Second Homes

Part of 3. Questions to the Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 4:02 pm on 23 September 2020.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 4:02, 23 September 2020

Diolch, Neil. Just, first of all, to let him know that I did have discussions, not just with Gwynedd Council members last week, but also with representatives from all the rural local authorities around Wales, and this was an issue that we discussed. And what's clear is that it's a really complex issue. We are determined to make sure that it is possible for people who are brought up in an area—that they should be able to stay in the area. But the ways of making sure that happens are rather complex.

Of course, one of the things we've done, and we've committed to, and we are delivering on, is building 20,000 new homes. We're the only nation in the UK where local authorities can charge a premium of up to 100 per cent on the standard rate of council tax on second homes. We're the only part of the UK—not even Scotland; they provided a temporary tax reduction for even buy-to-let investors, we didn't do that in Wales, we transferred some of that money into building new homes.

But I think it's really important that there is an understanding that we've been looking at this for quite a while. We're looking for a way to address this really serious issue. We've discussed it in our Welsh language advisory group, and Dr Simon Brooks is currently undertaking a review of how other areas are dealing with second homes as a part of his work with the Hywel Teifi academy, and I'm hoping that his study will help us to drive a way forward here. We have looked at Cornwall, we have looked at Scotland, we have looked at Jersey—all of them have problems associated with them. So, we're looking for an answer and we haven't come to one yet. So, we are absolutely anxious to make sure that we get the communications with Senedd Members going, and I know that the Minister for housing invited Members who were interested in this to speak to her very recently.