2. Business Statement and Announcement

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:30 pm on 7 March 2023.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 2:30, 7 March 2023

Could I have a statement, please, from the Minister for Climate Change on building safety? My colleague Andrew Davies raised the issue today about the shocking situation in Grenfell, with hundreds of residents in Wales still living in fear that they could be caught up in a similar horrific event. We put a question in, asking how many flat fires since Grenfell there have been, since 2017, and there have been 367. So, you can imagine how people are feeling very scared.

Last Wednesday, around 100 individuals participated in the Welsh building safety crisis meeting held here, and it was disappointing—and I'll put in on record—that whilst we did have Rhys ab Owen and Jane Dodds, there was not a single representative from the Government or any of its elected Member. As a few residents put it to us, 'Labour's absence of representation last night is evidence of the lack of empathy and willingness to help leaseholders.'

Llywydd, there are numerous issues that need addressing, but I've put them into a small amount: private leaseholders treated less favourably than social housing and housing association tenants, and financial carnage, with leaseholders left stuck funding measures such as a waking watch. And for those who don't know, a waking watch is where, in some of these blocks, residents have to pay towards somebody being present in the building 24 hours a day, so that if there was a spark or anything, they would be on watch to ensure that it didn't actually turn into a fire. There have been concerns about a lack of mental health support, failed communication with affected residents, building safety surveys arranged by the Welsh Government, and yet, one lady in particular had been waiting 18 months for £75,000. So, there are many aspects to this shocking crisis and I do feel that the Minister should, through you, Trefnydd, provide a statement to this Chamber. Diolch.