Paper 7

 

 

 

14 October 2021

 

Dear Julie

Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on the Building Safety Bill

At the meeting of the Local Government and Housing Committee on 6 October we considered the LCM on the Building Safety Bill. In order to enable the Committee to make an informed decision on legislative consent, we would be grateful for more information on the Welsh Government’s decision to seek these reforms through a UK Bill and the legislative consent convention.

We appreciate that the provisions in the Bill which fall within devolved competence are largely bespoke to Wales and consistent with the Welsh Government’s White Paper Safer Buildings in Wales. However, as the Welsh Government plans to bring forward its own Building Safety Bill during this Senedd term, it would be helpful to have more information on why the reforms in the UK Bill are not being made in that Bill. We appreciate that the UK Bill “presents an opportunity to take earlier action”, but concerns were expressed by some Members that the LCM process and current reporting deadlines do not allow for meaningful scrutiny. A Welsh Bill on the other hand would be subject to all stages of scrutiny and would enable more Members and stakeholders to engage with the legislative process.

During our meeting, some Members expressed concern at the increased use of UK Bills and the legislative consent convention to legislate in devolved areas, due to the fact that there is significantly less scrutiny involved. The Committee is currently considering three LCMs, whereas our predecessor committee only considered six LCMs during the fifth Senedd. The Building Safety Bill was viewed as a prime example of where the Welsh Government could bring forward its own legislation.

We would appreciate a response by 28 October so that it can be considered at our meeting on 3 November.

Yours sincerely

John Griffiths MS

Chair

 

Croesewir gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu Saesneg.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh or English.