Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:38 pm on 17 July 2018.
Thank you. I am very pleased to move the motion. Following the passing of the Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Act 2018, I am sure that Members will have noted the decision by the Office for National Statistics to classify registered social landlords in Wales as private sector organisations. This is good news, as the reclassification allows the current funding arrangements for RSLs to continue, enabling RSLs to continue to build new social housing, as well as to continue to invest in existing homes and local communities. Before us this afternoon are the Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Act 2018 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2018. These regulations make amendments to other legislation, as a result of changes made by the Act repealing the requirement to obtain the Welsh Ministers' consent to disposals of land by RSLs. The regulations will ensure that other associated primary legislation accurately reflects these changes. Regulations 2 and 3 amend cross-references to exempt disposals in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Housing Act 1996 respectively. Regulation 4 amends the Land Registration Rules 2003 as a result of the repeal of requirements to obtain the Welsh Ministers' consent to disposal of land by RSLs. The regulations are necessary to provide consistency and clarity of the law, and I therefore commend them to Members.