Kellie Armstrong
Strangford · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill. It is timely and important. Miss McIlveen, a fellow MLA for the Strangford constituency, has just spoken.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill reflects the realities of the post-Brexit landscape by aligning protections here with those in other UK jurisdictions and the UK Fisheries Act. That consistency is important for standards, enforcement and international confidence in our products.”
“Last year, I met the Department and we discussed that. The opportunities for seaweed farming in Strangford lough are wonderful, and the opportunities from seaweed that Queen's University has identified are incredible. We are lucky to have those opportunities on our doorstep, as long as there is licensing and it is properly looked after.”
“Moving beyond managing individual fisheries, the Bill recognises the interconnected nature of our rivers, loughs and seas — an approach that is very much in line with Alliance's commitment to evidence-based environmental policy. The inclusion of a national benefit objective is also significant.”
“A while ago, we saw that commercial bottom trawling had all but decimated the horse mussel population in Strangford lough. It has since been changed to a special area of conservation. That limits a lot of activity in the lough, which is not a bad thing considering that horse mussels are coming back.”
“They allow for timely action on lower-level offences without over-burdening the courts while still acting as a meaningful deterrent. If only everybody were acting properly, we would not need to have those deterrents, but we are where we are, and the Bill hopes to improve upon that.”
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“<BR /> <BR />The Red Cross COVID-19 vulnerability index indicates that the DCSDC area is amongst the most COVID-19-vulnerable local government districts, not just in Northern Ireland but across the whole of the UK. Considerable uncertainty remains about the longer-term impact of the pandemic, including on individuals and households who were already disadvantaged. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that the greater challenges may lie ahead in tackling poverty and disadvantage in these constituencies. Some of the other key findings were that the groups most affected were single parents, families, first-time vulnerable people, the working poor and older people. The support that those people need and which that £20 could help with is for fuel, food, digital access, debt and financial advice and befriending.”
“The council has completed research on poverty. I will quickly give you the key findings. The majority of indicators suggest that, whilst poverty and disadvantage are not unique to the council area, there is clear evidence that it is significantly more acute in the council area in comparison with other parts of Northern Ireland. The analysis also indicates that that is a long-running position, which backs up exactly what the SDLP has said. The DCSDC area exhibits the highest levels of deprivation across Northern Ireland. The analysis evidences that poverty and ill health are intertwined and that a negative, mutually reinforcing cycle exists between the two.”
“National Insurance, as we know, will increase. Mr Durkan is absolutely right: a third of people on universal credit are in work. A third are looking for work, and a third cannot work because of disability or terminal illness. <BR /> <BR />I was thinking, in advance of the debate, that I did not want to come here and just complain about how sad it was; I wanted to know what actions were happening on the ground. We certainly know the absolute strength and power of the community in the Foyle area, which is shown through the food banks and so many other charities up there. I spoke to my Alliance colleagues, Councillors Rachael Ferguson and Philip McKinney, and I commend the work that they and all our colleagues on Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) are doing to address poverty in Foyle.”
“As others have said, this is happening when furlough is coming to an end and we expect businesses that have depended on the furlough scheme to have to make some people unemployed. We expect people to join universal credit. <BR /> <BR />We all know that the cost of energy is rising. That means that electricity, home heating and even filling your car, which is not mentioned often when it comes to energy costs, are becoming extremely expensive. At this time, the impacts of COVID have not disappeared, and I agree with many who say that this is a cruel blow to people. All we have to think about is the many children who are being sent home, looking for PCR tests, who have to have mummy or daddy at home. The heat is on during the day, and food is being consumed at home. They are not getting school meals.”
“Some may look at me and ask, "What, in the name of goodness, is a Strangford MLA doing at an Adjournment debate about Foyle?". While I was not elected to represent the Foyle area, I am concerned about the removal of the universal credit uplift. It will have an effect not only on Foyle but on citizens the whole way across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I was interested that Ms Ferguson mentioned the figure of over 4,000, almost 5,000, people. I think that there are two offices, and the other office has 7,110 people on universal credit. Mr Durkan talked about the millions. I did a quick multiplication. Multiply those 7,110 people by £20 a week: that is £142,200 being removed from the area in one week, and it does not even include everybody who is on universal credit.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I ask the Speaker's Office for a ruling on the fact that the Minister went to the media before coming to the House. I appreciate the fact that she sent out information to others, but MLAs were not given that information; we had to receive it through the media. May I have a ruling from the Speaker's Office on whether Members should come to the House to let MLAs know about that?”
