Deirdre Hargey
South Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“His double standards, including his condemnation of and opposition to equality and rights for our LGBTQ+ citizens, have caused real harm to others. The revelations about his double life expose the staggering hypocrisy of the DUP's moral facade. We need to know whether failing to act sooner left more vulnerable people at risk.”
“One week ago today, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sexual offences, including rape. That conviction was made possible only by the strength and resilience of the two victims who came forward and reported the abuse. Donaldson was an abuser. He abused children, but he also abused his position in politics and faith.”
“They now say that they knew about his behaviour, but, crucially, they did nothing to expose his inappropriate hypocrisy and double life. The 'Spotlight' programme and other reports have shown that senior members of the DUP — its most senior figures, including the then leader, Edwin Poots — were aware of serious issues and allegations abou…”
“It is therefore not credible to suggest that the intelligence agencies were blind to his compromised double standards and double life. <BR /> <BR />Those questions demand answers from the DUP leadership. They demand answers in the House from the deputy First Minister, who was closely associated with Donaldson.”
“It is clear that there is a huge disconnect between Whitehall and the reality that is being felt by people on the ground. A British Treasury policy that is managing decay, real-terms cuts and disastrous policy decisions such as Brexit or the funding of wars over public services comes on top of existing disparities between how public servi…”
“The answer is not the short-term fixes or cash injections that we have had in the past, which have allowed for the repeated Treasury script of record settlements and inability of the Executive to manage their finances — scripts that are often parroted in the Chamber.”
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“<BR /> <BR />As Minister for Communities, I have endeavoured to put in place a range of highly responsive and targeted interventions to help and support families and those who make up the very fabric of our society, including charities, voluntary organisations, sporting bodies and the arts. Now that the Executive have published their road map for recovery, I will continue to monitor the adverse impacts of this pandemic on these target groups, and I will engage across government with our partners in the voluntary and community sector and the private sector to address issues as they arise. <BR /> <BR />We are all focused on moving out of the current crisis while, of course, ensuring that we protect people in the midst of this pandemic and looking at a phased approach to recovery.”
“These measures will enable councils to continue the effective delivery of local services while being mindful of the health and safety of their members, officers and the public. <BR /> <BR />It is vital that we facilitate the continuation of council business whilst adhering to public health guidance and that we enable our councillors to continue to participate in democratic local government. Following discussions with the Department of Finance, I am pleased to confirm that councils are eligible to apply to the furloughed staff scheme through the job retention scheme. My priority has been to ensure that the rights of workers are respected and to protect jobs.”
“That intervention will provide relief to our councils, protect the delivery of vital front-line services during this crisis and ensure that councils are ready to play their role in our post-pandemic recovery plans. <BR /> <BR />I have also introduced legislation to relax some requirements for local government meetings, enabling them to hold meetings by remote means, including via telephone conferencing, video conferencing, live web chat and live streaming. Provision has also been made for remote access to council meetings by members of the public. In addition, information that generally has to be made available at council offices will now be made available on council websites.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also want to recognise the important role being played by local councils in helping to support and protect people in need during this public health emergency. I am aware that councils are facing significant financial pressures, mainly due to the closure of their facilities and the resultant loss of expected income. The losses sustained to date are of such magnitude that councils will soon be unable to meet their financial liabilities. I am therefore delighted that I received Executive approval to make an immediate intervention to avoid a cliff-edge financial crisis developing in local government. Yesterday, the Executive agreed to make available to my Department funding of £20·3 million to alleviate the financial pressures on councils.”
“That money will maintain the delivery of housing support services across a wide spectrum of organisations doing vital work with older people, people with disabilities, those with mental health and well-being issues, those who find themselves homeless or threatened with homelessness, and vulnerable young people. The funds will be used to address the significant staff shortages in the immediate term and mounting pressure in this area if the number of COVID-19 cases in the Supporting People schemes continues to increase. This funding allocation represents our commitment to the vulnerable people in Supporting People schemes, and the staff providing support to them. We support them and we are working hard to ensure their safety and well-being.”
“<BR /> <BR />In my statement to the COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee, I outlined the importance of protecting the homeless during this crisis. The Housing Executive has set up a dedicated team to manage its response to the crisis and has put in place a number of interventions to support homeless individuals or those threatened with homelessness. We will continue to take all possible measures to prevent vulnerable people from sleeping on our streets, and I commend all those who have worked with us to make sure that that has happened and to keep people safe. <BR /> <BR />I am extremely grateful to my Executive colleagues for yesterday prioritising a further £10 million in funding for the Supporting People programme.”
“That legislation will protect private renters by securing their accommodation, allowing them to protect their health and reducing the movement of people. It will also enable vulnerable people to shield, self-isolate and socially distance themselves. <BR /> <BR />A document providing housing-related advice to assist tenants and landlords to remain safe and secure, and comply with obligations while observing social-distancing guidelines, was published on 16 April 2020. A further update was provided on 6 May to reflect the extended notice-to-quit period contained in the Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act 2020. The guidance is hosted on the DFC website, nidirect and linked to the websites of partner organisations, including the Housing Rights Service, councils and housing providers.”
