Mark Durkan
Foyle · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“That review involved an extensive engagement exercise with charities, regulators and funders, aimed at creating a more modern and proportionate regulatory system.”
“When the review was commenced in 2021, many organisations were still in the midst of responding to the pandemic. Since then, they have faced a succession of new and evolving challenges. The ending of European funding programmes, on which so many in our communities relied for decades, has left a significant gap.”
“<BR /> <BR />The broad principles behind the Bill are sensible. The changes will modernise charity regulation, strengthen the Charity Commission's ability to intervene where misconduct or mismanagement occurs, improve information sharing and, importantly, reduce unnecessary red tape, particularly for smaller charities with limited adminis…”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak today. Before turning to the detail of the legislation — there will not even be that much detail in the debate today at Second Stage — I pay tribute to our charity sector. Across every constituency, charities provide support that changes and saves lives every single day.”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst the SDLP supports legislation that removes unnecessary bureaucracy, we should not kid ourselves that administrative reform alone will secure the future of charities and organisations in the voluntary and community sector.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. Like other Members, I welcome the fact that we have reached this point. There seems to be consensus among Committee members and, I am sure, all Members that the introduction of these measures will save lives, which begs the question of whether the 10-year delay in introducing the measures had an opposi…”
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“In doing so, they forced people — many of us — to imagine life in their shoes, even for the briefest of moments, and caused us to re-evaluate our choices and to open dialogue around organ donation. That conversation might not have taken place or even been considered otherwise. That is all that any of us can ask. All that this legislation can do is call on people to think about their choice and to give the gift of life. There is no more time to waste. <BR /> <BR />The Bill must be progressed through the Assembly as quickly as possible so that we can change the lives of families everywhere in Northern Ireland who have been waiting far too long for this life-saving system. I concur with the comments from the Member who spoke previously on the importance of a functioning Assembly to deliver this and many other important pieces of legislation.”
“Under the Bill, it would be assumed that everyone is willing to donate unless they express otherwise or formally opt out. This proposal, and the inclusion of consultation with family members, taking into account their faith and beliefs, ensures that the legislation is as sensitive and person-centred as it needs to be. It is not a move that needs to be regarded with fear or apprehension. Rather, it is one that ensures that individual beliefs remain an integral cog in the process. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that this legislation calls for a changing not just of hearts but of minds and culture. However, we have borne witness to a palpable shift in attitudes within the past few years, again thanks, in the main part, to families coming forward to share their first-hand experience of organ transplant waiting lists.”
“<BR /> <BR />Why is action needed now? Research from the British Heart Foundation has highlighted that over 90% of citizens here support organ donation, yet only 50% have registered their interest on the NHS organ donation register. While I recognise that a great deal of effort has been made by the PHA and others to improve public awareness and to encourage people to take time to talk about their wishes with their loved ones should the unthinkable happen, the reality is that many of those decisions ultimately go unregistered. <BR /> <BR />Every year, on average, 14 people in the North pass away awaiting transplant. Bearing that in mind, the logical next step, in our view, is the move towards a soft opt-out organ donation scheme.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many others, too, have done so much to raise awareness. I pay tribute to the family of a young Belfast woman Rachael Molloy, whose aunt Catherine Matthews will be known to many of you. She works upstairs for the SDLP. Rachael was 22 and full of life. She passed away suddenly earlier this year. Fortunately, she was able to give the gift of life to others. Donation is not just about what you can give; it is also about what you can get: some consolation at a time of massive loss. <BR /> <BR />This legislation is long overdue and will lead to many more lives being saved. As the previous Member who spoke said, there are, at present, 125 people on the organ transplant waiting list here. That is 125 individuals and their families waiting desperately for news that a suitable donor has been found.”
“I welcome the chance to speak on this important legislation. It is a Bill that will not only change lives but literally save lives. It will, no doubt, be of incalculable value for so many families that have fought tirelessly to see the North implement this soft opt-out organ donation system in line with those already in operation in England, Scotland and Wales. <BR /> <BR />I congratulate the tireless campaigners who have worked so hard to see this Bill introduced in the Assembly. Of course, no discussion on organ donation in the North would be complete without paying tribute, as others have, to young Dáithí Mac Gabhann, who has been waiting almost four years for the gift of a new heart. Dáithí's parents, Seph and Máirtín, have never let up in their campaign to raise awareness of and to change the law here on organ donation.”
