5. Statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government: Housing, Poverty and Communities

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:41 pm on 15 September 2020.

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Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 5:41, 15 September 2020

Can I first of all welcome the statement by the Minister? It amazes me how little money was needed to protect those who were homeless at the beginning of the pandemic, and I think one good thing that's come out of the pandemic is the idea of trying to deal with homelessness. I'm very pleased that the Minister believes that preventing and ending homelessness in all its forms is a priority for the future, and I hope whoever takes over from the Minister throughout the rest of the time this Senedd is in existence will see that as a priority.

I'm also pleased that the Minister does not want to see anyone returning to sleeping on the street or walking the streets at night and sleeping in parks during the day, which I understand is something that is more likely to be done by younger people and women who don't want to be sleeping in doorways during the night. But what is the Welsh Government's assessment of the numbers who are sofa surfing and are just one step away from sleeping on the street, and what support can be given to this group of people to stop them getting into that position?

Can I say, I welcome the provision of free school meals across the summer holidays this year? I've asked for it for a long time; I'm very pleased it's happened. And I'm asking on behalf of the families of children who get free school meals: why can't it continue for every holiday? And also, can financial support be provided for the children when they're absent from school, possible because they're having the 14 days when they have to self-isolate? Then they go 14 days without having the free school meals which they're entitled to. So, can some support be given to them? 

I hold a view that is, I think, unique here—I see no role for a planning inspector. When planning inspectors get abolished, which is inevitable, it will be like when we came off gold standard, when everybody would say, 'Well, why didn't we do that before?' There's no reason, in my opinion, for a planning inspector—if you don't like the decision, you can go to judicial review. Having these people, who know nothing about the area, coming in, making decisions that often simply cause severe problems in an area, I think is something that is going to come to an end, and, Minister, I hope you're the person to do it.