, Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Trefnydd, I'd like an updated oral statement, please, on autism diagnosis. Referral to assessment and diagnostic services is made through several routes. For pre-school children, it can be done via the health service, or, for children attending school, it's…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 4
Thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 4
Just the one question. You've actually answered one of the questions that I was going to come on to, but if I can go back to the enforcement question, I think, Ceri, earlier on, mentioned the issue that there are houses that some people live in with no…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 4
Okay, thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 4
And finally, quickly, coming on from that, I've got cases in my constituency, for instance, where an elderly individual is in a private rental house and they've got leaking windows, draughty windows, mould. Environmental health have come out, told the…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 4
I've got two supplementaries, briefly. The first one is: in the social housing sector there are standards that they must achieve, and those are set by the Government and they're increasing again. That's not true in the private rental sector. Do you think…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 4
Okay. Thank you.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 4
On that question I asked in the last session as well, the fact that housing is largely devolved, but benefits are not a devolved matter, do you think that's sustainable? Ceri.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 4
Can I just come in, please?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
Within that, what do you think is the role of houses in multiple occupation, then? Are we seeing that playing its role fully, or is that just a way for some investors to get more money off the back of people who can't pay, maybe, full rent?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
I'll ask this in English. The vast majority of private landlords in Wales are small—they own one, maybe two properties—but there's a large percentage of rented properties in Wales that are owned by large landlords, and they own dozens if not a few hundred…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
I'm content.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
We'll see if it works now. I'll just say. I was just mentioning that there are some housing associations and local authorities, particularly in England, who have gone into the PRS and they have PRS portfolios—I was wondering what your views were on that as…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
Okay.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
I'll repeat. Some housing associations and local authorities have PRS portfolios also, in England especially. Is that a way forward for us? Do you have any ideas on this?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
Thank you. And then, there are some housing associations and local authorities that have private rented sector portfolios, especially in England. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think that's a way forward?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
Diolch.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
Please. Yes.
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
That's useful. That brings me on to the next question. I know that, in Gwynedd, the local authority is starting funding to buy in housing from the private sector back into the public sector. Do you think that that is a way forward, especially when a private…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
Thank you. Would Serena like to come in?
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
Thank you, Chair. I'm going to contribute in Welsh. Can we just check that it's working? Everyone happy? Can I just go back to one point before I come to my initial points? Matt, I think, talked about Rent Smart Wales. Can we have a feeling from the three of…
, Local Government and Housing Committee
Private rented sector: evidence session 3
Diolch—thanks. You touched there on the LHA. Leading on from what Sam said about the whole sector, thinking about the funding of the sector, is the funding structure currently the best way that it can be, the best funding structure possible—that you have…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
As I have mentioned many times here, the NHS is nothing without its legions of diligent and dedicated staff. But it is the defining, and highly regrettable, paradox of our health system over the past decade that, as the demands on the NHS have increased…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Bovine TB
We heard Llyr, at the outset, describing that feeling of horror that farmers experience in preparing for those tests. Sam described that relationship between the farmer and the herd, and talked about Stuart Williams from Pembrokeshire, who spoke outside the…
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Bovine TB
Thank you very much, Llywydd, and thank you to everyone who's contributed to this debate this evening, which, generally speaking, has been constructive and positive. The truth is that TB is having a painful, long-term impact on individuals, families and…
