Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:31 pm on 26 May 2021.
Thank you very much, and may I congratulate you on your re-election as First Minister? And I think it's very appropriate that the first question of this new parliamentary term relates to an issue that is such a crisis, and one which people are insisting on having action upon. One clear contribution to the housing crisis is the uncontrolled growth in the second homes market. I see it on a daily basis. I see it in my own village. I see it in coastal villages particularly. I see it in the empty streets and dark windows of the winter, and in the frustration of young people who can't afford a home in their own communities. I see it in the increase of 16 per cent in the cost of property in Anglesey. And things are getting worse every day. And I would differentiate clearly between second home ownership and tourism. Indigenous tourism, locally owned, is very important, but an uncontrolled second housing market doesn't help at all.
Yes, we need better jobs with higher salaries. Yes, we need to build far more truly affordable homes for rent and to buy, but your Government in this parliamentary term has to take urgent action, using every planning and taxation tool available in order to bring some sort of control to the housing market, and to provide some hope and some chance for people in our communities. I and others have been asking for action for many years. May I ask you, at the very beginning of this term, to give a full and clear commitment, or it will be too late?