5. Statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government: Building Safety

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:06 pm on 2 April 2019.

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Photo of Leanne Wood Leanne Wood Plaid Cymru 4:06, 2 April 2019

I understand that you are going to update us later on in May about the Government's response to the expert group, but I do have a number of questions that I'd like to ask you now. You say that you accept now the recommendation that the retrofitting of sprinklers should be promoted, and you're asking officials to draw up options for further promoting retrofitting in high-rise buildings, but I wonder if you would accept that it isn't just high-rise buildings that we should be promoting retrofitting of. If you do accept that, will you ask your officials to include how they can encourage retrofitting in the PRS as part of the general effort to raise standards there? Will the detailed response in May include SMART targets rather than aspirations? Then, more generally, the UK is one of the few countries where there isn't a compulsory licensing system for builders, which is something that we have had raised with us, so will the Government give consideration in its response as to whether Wales needs to move ahead and start licensing builders and building companies? We know that safety will be compromised when the wrong work is carried out. Diolch.