“Minister, I am absolutely enthusiastic about the review. Why would I not be? It was my Alliance colleagues and me who wrote the independent review of education into 'New Decade, New Approach'. I am not sure where Mrs Dodds MLA was coming from when she spoke about the recruitment. I have no problem with the recruitment. However, I want to ask a specific question about the review's terms of reference, which state that you, as the Minister, will select the final panel members from "a list of suitable candidates" provided by the public appointments panel. Will you outline to the House the criteria that you used to finalise the panel membership?”
“That body would increase cross-border cooperation on the protection of the natural environment and ensure good governance when tackling climate issues. <BR /> <BR />As I said, I look forward to seeing what changes appear to have been agreed between the two Bills The Bill that the Minister has tabled is lacking in some areas, but I welcome any opportunity to act on the climate crisis that we all face, and I will support the Bill at Second Stage.”
“We have the opportunity here to create hydrogen and oxygen, which is in shortage at the moment. <BR /> <BR />The Bill puts an onus on all Departments to report on the measures that they are taking to combat the climate crisis. In order to take proactive and meaningful steps, climate-proof budgets must be delivered. If each Department is to prepare and publish a report for each budgetary period setting out the policies and proposals for meeting the carbon budget for that period, the financial implications of that will need to be set out in departmental budgets. <BR /> <BR />It is disappointing that the Bill does not bring about the commitment in 'New Decade, New Approach' to establish an independent environmental protection agency.”
“Why would anyone walk on that footpath rather than getting safely into a car and driving into the town? We are not working together across Departments to ensure that all that can be done is being done to take the pressure off our farmers. <BR /> <BR />It is disappointing that there is not more of a focus on active travel in the Bill. Wales has seen the success of establishing a mutual company to provide water. The mutualisation of Northern Ireland Water, provided with sustainable and long-term funding, would be another commitment that could help us to better tackle the climate crisis. I absolutely support the Minister's view that we could lead the way on hydrogen. We have a unique situation in Northern Ireland: we have a water company that is in public ownership.”
“There is a need to rebalance the Department for Infrastructure's budget towards those areas. We should follow the commitment made by the Republic of Ireland to spend 20% of transport capital funding on active travel. The creation of an independent active travel commissioner with a specific ring-fenced budget to deliver strategies would also help to encourage people to consider greener modes of transport. Investment in new rural or city road improvements, such as footpath repair and lighting to include safe active travel options, should also be included in a meaningful climate change Bill. An example in my constituency, as Mr Hamilton will know, is Teal Rocks outside Newtownards, which is connected to Newtownards town by a footpath that, in parts, is no more than 1 metre wide. People drive at 60 mph along that road.”
“<BR /> <BR />Just think about what those other Departments have to do. I am a member of the Committee for Communities, where we know that targets are needed to ensure that any investment to retrofit homes will meet effective standards. New homes must be planned with interconnectedness via public transport and internet access. We need to invest in innovative construction methods. Of course, as Mrs Barton mentioned, the use of energy is becoming more and more of a key factor. In my constituency, the Strangford Lough tidal energy project that has been worked through with Queen's University and others is something that I would love to see being further expanded. <BR /> <BR />Active travel and sustainable transport should form key elements of any climate change Bill.”
“I welcome the requirement on Departments to develop and implement appropriate policies and actions to tackle the climate crisis. The Alliance Party has called for the creation of a Northern Ireland Department for energy and climate change. In order to make an impactful change across these islands, we must prioritise close cooperation between the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government in an all-island context. It is also vital that those in Westminster place a green new deal at the heart of government. Many different actions will need to be taken to target the climate crisis. It is disappointing that more have not been included in the Bill, such as a separate oversight body and a specific net zero emissions target. However, as I said, I look forward to seeing what discussions have happened between those involved in the Bills.”
“If we are to tackle the climate crisis, departmental priorities and budgets will need to change. Difficult decisions will need to be faced, and challenging questions will need to be asked.”
“The farming community is certainly one of the communities that can help to guide us towards better land management and in how to improve things in Northern Ireland without damaging their industry.”
