6. Statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government: Homelessness

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:21 pm on 3 June 2020.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 4:21, 3 June 2020

Yes, John, I'm very happy to say that, because of the extraordinary amount of work that we've been able to do in the collaborative way that the committee had recommended in the first place and we've now seen go into action as a result of accepting the recommendations of the housing action group—I know you had a good conversations with those as well as the committee—that I'm very confident that we will be able to do it, because people have seen what's possible and they are re-energised in knowing that it can be done if we all work together. And, as we come out of this pandemic, we will want to look at economic stimulus and so on and you heard me talking about a green housing-led recovery, and we can do that.

I haven't been able to answer all the questions I've been asked today from all Members as Members had a large number of questions; it's just good to see the enthusiasm. One of the things that we're very keen to do, for example, is make sure that using modern methods of construction, as it's called, with Welsh timber and Welsh supply chains, we can put up houses that we know work because they came through our innovative housing programmes, so they're tried and tested; beautiful carbon-neutral houses that are really quick to construct, constructed in small plants that employ local people across Wales, so it provides employment—high-skilled employment, good employment. It also provides housing, it also provides a use for our forests, it provides a way of sustainable forestry, which is good. It pushes every button you can think of and, of course, it provides the housing that we need to ensure that people have secure accommodation going forward into the future, and that that accommodation is not only secure, it's also beautiful and carbon neutral. What's not to like?

So, I am absolutely sure that we can do this and I am sure about that because all of our partners believe it too and have bought into that process, and there's a consensus across this Senedd. So, actually, together, we really are greater than the sum of our parts, and I really do think we will be able to do this in the future.