3. 3. Statement: The Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:57 pm on 17 October 2017.

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Photo of Carl Sargeant Carl Sargeant Labour 2:57, 17 October 2017

Thank you, Llywydd. Again, I’m grateful for the Member’s indication of in-principle support for the passage of the Bill, subject to the details. I think the Member’s final point was one of the important ones that she raises, about the fact that the consequences of not doing this have dramatic effects on the ability for RSLs or Government to deliver on social housing. The other details are important, but the principle of the Bill going through is with agreement of the ONS and is with agreement of the Treasury for a certain time period. Otherwise, the risks to our sector are huge.

On some of the details that the Member raises, something that I will give further consideration to as the passage of the Bill moves forward is about making sure that there is proper representation. We did hold a public consultation on the Bill, and responses, as the Member says, were broadly supportive.

The scope of the Bill has been strictly limited, as with what has been delivered in England and Scotland with regard to this. It’s purely for a technical purpose, and that’s what the explanatory memorandum—. I apologise for the Member only receiving that yesterday. That’s the parliamentary process, but I’m sure the Member will get through that. The fact is that, actually, it being a very small Bill we should be thankful for because the explanatory memorandum would be much longer. So, what I’m hoping to do with the technical nature of this Bill is work with parties to make sure that we can get this through as quickly as possible, enabling us, as we and you have said, to deliver more homes for social, affordable landlords in and across Wales.