“Although the need for legislation on this issue is very clear, the Assembly Bills process means that we will be debating two Bills on the very same issue within months of each other. That will take up this Assembly's valuable time and resources so, where there are opportunities for the Bills to come together, I would be absolutely delighted to see that happen. I am interested in what the Minister said earlier about there having been a discussion about the Climate Change Bill and the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill. I look forward to seeing what the potential amendments to, or coming together of, those Bills will be. <BR /> <BR />Earlier in this discussion, many others, including Mr O'Dowd, Mr Durkan and Mr Hamilton, mentioned that this is not an issue just for farmers. It is not. We all need to take actions to reduce emissions.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. The reason that there should be two pieces of legislation is that, when we look at the breadth of online gambling, how can we, who live in this tiny place, possibly bring in legislation that will compete with people from America, China or whatever other country from which people are given access. Does the Member agree that a second piece of legislation will need to be, as he has just said, enacted across these islands? We cannot deal with online gambling on our own.”
“I thank the junior Minister very much for his response. We are coming into budget-setting time. Will that action plan be taken into consideration across all Departments when the budgets are being considered? Will that be a direction from the Executive Office to ensure that there is a cross-cutting commitment to that action plan?”
“What efforts and representations has Invest NI made internationally to ensure the maximisation of the opportunities that could arise from the unique access that Northern Ireland has to the UK and the Republic of Ireland?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill throws up a lot questions — I think that there will be amendments to it — but I welcome any opportunity to act on gambling. I support the Bill at its Second Stage.”
“During the coronavirus lockdown, we saw an increase in the numbers of people using those outlets, so legislation is more important than ever. <BR /> <BR />Gambling can be fun. The Assembly has used the outputs of gambling to save an absolute fortune. From looking at a piece of research, I know that the National Lottery has put £43 billion into the UK economy. A significant amount of that comes to Northern Ireland. Quite often, we fund charities and organisations that prop up government using National Lottery funding. We have to consider whether we are doing this in the right way. If we want to fix gambling so that it does not cause harm, we need to fix how we budget within the Assembly and ensure that charities that help the most vulnerable do not have to depend on gambling for their income.”
“It is vital that the Assembly moves forward on gambling legislation as a matter of urgency in order to save more people from being pulled into a life-destroying habit. <BR /> <BR />While the Minister says that online gambling will be dealt with in the next mandate, online gambling means that access to betting is available 24 hours a day and often with very few checks on the ages of people using the sites. I am disappointed that we have not taken the opportunity to align with GB by bringing in the ban on the use of credit cards for gambling. Gambling with credit cards allows people to use money they do not have. For addicts, that can be too tempting a proposition to ignore, particularly at a time when online and virtual gambling is more popular than ever before.”
“I get the fact that we cannot cover that in the time we have left of the mandate, but there are lots of questions, and I look forward to working with the Committee, with you, Minister, and your Department on moving forward what we can at this stage. <BR /> <BR />At this point, I pay tribute to Gambling with Lives, which is an organisation that many on the all-party group will have worked with. I absolutely support its campaign that appropriate legislation to restrict gambling needs to be updated in Northern Ireland. Gambling preys on vulnerable people, and it ruins lives. Around 10% of people who take their own lives do so as a result of their gambling addiction. Addiction to slot machines, online betting and lotteries is an issue that is about more than money. Gambling kills.”
“My colleague Paula Bradshaw will talk about that when she speaks on the Bill. I know that you are thinking about what gambling is and what some of the indicators of potential harm are. Many would like to see a stand-alone addiction service for gambling. That is not the responsibility just of your Department, Minister; it will have to go across Education and Health. At the moment, if someone presents to their GP surgery saying they have a gambling addiction, there is very little that GP can direct them to. <BR /> <BR />As we know, there are protections in the Bill for workers who do not want to work on a Sunday, and that brings us into line with the rest of the UK and with Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The second phase of the legislation, which you have talked about, Minister, is going to be absolutely enormous.”
“I understand what it is trying to achieve, but the Department of Finance will need to give approval to Communities for what a levy, if we get one, can be spent on. The only people who are going to pay the levy will be the owners of gambling venues in Northern Ireland. The online gaming and gambling industries will not pay and will not be asked to contribute because those businesses do not have an address here. There is very little information in the Bill about what the levy will look like. I hope to tease that out in the Committee in order to see what we can do with a levy within the bounds of the current gaming and gambling industries in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I know, Minister, that you are in the process of setting up a cross-departmental group that will look at some of the issues on health promotion.”
