, therefore, he will look again at this as Stage 2 approaches to see if it is unduly onerous and unduly complicated and, if not, perhaps he would give further consideration to our recommendation there.

We made two recommendations also in relation to section 9 of the Bill about regulation-making powers. The first of these seeks to reduce the breadth of power, and the second is aimed at improving clarity. Now, I note and I welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s comments in regard to those two recommendations today that he will be seeking further evidence ahead of Stage 2 of the Bill, and I’m sure members of the committee and Members of the house here will duly return to these matters at that stage. And I thank my committee members and our team for their scrutiny of this Bill.