“PRONI’s work has been critical in allowing the Redress Board to begin compensating victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />During this crisis, I have been very conscious of the need to provide assurance to households facing difficulties in paying their rent. Whilst we received initial commitments from the Housing Executive and all our housing associations to treat such cases with extreme sensitivity, I have followed that up with legislative cover to strengthen protection for private renters during the COVID-19 crisis. <BR /> <BR />The Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Bill was approved by the Assembly on 28 April, and it ensures that landlords will now be required to give tenants a 12-week notice-to-quit period.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am very conscious that the impact of this crisis on construction and on tourism has created very significant challenges for the heritage sector. My Department owns 190 state care monuments. Access to those is restricted in line with public health guidance, but I am pleased that we are able to keep them accessible to pedestrians. <BR /> <BR />It is important that other priority work in the Department is able to continue. I can advise that officials in the Public Record Office (PRONI) have been liaising with the Executive Office, the Department of Justice and the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board to process requests from vulnerable victims and survivors who gave evidence to the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry.”
“<BR /> <BR />The £750,000 hardship fund, managed by Sport NI, has provided financial assistance through a grant of up to £2,000 to sports clubs and organisations to assist with essential overheads and the costs of maintaining their facilities during the COVID-19 lockdown period. <BR /> <BR />The level of demand for financial relief through the hardship fund for sport has been exceptional, with over 350 applications received since it opened on 14 April. I regret that, for now, the scheme has had to be suspended pending assessment of those applications that have already been submitted. The suspension of the scheme will continue to be kept under review, and I hope, subject to additional funding becoming available, to reopen the scheme in the future.”
“The arts sector has such an important role to play in keeping spirits high but also, importantly, in promoting creativity in these difficult times and as we move into a recovery period. <BR /> <BR />I also recognise that sporting organisations at every level, from grassroots to those who compete at an international level, are facing serious financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions. I have worked with Sport NI and the Sports Forum to take immediate practical steps to support sporting organisations. That has involved an early release of the 2020-21 grant awards and the launch of a hardship fund for sport.”
“Given that this is a limited fund and it will not reach everything, it is important that any scheme to support charities is carefully considered and ensures that the best possible use of our resources is available to support and prioritise the needs within the sector. I am having discussions with Executive colleagues and hope to be in a position to make an announcement on that programme later this week. <BR /> <BR />I am conscious that other sectors are facing significant challenges at this time. I have announced a new £1 million COVID-19 creative support fund, which will be a mechanism to support individual artists and institutions in finding innovative ways to combat social isolation and address well-being challenges.”
“<BR /> <BR />Following the recent announcement regarding financial support for charities and the allocation of £15·5 million in the Barnett consequential to support charities here, I have been developing plans to launch an Executive scheme to support charities impacted by COVID-19. Many local charities are at the front line in responding to the emergency and in supporting our most vulnerable citizens both now and as we plan the recovery phase. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the impact that the COVID-19 emergency has had on traditional fundraising activities and that this is a worrying time for many charities. The charities sector is made up of a diverse group doing fantastic work in our local communities.”
“Those important community projects have now received six months' advance funding, totalling £7·6 million, to enable them to continue delivering vital services to those most vulnerable in our communities. <BR /> <BR />In addition, we have introduced the COVID-19 community support fund, releasing £1·5 million initially through local government’s existing community support programme. The funding has enabled our local councils to directly support grassroots organisations in tackling poverty and helping those in greatest need, and I hope to make a further announcement on the next step of that funding soon.”
“We have been working closely with the Health and Social Care Board and other health partners to ensure that the necessary arrangements are put in place to allow that to happen. <BR /> <BR />My Department has taken the lead in responding to the challenges that community and voluntary sector organisations face by introducing a range of flexibilities in terms and conditions around grant funding, including upfront payment and reduced bureaucracy. To enable that to happen, my Department has prepared the necessary contracts for funding and paid out over £9·5 million in grant payments to over 300 organisations since 1 April. <BR /> <BR />I have also ensured the protection of the management and delivery of three programmes under the People and Place strategy. The strategy supports over 300 projects across 62 geographical areas of deprivation.”
“My Department has also been working with the Department of Health, the Health and Social Care Board and the four major supermarket retailers to put in place a registration process for those who have been advised by their GPs to shield for 12 weeks and who may need to avail themselves of priority online shopping delivery slots. That is a welcome development, and I hope that it will address the very real concerns and frustrations expressed by people in getting access to regular food supplies. <BR /> <BR />One of the other priorities is to ensure the safe delivery of medication to vulnerable people and those who are isolating and cannot arrange for anyone to collect their prescriptions.”
“Hundreds of community organisations have availed themselves of funding to assist with food support to vulnerable people. Over 200 Spar, Eurospar and Vivo stores, as well as a large variety of independent retailers at local community level, are now also offering home delivery services to help those who are unable to get their own groceries. If anyone is in need of food or other advice or support, they should contact the COVID-19 community helpline in the first instance.”
