Questions to the Minister for Housing and Regeneration

 

Question 1

 

Janet Finch-Saunders: What considerations has the Minister given in the forthcoming Housing Bill to amending the Homeless Persons (Priority Need) Order (Wales) 2001?

 

Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for Aberconwy for her question. I have given very careful consideration to this matter and, as the Member will know, I have also undertaken a public consultation.

 

Janet Finch-Saunders: In its response to the recent consultation on the potential amendment, the Welsh Local Government Association cited its support to amend, but also cited a pressing need for improved access to adequate mental health services, tangible support for substance misuse, aiding access to employment and tenancy agreement support for our ex-offenders. What action can the Minister report in this regard?

 

Carl Sargeant: I will issue the consultation responses later this week in terms of the decision on the recent consultation, and I will outline that to Members publicly next week.

 

Question 10

 

BJ: Will the Minister make a statement on proposals to amend local authority duties on accommodating former prisoners with priority need status?

 

Janet Finch-Saunders: Minister, I first raised the possible review of the Homeless Persons (Priority Need) (Wales) Order 2001 on 29 June, 2011, with your predecessor. The response was that this Order was to address reoffending. However, statistics from the Ministry of Justice show that reoffending rates in Wales have increased to 51.6% since 2005, and figures show that former prisoners comprise a larger proportion of priority lists, at 14%, than victims of domestic violence, people with mental illness, or our armed forces. Furthermore, the recent consultation response from Conwy County Borough Council highlighted the fact that the current system encourages tenancy applications from ex-offenders with tenuous local connections. Can I thank you, Minister, for taking what I consider to be a fair, balanced and common-sense approach in this regard?

 

Carl Sargeant: I thank the Member for her comments. I am sure that my colleagues will welcome them, too. On a serious note, the issue for me is that we test the vulnerability of all individuals. For me, priority should not be given on the basis of whether someone is an ex-offender or not. There should not be that consideration. It should be based upon the vulnerability of an individual, whoever they are and wherever they are, and that is what the setting should be for the Bill moving forward. I am grateful for the Member’s comments.