Diolch, Llywydd. In opening, I would like to begin by thanking the various Senedd committees, Members and staff, who have pulled out all the stops to ensure that this Bill has been able to progress to today's debate, through what has been an extremely turbulent and challenging seven months. I should also like to thank my officials for the sterling work they have done in keeping the show on the road, despite the constant pressures the pandemic has placed on our resources during that time. It is a demonstration of our maturity and professionalism as a legislature and a Government that we have been able to push ahead with our key legislative ambitions at the same time as navigating our way through a crisis of unparalleled proportions, as well as managing the complex preparations for the end of EU transition. I do not underestimate the effort that has gone into getting us this far with the Bill, and I hope I am not tempting fate when I say that. Having read the Stage 1 reports from the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, I am optimistic that, with the continued support of Members, we will be able to get this Bill through the remainder of the scrutiny stages and onto the statute book before the end of this Senedd term.

I would now like to turn to the recommendations of the ELGC and LJC committees, but before doing so, I should note that the Finance Committee has not published a report of its own in relation to the Bill. I take this as a positive sign that the committee was satisfied by the written and oral evidence I provided, and that it accepts my assertions that this legislation will not have negative financial consequences for good landlords in Wales, and will not lead to the courts service in Wales becoming overburdened. I look forward to hearing from Llyr later in the debate. Now to take each of the nine recommendations in the ELGC committee report in turn.

I welcome the first recommendation, that the Senedd should support the general principles of the Bill. I am happy to accept the second recommendation in principle. We will of course keep a close eye on the effects of the legislation over time, once it has been brought into force, and we'll undertake a review of its impact and effectiveness once sufficient time has elapsed. I completely agree that this is of fundamental importance, and I can tell you that work on how best to monitor the effects of the legislation is already under way. We will also consider how best to report on the impacts of the legislation, in ways that are helpful to the sector and to the development of future policy and practice. And should any unintended consequences come to light, we will of course take steps to address those, either through guidance or, if necessary, further legislative change. My only reservation with the recommendation, and the reason why I've accepted it in principle rather than unconditionally, is that some of the areas the committee have included in the proposed scope for such a review are matters that are not directly related to the Bill, and that would not be affected by its implementation—for example, the consolidation of housing law, or matters that will be addressed through other work, such as the number of intentionally homeless people, which will be picked up as part of wider work within Welsh Government, including our response to the various reports and recommendations of the homelessness action group.

Turning to recommendation 3, I am happy to accept this, and I will discuss with my Cabinet colleagues and officials whether the Wales Centre for Public Policy would be the body best able to undertake such an exercise. And if there is agreement, we will look to commission that work accordingly.

The next recommendation I am also happy to accept. Whilst engagement with private rented sector tenants has long been recognised as challenging due to the nature of the sector and the diversity of people who rent their homes from a private landlord, we have been able to make significant improvements through the pandemic, through innovative communication techniques. I should point out as well that the Welsh Government already funds the Tenant Participation Advisory Service Cymru, whose remit includes engaging with PRS tenants. It may well be that there is some merit in reviewing the effectiveness of those arrangements, especially in the context of the lessons we continue to learn from the experience of COVID. I have therefore asked for that to be taken forward, and I will report back to the Senedd on this at a future date. I hope that this will satisfy the committee on this point.

Recommendation 5 asks the Government to bring forward amendments at Stage 2 to ensure properties occupied by ministers of religion are exempted from the requirements of this legislation. I am happy to accept this recommendation in principle. In doing so, I should explain firstly that discussions are continuing between my officials and representatives of the sector in Wales on this matter, and that secondly we do already have a regulation-making power in the Bill that allows for such an exemption to be inserted into Schedule 1. So a specific amendment to this effect is not required. Therefore, rather than bringing forward an amendment at Stage 2, I give you a commitment instead that we will make regulations to provide this exemption prior to implementation of the amended Act if we conclude that this is necessary. I trust this will satisfy the committee in this respect.