“Those of us who were teenagers or maybe slightly older than that in 1985 did not even have the internet, so times have certainly changed. <BR /> <BR />It is not possible to import modern-day terms into the structure and language of the 1985 Order. I get that, and I get why there needs to be a second piece of legislation, but, as others said, the Bill in front of us is somewhat disappointing. However, I want to let you know, Minister, that I will vote for it, because there is a way to amend it — a few amendments may be coming forward — to make it more fit for purpose, especially during this mandate, when we have so little time left. <BR /> <BR />Others have talked about different clauses, but I want to come back to clause 14, which is on the industry levy. I have difficulties with that clause.”
“Thank you, Minister. I know you are hearing a lot against the Bill today, but it is a step in the right direction. You are certainly keeping the Communities Committee busy. I am going to declare this interest: I have played the National Lottery, I have bet on Grand Nationals and I have been to Drumbo. I am not going to say that all gambling is wonderful; it is something that is treated as entertainment. However, when it is not entertainment, that is when it becomes a problem. <BR /> <BR />We know that the Bill is an amending Bill, so I will say this to you, Minister, and your Department: expect amendments to come forward. Your Bill will amend parts of the existing 1985 Order, but it will not legislate for, as others said, online activity, as the 1985 Order is too old.”
“Does the Member agree that, as part of our reform, we certainly need to consider those members of staff who have worked so valiantly throughout the pandemic, and always do? Are we investing more in buildings than we are in our resources, who are our people?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Very quickly, does the Member agree that the Government, in placing them in further financial stress with the increases in National Insurance and what is happening with their pensions, will make people more stressed and sicker, which will force more people towards our health service, at a time when it does not need more patients being added to its lists?”
“This is important to note: a third of people on universal credit are in work, a third are looking for work and a third cannot work due to sickness, disability or terminal illness. It is simply not those who are not in work who are impacted; it is the working poor — people already struggling financially. This is at a time when business is trying to recover from COVID and to deal with the fallout caused by Brexit. <BR /> <BR />We heard from Carál Ní Chuilín, in the question that she had answered by the Health Minister, that pensioners are faced with independent nursing home costs rising to up to £822 per week.”
“As others have said, this comes at a time when energy costs are soaring and are expected to continue to rise. There is the impact of the end of furlough and the expected increase in the number of people having to apply for universal credit and having to suffer for at least five weeks before benefits are paid. The cost of living is higher than pre-Brexit and pre-COVID times. Families are hammered by increasing childcare costs, and do not get me started on school uniforms. The prices are astronomical, yet the Assembly has not made any progress to stop schools — the schools that we fund — from putting families into poverty over the sake of a jumper and a blazer. <BR /> <BR />There is the end of the £20 per week COVID uplift, which will hit families the most.”
“They have broken electoral promises to protect the triple lock. The Institute of Fiscal Studies has said that more tax hikes could be on the cards. This must not degenerate into an issue of wealthy older people versus poor younger people, however. As the Archbishop of Canterbury stated:”
“The Government have confirmed a one-year suspension of the triple lock for annual state pension increases. The triple lock is a formula used to guarantee that pensioners' incomes rise by either September's rate of inflation, earnings growth or a minimum of 2·5%, whichever is larger. However, the Government confirmed that the average earnings component would be disregarded in 2022-23, as it was last year, and that the rise will be replaced temporarily by a double lock, linked to either inflation or 2·5%. We know that pensioners were on track to get a record boost, but the Government's announcement means that they will not have it. That is an actual detriment to someone's pension. <BR /> <BR />Why is this an issue? Clearly, the Government, with their majority, can do what they want.”
“They did not make it clear that that does not equate to a 1·25% increase but, instead, means that employers will see their contributions go up by 1·25 percentage points from 13·8% to 15·3% of wages. Across the UK from next April, for every £1,000 in a typical wage slip, a further £12·50 will be removed from employees before they get their pay. The HMRC report confirms that individuals' actual losses may have an impact on people's family formation, stability or breakdown, as individuals who are just about managing financially see their incomes reduced. <BR /> <BR />Turning to pensions, the Government's decision to stall the triple-lock protection for one year shows how they will use their majority to do what they want. The triple lock was supposed to be protected and maintained under this Government. Is it protected? No, it is not.”