“He needed an extra 10 seconds for his wee wisecrack at the start. My desire to see an independent environmental protection agency is, in no way, an attack on the expertise, professionalism or passion of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency staff, many of whom I had the privilege to work with in a previous role. Does the Minister concur that any new environmental protection agency should be looked at on an all-island basis, given that we breathe the same air and share the same environment?”
“I look forward to the opportunity afforded at Committee Stage to make improvements to some of the clauses therein. I am cognisant of the time limits placed on the Department and acknowledge that action to tackle all the issues in the private rented sector may not be advanced in the current mandate. Nevertheless, the Bill is a solid body of work and provides a springboard for tackling outstanding matters in subsequent mandates. I support the Bill.”
“As I have said, the North is already several steps behind other jurisdictions in providing protections. The Bill will undoubtedly strengthen protections, but the simple fact remains that many individuals and families have been forced into the sector in the first place due to the dearth of social housing stock. That further underlines the need for the urgent implementation of a housing supply strategy, which, I hope, will operate in parallel with the Bill to address and tackle the housing crisis properly. <BR /> <BR />Overall, the SDLP is supportive of the broad principles of the Private Tenancies Bill, which, as I have said and will say again, will provide security, stability and predictability for tenants, as well as safeguards for landlords.”
“The Minister and her Department must utilise everything at their disposal to protect tenants and should at least consider such oversights as we proceed. <BR /> <BR />There remains the bigger issue of local housing allowance (LHA) rates for private tenants falling well short of their actual rental costs, given that rents have increased. Coupled with the freezing of LHA rates in April, we have a perfect storm whereby inadequate welfare support is forcing families from their homes due to affordability issues. That cap must be removed in order to secure tangible stability in private tenancies. <BR /> <BR />On clause 13, while I appreciate that a commencement date is at the Department's discretion, a time frame needs to be placed on the introduction of this vital legislation.”
“Shorter-term tenancies should go to eight weeks rather than four, and we would like to see that in the Bill. I welcome the Minister's commitment to protect some up to eight weeks, but the issue is how that looks in the Bill. <BR /> <BR />There are concerns that the 12-month tenancy stipulation could inadvertently create a practice whereby some landlords may curtail the length of tenancies, thus exploiting a potential loophole in the legislation to avoid the enhanced notice to quit periods. As the economic impact of the pandemic deepens, it is vital that those protections be extended to strengthen security of tenure for all private renters. I have witnessed first-hand the increasing numbers of individuals and families receiving notices to quit, and the interim extension will, no doubt, prove vital in the months ahead.”
“I am cognisant that those circumstances do not apply in all notice to quit cases; however, it is clear that such practices are placing strain on an already crumbling housing system. I am glad that Minister Hargey has listened to calls to extend until May next year the 12-week notice to quit enhancement introduced in response to the COVID pandemic. Thank you for that, Minister. <BR /> <BR />On clause 11, the notice to quit enhancements are welcome, but the Bill could and should go further. I would like to see the 12-week period applied to all tenancies of over a year. We have been operating like that under the current emergency legislation, so perhaps that can help to address any concerns that the Minister's officials may have about consultation and so forth.”
“Some apparently believe that it is a requirement under a private residential tenancy (PRT). Clause 7 could result in a similar unintended consequences, so it is crucial that that change is communicated and marketed adequately to limit confusion and opportunism. I hope that there is also room in the clause to look at how we might place a cap on the size or scale of any rent increase, and I look forward to fleshing that out with my colleagues at Committee. <BR /> <BR />Likewise, in recent months, our constituency offices and the independent advice sector have witnessed a worrying trend: increasing numbers of private tenants receiving notices to quit. In some instances, landlords have taken advantage of the booming housing market and decided to sell up.”
“Rising property values here mean rising rents in an already costly market. Clause 7, which will see restrictions on rent increases limited to once every 12 months, is a welcome step. Similar legislation was introduced in Scotland at the end of 2017 under the Private Housing Tenancies (Scotland) Act 2016, whereby a landlord can increase the rent no more than once a year and must give tenants at least three months' notice of any increase. Again, we fall behind our counterparts in protecting our citizens. However, we can use this intervening period as a learning space. <BR /> <BR />We have witnessed the outworking of the Scottish policy, and there have been some issues with landlords effectively now issuing annual rent increases, which they did not do beforehand.”
