The next item is the motion to approve the financial resolution in respect of the Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill. I call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration to move the motion—Rebecca Evans.

Motion NDM6656 Julie James

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, for the purposes of any provisions resulting from the Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill, agrees to any increase in expenditure of a kind referred to in Standing Order 26.69, arising in consequence of the Bill.

Motion moved.

Thank you. I formally move the motion and I'd like to take this opportunity to again thank the Finance Committee for its scrutiny. I will write formally to the committee to outline my response to the three recommendations in detail, although I did indicate my initial thoughts in my previous response. 

I call on the Chair of the Finance Committee, Simon Thomas. 

Thank you very much, Llywydd. As the previous debate has already had two Chairs reporting back, I thought I’d add some variety by speaking on the financial resolution rather than the main debate, so that you haven't had three Chairs speaking, and therefore allowing more members of committees to contribute. I’m very grateful to the Minister for outlining her response and that she’ll be responding to the three recommendations of the Finance Committee that do focus on the financial implications of the current Bill.

The committee agrees that the provisions in the Bill are necessary, and we also feel that it’s important that registered social landlords are classified as private sector organisations if we’re to avoid the classification of their borrowings being charged against the Welsh Government’s budget. So, the premise of the Bill is agreed by the Finance Committee, but we do need to draw attention to three recommendations.

We believe that they are quite substantial risks posed by the regulatory reform outlined in the Bill, and we’ve noted some concerns in our report. We’ve made three recommendations, as I’ve said, which, we believe, would help to alleviate our concerns if implemented. Although the Minister told us that a robust regulatory framework would be in place, the committee is unconvinced that this would be a more powerful tool to influence the behaviour of registered social landlords as compared to the current legislative control held by the Welsh Government.

We’re already aware of some RSLs diversifying away from their core business into new areas, and there’s a real possibility that this could intensify with deregulation under this Bill. We’re therefore concerned that further diversification is not without financial risk and concerned about the risks that this could then pose to the Welsh Government, which will, in effect, let’s be honest here, be the lender of last resort. It will be vital therefore for the Welsh Government to monitor the financial management of RSLs, and we’ve recommended that it outlines a strategy for how it will monitor activities by RSLs that could increase the risk of financial difficulties.

It’s important that tenants’ voices aren’t missed either as part of the change in the regime, as we heard in the previous debate. We heard that the Tenant Participation Advisory Service are communicating the changes, but we’re concerned that no additional resources have been allocated for this task. So, we recommended that the necessary funding be put in place.

We also recommended that sufficient resources be allocated to produce guidance for registered social landlords to ensure a consistent approach to implementing the new regime. Thank you very much. 

I have no other speakers, and I therefore call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration to reply to the debate, if she wishes to do so. 

Thank you very much. I just take this opportunity to reiterate that I intend to respond positively to all three of the recommendations of the Finance Committee. Thank you. 

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.  

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.