Aelodau o'r Senedd, Members of the Senedd, almost five years on from the Grenfell tragedy, it is absolutely unacceptable that there are residents living in fear in Wales within their own homes. In fact, the 'Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety' report was published on 17 May 2018. Well, I actually welcome the fact that the Bill under consideration implements the recommendations of Dame Judith Hackitt's review. The Bill is vitally important as it does make provision for the regulation of all construction products placed on the UK market, the design and construction phase for the building phase of higher-risk buildings, and the creation of a unified, professional and regulatory structure for building control.

By supporting this LCM today, we would be backing commonsense changes, such as clause 31, providing a power for the Welsh Ministers in building regs to designate an alternative local authority to act as a building control authority where the local authority for the area proposes to carry out higher risk building work; clause 32, which enables the introduction of new procedures and requirements for any work, including new higher risk buildings as they are designed and built; and clause 37, which enables the building control authority to issue compliance or stop notices where there is, or is likely to be, a contravention of building regulations.

The proposed changes to the core primary legislation, the 1984 Act, that the Bill now proposes actually provide the necessary tools with which Welsh Ministers would be able to modernise and improve the system here in Wales. The proposals are not the application of UK proposals in Wales. The provisions in the Bill that fall within the legislative competence of the Senedd are largely bespoke amendments to the 1984 Act suited to the building safety issues in Wales. So, I believe that we should be voting in favour of this today.

Now, whilst I know that the Legislative, Justice and Constitution Committee disagree with an overall decision to use a UK Bill to address building safety in Wales, will you, Deputy Minister, for the benefit of the Senedd, reiterate the practical benefits of such an opportunity? I acknowledge that the committee is also deeply concerned about the Welsh Government's capacity to bring forward primary legislation. Whilst we will be backing this today, I would like to make an important general point: I think the time has come to see more private Member and Welsh Government Bills come forward.

In terms of action you are taking now, it is welcome news that digital surveys have been completed for the first 248 applications. I would be pleased, though, if you could clarify by when the intrusive surveys will be completed.

Finally, I note that you have withdrawn the statement due today on building safety. The Celestia action group have tweeted, expressing their concerns that you have not only cancelled the statement, but also cancelled meetings with victims. This has led them to feeling more worried, and they feel that they are literally being kept in the dark. The Senedd, and we as politicians, must all do better for residents trapped in flammable homes, so will you review the steps now being taken to engage with and keep residents updated on building safety in Wales? And I honestly would ask everybody to support this LCM today. Diolch.