“It will afford private renters a safety net that will improve the usually precarious nature of private tenancies. Clause 10 is a prime example of that precariousness, with private rental properties often not held to the same safety standards employed elsewhere in the housing sector. Electrical safety standards regulations will play a vital role, allowing Northern Ireland to keep pace with a rapidly growing sector. I appreciate that most good landlords ensure the upkeep of electrical wiring in their properties, but we cannot ignore the fact that neglect and resulting electrical hazards are fast becoming a problem for private tenants. I hope that that provision also provides peace of mind to private renters. <BR /> <BR />The current climate is testament to the need for this important piece of work.”
“It is mostly lone parent households, who will have been most adversely impacted by COVID and whose financial outlook may be even more precarious given the Tory plan to remove the universal credit uplift at the end of the month. <BR /> <BR />I have spoken with Housing Rights and others in recent weeks. They attest to the fact that a disproportionate number of calls to their advice line come from private renters. No doubt that was heightened during the pandemic. It is imperative that individuals and families who rent privately are safeguarded through legislation, so that we can ensure more affordable, safe and secure tenancies. <BR /> <BR />I turn to the detail of the Bill. As my Committee colleagues and the Minister have already referenced, this legislation is much needed and not before time.”
“<BR /> <BR />The private rented sector across these islands has grown exponentially in recent years. However, the North has experienced the greatest level of growth. The private rented sector has now overtaken the social housing sector, helping to meet housing need and accounting for over 17% of all housing stock here. That is staggering. It is clear that neither standards nor the Executive have managed to keep in step with that growth. To date, no specific legislation has been put in place to protect private renters, many of whom have been pushed into the sector by the lack of social housing stock. The bulk of the private rented sector consists of young families.”
“It is clear that such protections will continue to play an important role in the months ahead, as the economic fallout of the pandemic unfolds and we come to terms with the pressures being placed on an already struggling sector. <BR /> <BR />The right to shelter is, above all else, the solid foundation needed for the building blocks of a successful society. It is a starting point from which people and families build their lives, making for happy, healthy, thriving communities. The past 18 months have underscored the value of housing and the central role that it plays in all of our lives. I very much welcome the Bill's content as the first step of many necessary improvements towards the better safety, security and quality of the private rented sector.”
“I welcome the chance to speak at the Second Stage of the Private Tenancies Bill. I thank all the organisations and individuals in the housing and advice sectors who have helped to push and progress this vital legislation, which will see essential and long overdue improvements to and protections for the private rented sector. <BR /> <BR />The importance of secure, stable housing has never been felt more keenly than during the COVID pandemic. I welcome the emergency housing legislation introduced by the Minister in that time, including the extension of the notice to quit period from four weeks to 12 weeks for private renters.”
“I welcome the First Minister's condemnation of those who protest against the resettlement of refugees here. In earlier answers, he referred to the Syrian refugee resettlement scheme. Will he outline any lessons that were learned from that scheme that can be applied to this one, which will ensure its smooth operation and that its support will get to those who need it most?”
“I implore Minister Hargey to use those powers to protect people here if the cut cannot be derailed at Westminster, where her party will not even go to vote against it.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is not just an issue that affects the poor or "scroungers", as the Tories so cruelly label those who are reliant on support. Around a third of claimants are working. We need business organisations to wake up and speak up. The impact on local businesses will be dire and will cost jobs, forcing more people on to benefits. <BR /> <BR />Minister Hargey has written to DWP to oppose the cut. We welcome that, but she must do more to protect people here. What COVID money has not been spent? What money for welfare mitigations will be unspent as there is no sign of them yet? What is the Minister going to do? Let us hope that it is a lot more than to write a letter. <BR /> <BR />We are a devolved Government. DFC has welfare powers again, after some parties here handed them over to the Tories to hurt more vulnerable people here.”
“Now Boris Johnson seems determined to revert to type. The consequence of that will be catastrophic, and it will hit harder here than anywhere else. Families and individuals will be plunged into poverty. If they needed that help 18 months ago, they sure as hell need it now. We have seen living costs spiral, be it the cost of heating a home or the cost of feeding a family. Rising property values have led to huge hikes in rents. People are at breaking point. They cannot afford to lose £1,000 a year, and we cannot afford for them to lose it either. <BR /> <BR />The cut is not only cruel; it is completely short-sighted. What will be the cost of removing that lifeline to health, education and homelessness? What will be the cost to people? What will be the impact of taking £55 million out of our economy over the next six months?”