“The HM Revenue and Customs policy paper on the health and social care levy confirms that the people most likely to be affected are employers, employees and the self-employed who are liable to pay National Insurance contributions, and individuals who would be liable to pay National Insurance contributions were it not for the pension age restrictions. That means that anyone who pays Class 1, 1A, 1B or 4 will be affected by the increase. Employees who earn more than £184 a week and are under state pension age will be affected, as will employers who pay Class 1A and 1B contributions directly on their employees' expenses or benefits and self-employed people who earn profits of £9,569 or more a year. <BR /> <BR />The Government were disingenuous when they affirmed that the increase would be 1·25 percentage points.”
“I thank Dr Archibald for tabling the motion on a very important issue. On behalf of Alliance, I confirm from the outset that we will support it. I will discuss the impact of the tax increase. Later, my colleague, the Alliance health spokesperson, Paula Bradshaw MLA, will go into more detail about the health and social care system. As the motion states, the people most impacted by the Government's changes to National Insurance and pensions will be the least well off. <BR /> <BR />I will speak to National Insurance first.”
“<BR /> <BR />Minister, as the Alliance Party spokesperson for communities, of course I will support the Bill, and I look forward to working with you to bring it forward. As others have said, we can be a bit detailed when it comes to legislation, but that is no bad thing because we make better legislation for it. This is a good setting. It is not as if we are going to change every part of your Bill — there are parts that I absolutely support — but there are some bits that we can clarify in order to help you produce good legislation that will protect our private tenants across Northern Ireland.”
“Will that be another cost that is passed on to the tenant at their 12-monthly rent review? We need to think about funding and supporting those private landlords to bring standards up, make homes more carbon-efficient and reduce carbon reduction targets, otherwise the tenants will face increased rents to meet landlords' needs. <BR /> <BR />Mr Durkan also mentioned the housing allowance rates. We need to review those rates in line with inflation, because, as we are seeing, the housing market is going into a boom. It would be good to make sure that our private rental tenants are not forced to pay more out of their universal credit benefit, for instance, because their housing allowance does not meet their housing costs.”
“The electrical safety industry has also said that there should be a confirmed period within which alarm and electrical safety inspections are carried out. Some have suggested that that should be every five years, and I am keen to know if the Minister would add a specific time frame to the safety inspections. <BR /> <BR />Can tenants' voices be added to the list of consultees in schedule 3(5), because they do not appear there? The list includes everyone but them, and, as part of co-production, it is vital that the customer's voice, which is that of the tenant, is included. <BR /> <BR />Others mentioned the carbon reduction targets. If we are going to put targets on owners in the private rental sector to retrofit their homes so that they meet future standards, how are they supposed to meet the costs of that?”
“There needs to be a commencement date for the whole Act — for example, it could be six months from Royal Assent — because we will be moving into a new mandate and it would be good to see the legislation properly enacted, especially given the work that will go on to get it passed. <BR /> <BR />The schedules need to have clarity on electrical standards. I thank the electrical standards people and Housing Rights for meeting me about that part of the Bill. We need further information. For instance, what qualification will the electrician need when inspecting an alarm or the processes involved? Who will be required to inspect the premises to make sure that the alarms work? If that falls to our councils, will they charge landlords or tenants for the inspection, or will they be funded by Communities to carry out that role?”
“Why is that not the same? Can we not have a minimum and a maximum period for tenants in the same way as it is broken down for landlords? <BR /> <BR />What about protection for tenants who have been living in their home for fewer than 12 months? Over the past year, we have seen how a breakout clause would help students, so I ask the Minister whether we can add something for people who have been living in a place for fewer than 12 months. The extension to the notice periods certainly helped to prevent evictions during the pandemic, so I thank the Minister for that. The periods of notice she is talking about are worth exploring to see if they are enough. <BR /> <BR />I find the commencement of the Act in clause 13 to be a little strange, which Mark Durkan talked about.”
“The word "etc" is missing. We do not know what type of alarms there will be in the future. Instead of having to change the legislation to cover whatever alarms are required in the future, we could just add "etc", as it is earlier in the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Under clause 11, it would be useful to know why the notice given by landlords is different to that being asked of tenants. Clause 11(5) confirms that, if the tenancy has lasted more than 12 months but fewer than 10 years, the relevant notice period can be more than eight weeks but not more than six months. If you have been a tenant for more than 10 years, the relevant period rises to more than 12 weeks. Under clause 11(7), tenants have to give four weeks' notice if their tenancy has lasted between 12 months and 10 years and 12 weeks if it has lasted more than 10 years.”
