Thank you. I cannot emphasise enough how important the Fire Safety Bill is, and as such, I want on record my dismay that this LCM has only been allocated 15 minutes on today's agenda. Such an important issue as fire safety actually deserves more time and debate in this Parliament—a measure that would've certainly reflected the keen interest taken by the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee following the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017.

Now, as at May 2018, 143 high-rise residential buildings of 18m plus were identified in Wales: 38 in the social sector, 105 in the private. I can only begin to imagine the fear residents have been living with since the Grenfell disaster, and as such, I'm at a loss as to why this Government did not prioritise any legislation for fire safety. In the ELGC committee report on buildings in the private sector, they called for the Welsh Government to bring forward legislation to replace the fire safety Order in the current Welsh parliamentary term and for that legislation to include:

'Standards for persons undertaking fire risk assessments;

'A requirement for fire risk assessments to be undertaken as a minimum annually for high rise residential buildings;

'Clarification that fire doors which act as the front doors to flats are considered part of the communal areas and therefore covered by the legislation replacing the Fire Safety Order 2005.'

I agree with this committee that the issue is of such fundamental importance it should have been given the highest priority. And I will place again on record my opinion that the Welsh Government has failed by not bringing forward this legislation. I simply do not buy into the suggestion that there is no space, or was no space, in the Welsh Government's current legislative programme.

Nonetheless, as the committee have observed, it is a sensible approach to use UK Government legislation to make necessary changes that otherwise would not happen until the next Senedd election. But one really basic questions for you, I have, is: why has this work on fire safety not been prioritised? An answer to that question is especially important when, according to 'A Road Map to safer buildings in Wales', there is a definite need for significant new legislation to deliver a new regulatory system and to introduce many changes. The road map has clear recommendations, such as, in relation to sprinklers, fire alarms, smoke detectors, planning, risk assessments and staffing. So, I would appreciate an update as to where you are with all or with any of the recommendations relating to the Welsh Government.

Clauses 1 to 3 of the Bill relate to the fire safety of buildings in Wales. Clause 1 makes amendments to the regulatory reform fire safety Order 2005 to clarify that it applies when the premise is a building containing two or more sets of domestic premises, to (a) the building's structure and external walls, which includes doors, windows and anything attached to the exterior walls, such as cladding, insulation, fixings and balconies, and any common parts; and (b) doors between domestic premises and common parts. I welcome the amendments and the fact that they affirm that fire and rescue authorities can take enforcement action against responsible persons if they have failed to comply with their duties under the FSO.

Deputy Minister, earlier this year, you proudly proclaimed that Wales had the most extensive programme of home fire safety visits in Britain. You said that the Welsh Government provides the service, with £660,000 in funding to ensure these visits and the safety devices, which are supplied as part of them, are completely free to our householders. It is noted in the motion that costs will be incurred by Welsh fire and rescue authorities as a result of this Bill, who will now undertake more wide-ranging inspections of blocks of flats, including examining the features of each building stipulated. Urgent clarification must now be provided to our fire authorities about how this extra work will be funded.

In concluding, this Bill looks like nothing more than a temporary legislative bridge—a sticking plaster for Wales until more extensive and considered legislation can be brought forward here. The Welsh Conservatives will be voting in favour, but we remain dismayed at the Welsh Government's lack of ambition, and urgent legislation must be made a priority at the start of the next Parliament. Thank you. Diolch.