“I rise to call on Minister Hargey not only to oppose the UK Government's plan to withdraw the £20 universal credit uplift but to plan and prepare to protect people here should the Tories persist with that punitive policy. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP has always been critical of universal credit. We voted against the Welfare Reform Bill when others here rubber-stamped it. Our opposition has been vindicated. Every week, I am sure, all our offices help people to navigate the complex system and, sadly, often have to direct desperate people to food banks for support during the cruel five-week wait for their first payment. <BR /> <BR />The £20 uplift was a welcome, albeit surprising, move by the Tories to provide a safety net to prevent people falling further into poverty as a consequence of the pandemic.”
“<BR /> <BR />Several years ago, the 'Belfast Telegraph' did a wee series of light-hearted interviews with MLAs that asked which three people, dead or alive, they would invite to a dinner party. One of my guests — in fact, my guest of honour — was Pat Hume. She is world renowned for her empathy, but Pat was every bit as entertaining as she was empathetic. What a lady. The best tribute that we can all pay to Pat Hume is to be more like her and to treat each other and everyone with respect and genuine care. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.”
“I begin by wishing our retiring MLAs and constituency colleagues, Karen Mullan and Martina Anderson, well and welcoming their replacements, with whom I look forward to working on behalf of the people of Foyle and beyond. <BR /> <BR />The Hume family will be touched by and grateful for the kind words from around the Chamber today, as they have been by the well wishes from across the globe over the past couple of weeks. Pat was something else. Many words have been spoken and written about her over the past couple of weeks by world leaders and, even more significantly and importantly for Pat, ordinary men and women in the street. Many anecdotes have been recounted that illustrate just what a wonderful person she was. However, those tributes, even in their totality, do not come close to capturing just what an amazing lady Pat Hume was.”
“I thank the Member for giving way, and I agree with much of what she has said. Does the Member recognise that, in our shared constituency, fares are very low compared with those in other parts of the North, let alone with those on the Continent? Does she concur that those fares are set not by the Department per se but by the operators?”
“However, to put the responsibility for all of that on the Department for Infrastructure or the Minister for Infrastructure, who does not have the power or the vires to deal with such an issue, is short-sighted and smacks of political opportunism, particularly when coming from a party colleague of the former Minister for the Economy, who worked to exclude operators from some of the schemes that she designed. We need to move away from that politicking and work together to deliver better for our taxis, our taxi industry and our taxi drivers. Give them a fair deal.”
“If you have a look at any taxi stand or do a wee straw poll of the taxis that you get, if you use local taxi companies, you will see the age profile of taxi drivers. They are generally people who are moving on in years and are now moving out, due to issues that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. What is vital is that we, as parties, all work together. We did that quite well during work on earlier incarnations of the Taxis Act and on the issues, of which there were plenty, that arose throughout that process. <BR /> <BR />Another ask of the motion is support for taxi operators. Taxi operators absolutely need support. They lost huge amounts of rent.”
“The Taxis Act 2008 was one of the first pieces if not the first piece of legislation passed by the House. Part of the difficulty that we are still feeling the hangover from today is that that legislation, which was passed in haste, took so long to implement. I was the Minister of the Environment who finally implemented the final pieces. No review of that legislation could take place until the final pieces of the jigsaw were in place. It is essential now that there be a holistic review of the legislation that looks at all the issues, including the fare structure and the evident barriers, which are more difficult to navigate than might have originally been anticipated or intended, to people entering the industry. <BR /> <BR />We need younger drivers coming in.”
“The Minister demonstrated flexibility and that she was listening to the sector by designing the second scheme, in recognition of the fact that so many drivers had been ruled out of the first scheme because they had paused their expensive insurance policies as a financial necessity while there was no money coming in. <BR /> <BR />The reality now is that the industry is suffering. When the taxi industry suffers and struggles, so does our wider economy. People will be more reluctant to go out to socialise and support city-centre businesses if they are not sure how or even when they will get home. We need to look at the fare structure. We need a fair fare structure to incentivise drivers to work difficult hours that are not just unsocial but, sadly, in many cases, antisocial, with drivers under regular threat of attack.”