“<BR /> <BR />I agree with the restriction on rent increases outlined in clause 7. It means that rents cannot be increased within 12 months of taking up a tenancy or within 12 months of the last increase. However, I have concerns about the requirement to give written notice in new article 5D, as described in clause 7, as it needs, as I have said before, to be clear when the notice period applies from. Is it the date on the landlord's letter or the date on which the tenant receives the letter? There could be a significant gap between those dates, and, if we are only talking about weeks, that could cause a family a lot of problems. <BR /> <BR />New article 11B in clause 8 deals with a landlord's duty to cover”
“<BR /> <BR />Under clause 3, "Tenant to be provided with a rent receipt for payment in cash", which Mr Allen has already mentioned, I would like to see a receipt provided by the landlord for any cash payments. Also in clause 3, what is meant in new article 5(3)(b) by "reasonably possible" with regard to receipts needs to be clarified. It would be preferable that a time limit of, for example, four weeks was put on the landlord to provide a receipt. <BR /> <BR />I agree with the limit on tenancy deposit outlined in clause 4. That means that a deposit would be restricted to the equivalent of one month's rent. <BR /> <BR />Under clause 6, I look forward to discussing how a landlord who has continually offended in relation to tenancy deposits may have a restriction or even a bar placed on their ability to be a private landlord.”
“Maybe you can address those or officials can bring them to the Committee. Where the Bill requires notice to be served in writing, it is important to clarify whether the notice period relates to the date on the notice or the date on which the tenant receives the notice. That is important, as the letter may not reach the tenant for a number of weeks. Tenants need as much time as possible to comply with a notice, especially in the case of an end to a tenancy, so that they can find a new place to live. It would be good to get that clarification, especially in legislation. That may be dealt with through regulations, but I would prefer it if the Minister could provide clarification and put it in legislation.”
“I thank the Member for that intervention. It is something that I have considered. During Committee discussions with officials, one of the things that I raised was the need to ensure that the definition of homelessness, which is covered by different legislation, will be brought into line with whatever the agreement is on the minimum notice that a landlord must give. The last thing we want is for people to be given the minimum amount of notice, whether it is eight weeks, 12 weeks or whatever it may be, and that person is not deemed homeless until they have four weeks left. Finding a house in four weeks is impossible. That puts pressure on the Housing Executive and on a family. <BR /> <BR />There are some issues with clauses on which I would like clarification, Minister.”
“Even after the judgement in the 2017 Loughran case and the joint statement from the Department for Communities and the Department of Finance in 2020, illegal fees are still being charged. Minister, can you, in your summing up, assure the House that the issue of letting fees will be dealt with in the second piece of legislation, which is where the Department intends to deal with, among other things, a cap on rents? However, there are a number of —”
“That means that more and more people, instead of being able to get a social house, are having to turn to what private rentals are out there. <BR /> <BR />I am not down on all landlords. Not all landlords are bad landlords; indeed, most landlords who are looking at the Bill — I suppose that I should be pointing at Mr Allen of the Ulster Unionists — are good and will welcome it as proposed. It will not cause them a lot of difficulties, because, in most cases, they already deliver what the Minister is pointing out in the legislation. <BR /> <BR />I certainly look forward to working with the Minister and the rest of the Committee to fine-tune the legislation. We know that areas are missing from the Bill. One is the legislation on letting fees.”
“Thank you, Minister, for bringing the Bill's Second Stage to the House. <BR /> <BR />When you are the fifth Member to speak, you are lucky in that colleagues will have said quite a lot of what you wanted to say. Throughout the debate, I was smiling as people picked up parts that I was going to talk about. I will not rehash stuff, but some of it may come up again as I speak. <BR /> <BR />We all know, as the Chair of the Committee said, that 70% of housing stock is private rentals, so we have a huge swathe of people living in private accommodation across Northern Ireland. Why is that the case? As others have said, we need more social housing. The Minister is committed to providing that, but other issues are impacting on that. Planning takes an extraordinary amount of time to get processed.”
“What communications will the First Minister put out to make it known that refugees are welcome and will be included here, and that any allegations about them taking our jobs or homes are to be absolutely taken out of the equation and not considered further?”