Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:48 pm on 16 November 2022.
I'm pleased to speak in this debate that calls to strengthen residents' rights in Wales. I'm also pleased that the building safety is a key component of the co-operation agreement between the Government and Plaid Cymru.
Following a recent meeting with concerned residents, I tabled a written question to the Minister about enacting sections 116 to 125. The reason those sections haven't been enacted for Wales is because of the late amendments of those sections to the Bill, giving insufficient time to consider the full implications of those sections on Wales—another reason, I would suggest, Minister, why we shouldn't be using the LCM process and we should have our own emergency Welsh legislation, as mentioned by Mabon ap Gwynfor, but that is another argument. You did say in your reply to me that you are considering other legal protections and other options. Could you please expand today on what you mean by that?
I'm also pleased to see the extension of the Defective Premises Act 1972 time period, with regard to addressing redress available to leaseholders when developers no longer exist. How far are you and your officials in coming along with this, and will residents be included in any discussions over this?
While we are debating this very important issue in the Senedd, there are residents just around the corner from the Senedd, in Celestia, who are facing very expensive legal actions against large developers. What support can they receive right now from the Welsh Government? As has been highlighted, these residents have been living in a nightmare for over half a decade. What they need to know now, Minister, is: when will this nightmare come to an end? Diolch yn fawr.