5. Statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government: The Welsh Government response to the Independent Affordable Housing Supply Review

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:42 pm on 9 July 2019.

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Photo of Dawn Bowden Dawn Bowden Labour 4:42, 9 July 2019

Thank you, Minister. Can I say that I'm very encouraged that the package of work that you're announcing will lead to further initiatives coming forward as Welsh Government acts to deliver more homes for the people in Wales, including, as we've already seen, the greater provision of zero-carbon houses, more council house building—that can only be good for areas like mine in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, particularly if, when we have such a house-building programme, we're encouraging the use of local builders as the primary contractors, because that obviously will help the local economy as well, and that's very much the direction of the work in the Valleys taskforce, as you know.

As an aside, Minister, can I also welcome your recent announcement on the extension of the notice periods for a section 21 in the Housing Act? I know that's not part of this statement and part of this review, but, nevertheless, I think as an overall package in terms of housing measures in Wales, I hope that that will eventually lead to the abolition of section 21 and the improvement of conditions for the most vulnerable people in the housing sector.

However, returning to your statement, and not wanting to repeat what others have said, or what you've already dealt with, there's one aspect of the report that I would be interested to hear more about from you, and that's the idea of an arm's-length body to act as a hub for public sector land management. I'd be interested to hear about any early thoughts that you have about such a body. The need and purpose of those powers clearly need some careful consideration, so can you tell us what benefits you would expect to accrue from it, and how you would see it operating in relation to the city region deal or the Valleys taskforce, or even local government, and in particular any of the empty homes initiatives that local authorities have at the moment?