Diolch, Llywydd. In my written statement of 17 March, I informed Members that I had laid the Public Health (Protection from Eviction) (No. 2) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021—the subject of today's debate. I also indicated that I would be laying today, under the negative procedure, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Residential Tenancies: Extension of Period of Protection from Eviction) (Wales) Regulations 2021. Taken together, these two sets of regulations will further extend, until the end of June, the current protections we have put in place. These protections prevent, in most cases, bailiffs or High Court enforcement officers from executing possession warrants or eviction notices, and also require landlords to serve a six-month notice before seeking possession.

The exceptions to these arrangements will remain very limited—for example, domestic violence, anti-social behaviour or trespass. The restrictions on the enforcement of possession orders by bailiffs or High Court enforcement officers will remain subject to regular review during the period they are in force to ensure they remain necessary and proportionate. Extending these protections will ensure tenants are able to stay in their homes whilst coronavirus restrictions remain in place. This will protect public health by reducing the number of people who are evicted, or at risk of being evicted, into homelessness, and particularly street homelessness, where their potential vulnerability to the virus, and the likelihood of them spreading it, is increased. 

These measures will also reduce the current pressure on housing and homelessness advice and support services, which might otherwise struggle to cope due to current pandemic-related demands and the availability of temporary and move-on accommodation. Notwithstanding the limited lifting of some other measures, the protections afforded by these regulations remain crucial, particularly in the context of the potential for new variants of the virus increasing its transmissibility, or the severity of its impact, or a potential third wave of infections. I recognise that extending these temporary protections for a further period of time may cause difficulties for some landlords in the private rented sector. However, my overriding priority must be the protection of public health at this time.

Members will wish to know that other administrations share this view. The UK Government has recently announced that similar restrictions in England will be extended until the end of May, whilst the Scottish Government has announced that the arrangements there will be extended until the end of September. I therefore urge Members to support the motion. Diolch.