“That was an issue pre-pandemic, but the risk to drivers' health and that of their families, together with the shutdown of town and city centres, turned a hard job in which to earn a living into a virtually impossible one. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has provided assistance to drivers over the pandemic, but her powers to do so as Infrastructure Minister were limited, meaning that a scheme could only be delivered if it replaced or refunded costs incurred by drivers for insurance and PPE but not lost income. That was and remains the case.”
“It is always when you do not want them to. <BR /> <BR />This is a Committee motion, which demonstrates the fact that all of the parties want a better deal for taxi drivers and support measures to strengthen and support our vital taxi sector. I say "vital" because the taxi sector is vital. Taxis play a vital role in so many people's lives, getting them where they need to be, whether that is their work, important health appointments, shopping or leaving kids to school. We need them to do our daily business and, critically, to get us home after a night out. <BR /> <BR />Taxi drivers are much more than mere transporters. They provide a lifeline to many vulnerable people and a listening ear. However, as has already been pointed out, numbers of drivers are dwindling.”
“First, I apologise on behalf of Dolores Kelly, who is our party spokesperson on infrastructure. She has been detained at a Policing Board meeting this morning. She had expected to be back in time for this debate, but the taxis arrived unexpectedly early today”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for the flexibility that she has demonstrated on the Bill, and the officials who have given us a lot in the little time that we had to consider it. I hope that it works well and that the councils work well with it to continue to deliver vital services and value to our ratepayers. I support the Bill.”
“I have previously stated in the House, and will again for the record, that accelerated passage is a suboptimal way to process and pass legislation. That has become painfully apparent during the accelerated passage of this Bill. We should only use accelerated passage to pass legislation that needs to be passed now. Members made the point quite well at Further Consideration Stage yesterday that some of what the Bill would do might go beyond what is strictly necessary. However, I am content that the safeguards are in place that, should changes be required, those changes will have to come back to us as an Assembly, we will have sight of and input into them, and, ultimately, we can stop them if we fear that they are damaging to democracy.”
“The rationale behind the Bill, as outlined by the Minister and, once again, by the Chair of the Committee, is to allow councils flexibility in how they conduct their business and meetings in light of the COVID crisis — it is hard to think of any sector that has not had to adapt to new ways of working — and afford them and us the agility, should we find ourselves back in a lockdown situation, to conduct meetings and make decisions in a lawful way.”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the House. We, along with the Derry public, have stood alongside the Bloody Sunday families, the family of Daniel Hegarty and the families of too many victims in their long campaigns for truth and justice. That justice has been denied, but they will not give up and nor will we. <BR /> <BR />Does the Minister think that the soldiers responsible for the murders of Daniel Hegarty, William McKinney and Jim Wray should be prosecuted? Does she fear that this decision could now bar the prosecution of any army personnel for atrocities that they committed on our streets pre 1974?”
“That was a very topical question, then. Let us hope that what is positive in the EA's eyes is also positive for the school and the many young people living with ASD who hope to transfer there. <BR /> <BR />The problems with SEN provision are not exclusive to Foyle. What plans does the Minister have to improve access to such services across the North?”
“<BR /> <BR />The legislation has undergone an extremely comprehensive consultation process, and health protections are very much at its core. I again place on record my gratitude to departmental officials, Bill Office staff, particularly Claire, and all those who participated in our call for evidence. I also compliment the Minister on getting the Bill over the line. Without doing too much backslapping, I thank my colleagues in the Committee and in the Chamber who have played such an important and pivotal role in shaping the legislation. <BR /> <BR />It has been a long, hard haul, but we worked well together. We respected each other's views, and, monumental legislation as the Bill is, it is just a small example of what we can achieve when we do that. I look forward to the site meeting that the Committee Chair proposed.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I am aware of the view that the Bill is limited in what it allows for taproom licences. As I said, great lengths have been gone to to ensure that the Bill is fair and balanced. While all Committee members recognise the potential of our local brewing industry for our wider tourism product and our local economy, we have to be cognisant of others in the hospitality industry. The legislation allows for monitoring and reviewing what is permitted. <BR /> <BR />I regret that your party colleague and the Deputy Chair of the Committee, Kellie Armstrong, is not able to be here. She put an awful lot of constructive work into the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The final Bill will see cinemagoers being able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, as they can in other regions and as can be done in theatres. The Bill does much more.”
“It will also allow our growing local brewing and distilling industries to advance the promotion of their wares, finally letting them sell their products from their premises through off-sales, as well as providing tours and, where desired, limited taproom facilities.”
