Part of 1. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:58 pm on 20 September 2017.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. It is clear to me that there does remain a significant number of people, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable, as you will know, who continue to face financial costs, due to the inappropriate or defective cavity wall schemes. Indeed, I’m grateful to a number of Assembly colleagues who have shared similar experiences from their constituencies with me. In recent weeks, I’ve met with more of my constituents who are facing just these problems. I welcome the update from your written statement in June, but can I ask: what is the latest position with the new pilot process under Arbed, which requires local authorities to procure independent, whole-house surveys of properties before potential schemes are evaluated and awarded funding? And do you agree that this problem requires our ongoing attention, so that we can prevent similar problems in the future, but also, and perhaps more importantly, to secure justice and recompense for those who have suffered so far?