Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:30 pm on 18 October 2022.
Thank you. I recently met with the Welsh Cladiators, and they are very much in despair at what they consider to be a lack of progress made in Wales. Of course, First Minister, you'll know that there are approximately 163 buildings across Wales where residents are still living in fear. Now, I appreciate £375 million has been made available to tackle some building safety aspects, but some leasehold management companies are currently liable to pay for these works. Now, apparently, this is a direct contradiction to the Welsh Government policy. Now, in April, the UK Government Building Safety Act received Royal Assent, and, for example, section 122 and Schedule 8 contain protections for tenants in respect of costs connected with relevant defects and impose liabilities on landlords. Such protections of leaseholders are not available in Wales because we have not passed the building safety (Wales) Bill. So, will you allow leaseholders the same protections—obviously, when any legislation comes forward—as they have in England, by replicating sections 116 to 125 of the Building Safety Act? Thank you.