“I absolutely concur with the Member. In the current climate, I know that there are many bars that would not even consider opening later, but it is a good option to have, should the occasion arise, so that they can maximise their capacity to do business and to allow their patrons to avail themselves of the service that they love so much. I defy anyone to say that their views have not been given a fair hearing, and the Bill reflects that. <BR /> <BR />The legislation will finally ring the bell on our draconian Easter opening hours, and it will give pubs, clubs and hotels the option to have later opening hours.”
“Others will acknowledge the safeguards in the Bill that were necessary to protect people, particularly young people, from the undoubted dangers posed by alcohol abuse. <BR /> <BR />In that vein, much consideration and effort has gone into ensuring that the legislation is fair and balanced. Not everyone will be cock-a-hoop at the Bill's provisions. For some sectors, it does not go as far as they would like; for others, it goes too far. I defy anyone to say—.”
“I declare an interest. Today is a good day for the Assembly. It is a good day not just for publicans but, much more importantly, for the public of Northern Ireland. The legislation is long overdue. For so long, our archaic licensing laws have hamstrung not merely the businesses affected and their patrons but wider attempts to market Northern Ireland as a tourism destination and as a modern, vibrant society. The need for the legislation is not new, but our hospitality and tourism sectors have never needed our help and support more than now, as businesses and our economy seek to recover from the economic carnage of COVID. It epitomises the mantra of building back better. I hope that the legislation's inbuilt flexibilities will be welcomed by local businesses.”
“<BR /> <BR />I acknowledge that regulatory impact assessments were carried out to determine the potential far-reaching implications of the Bill, including its effects on finances and human rights. Given that that process did not give rise to any substantial concerns, we are content to support the Bill's passage to the next stage. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee to scrutinise it further.”
“Given the Court of Appeal's dismissal of the commission's appeal in 2020, which meant that 170 orders were at risk of being challenged, the Department had a duty to step in. I commend it for doing so. The amendments before the House are, in essence, a retrospective rewrite, making decisions taken by commission staff lawful and explicitly laying out powers of delegation to ensure that the same mistakes are not made again. <BR /> <BR />As supervisor of charities across the North, the commission has been tasked with a matter of great public importance. Therefore, the decisions that are taken here today should not be taken lightly. Lessons must be learned, because, without the repair work inbuilt in the legislation, the actions of commission staff could have had massive repercussions for the charity sector and wider society.”
“<BR /> <BR />As my Committee colleagues and the Minister have already referenced, much of the detail of the Bill is technical in nature and relates to the lawfulness of decisions taken by staff of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. It essentially puts right the legal oversight, or, rather, the legal overreach, by commission staff members who were not empowered to discharge its statutory duties under the Charities Act 2008.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the Second Stage of the Charities Bill. I take the opportunity to reiterate my appreciation of and to pay tribute to charities and the invaluable role that they have played for so long in our communities but particularly throughout the past 15 months. The charities sector has been a lifeline to date, yet, despite increased demand and organisations struggling to get by on shoestring budgets, with fundraising capacity all but obliterated, many have continued to provide vital support to desperate service users throughout the COVID crisis, and so too will they continue to be a key player in the time ahead, as society grapples with a period of post-pandemic recovery. As such, we must prevent additional pressures, in the form of bureaucratic complexities, being placed on an already struggling sector.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It signals a positive step forward in our long-running battle to reform mental health services to make them more widely available and accessible and to ensure investment in mental health. Mental health is a massive issue and problem here that must never again be swept under the carpet or suffer from chronic underinvestment. <BR /> <BR />The challenge for all of us and for all Departments is to make sure that Departments do not just buy into the strategy but pay into it. What confidence does the Minister have that Departments will work beyond their silos and, in particular, that the Department of Education will ensure that building mental well-being and resilience is central to our children's education?”
“There have been calls for some time for the minimum housing fitness standard to be replaced with something more comprehensive that takes into account the impact that poor housing conditions can have on occupants' health. <BR /> <BR />In 2016-17, there was a discussion in the Department about replacing the fitness standard with the housing health and safety rating system model currently used in England. However, despite public consultation, it seems that progress on the review, like so much here, has ground to a halt. I hope that the Minister will update the Assembly accordingly in the time ahead, maybe even in her response later this evening. In conclusion, we support the motion. However, I reiterate the calls for the Communities Minister to review the current statutory minimum fitness standard for housing.”