8 October 2015

Fourth Assembly Legacy: request for additional information following the evidence session on 24 September

Dear Minister

Thank you for attending the evidence session on 24 September 2015.

During the meeting, the Committee expressed disappointment at the lack of progress made in implementing our recommendations on the home adaptations system in Wales and you agreed to provide an update on the work being taken forward to develop a national system for adaptations. You also agreed to:

· write to the Committee by March 2016 to provide information on the outcome of the task force group’s work considering:

- how to improve the performance of home adaptation services;

- how to ensure the effective evaluation and performance monitoring of all adaptation services, not just Disabled Facilities Grants.

· ask the Minister for Natural Resources to share any planning work undertaken on the viability of forestry commission land in relation to housing development with the Committee.

· provide information on the amount of land released for housing in the last two years, and how much is likely to be released in the forthcoming two years.

There were also a few issues that we did not have the opportunity to explore with you during the session, which I would be grateful if you could provide information on—

· Whether the commencement of Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 is likely to go ahead as planned in October;

· An update on the development of the Code of Practice that will be issued under Part 1 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014;

· Whether you have any concerns about the definition of vulnerability in Section 71 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement;

· Whether local authorities are clear on how they should be applying the law in this area, following the judgement, and whether Welsh Government guidance regarding vulnerability should be made clearer;

· How the National Pathway for Homelessness Services to Children, Young People and Adults in the Secure Estate will be monitored;

· How the e-PIMS database is being used to facilitate affordable house building, how much land has been made available for affordable housing as a direct result of the e-PIMS database and what annual targets have been set for the future release of land from e-PIMS for the purpose of providing affordable housing.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Christine Chapman AC / AM

Cadeirydd / Chair