“It will also allow those who are at risk of social isolation to see a friendly face and to know that we, as a society, have not forgotten about them. There is a tremendous amount of goodwill and generosity in the action across our society, which is very welcome at this challenging time. <BR /> <BR />The access to food offer of support is broader than online shopping slots and food parcels for those in most critical need. Council coordinated volunteers can also assist with shopping for those who need it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Working collaboratively across Departments, health and social care trusts, local councils, community and voluntary organisations and the private sector, we put in place a programme to distribute food to vulnerable people across communities, and also to those who are self-isolating. My Department is investing £10 million in the service over the next three months, and over 70,000 food boxes have been delivered to those who need them. The food parcel service has been hugely successful in getting immediate food and essential supplies to those in need. The vital service will ensure that those most in need in our society, who do not have a support network or family and friends to help them through the emergency, will have access to basic food supplies.”
“I remain committed to doing everything that I can to ensure that those most in need, and the most vulnerable, receive the maximum amount of financial assistance and support during this difficult time. <BR /> <BR />We have also progressed a range of other interventions to ensure that support is made available to all those who are in need. One of the Department's early interventions, in partnership with Advice NI, was the establishment of the freephone COVID-19 community helpline. The service is available seven days a week from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm to ensure that the most vulnerable and those at risk of COVID-19 have access to practical support services and emotional support at this most difficult time.”
“The change will mean that many people will see an increase in the amount of money that they receive in benefits during these three months. <BR /> <BR />Recovery of all social fund and discretionary support loans will be suspended and customers who are currently making repayments through a bank standing order may wish to contact their bank to cancel their arrangement. However, that will need to be set up again following this pause period. For people who are repaying through other means, the Department has already written to employers asking them to the stop deductions from salaries, and all recoveries by direct debit will also be suspended for three months.”
“<BR /> <BR />Changes have also been made to ensure that if a person loses entitlement to universal credit on account of their income, the Department will treat the person as reclaiming universal credit for up to five assessment periods, rather than closing their claim, meaning that a person does not need to make a new claim if earnings reduce. <BR /> <BR />As well as delivering on our priority to get money into families and households to alleviate hardship, I have taken the decision to suspend, for a period of three months, the recovery of benefit overpayments and loan repayments from a number of social security benefits. The measure will provide some financial easement to people with benefit overpayment-related debt or an outstanding loan balance.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will make further amendments to assist the self-employed by ensuring that the treatment of payments, made under the job retention scheme to fund payments to the self-employed person’s employee, are applied appropriately and not taken into account in the self-employed person’s universal credit award. In addition, any other loan or grant to meet the losses of their expenses of the claimant’s business, in relation to the coronavirus outbreak, is to be disregarded in the calculations of the person’s capital.”
“However, given the significant staff absences being experienced across all benefit operational areas, it is taking longer for some calls to be answered. To help, new online application forms for ESA and JSA have been introduced and are available on nidirect. The forms can be downloaded, completed and emailed directly to the relevant benefit area for processing. <BR /> <BR />The minimum income floor in universal credit has also been suspended for the duration of the outbreak, meaning that every self-employed person can now access universal credit in full. It ensures that the self-employed are fully supported by the benefit and social security system so that they can follow the Government's guidelines on social distancing and self-isolation.”
“Access to telephony channels will continue to be available for anyone who is claiming universal credit, PIP, ESA, JSA and discretionary support.”
“<BR /> <BR />From 16 March to 15 May, my Department delivered more than £2·3 million in discretionary support payments through 13,278 awards to people in need, including just over £1 million due to more than 6,863 new COVID-19 living expenses awards made to people directly impacted by coronavirus. That was one of the legislative changes that I introduced, with the approval of the Assembly, in April. I know that those payments have been a lifeline to many and have enabled them to provide for their families and to keep them safe, in line with Government guidelines. <BR /> <BR />We have also suspended face-to-face appointments across our jobs and benefits network, as well as medical assessments for personal independence payment (PIP) and employment and support allowance (ESA).”
“We have amended the regulations to widen the grant eligibility criteria in order to provide a grant for short-term living expenses to assist claimants who are affected by COVID-19. For applications, we have increased the income threshold to £20,405 and have changed the debt threshold from £1,000 to £1,500. That will ensure that more people on low incomes can access emergency financial support. An online living expenses grant application form is also now available on nidirect. Staff have been redeployed to this area to ensure that we can manage the increase in applications. The form can be completed and submitted online without the need to download or email.”
“Staff have been working extremely hard. According to data from 16 March to 14 May, we have made 140,294 payments on time, representing about 99·3% of all payments due by then. Members will be aware that the universal credit standard allowance has been increased for everyone by £86·67 a month. In addition, everyone making a new claim to universal credit can apply for a non-repayable universal credit contingency fund grant that is available through the discretionary support. This is publicised through nidirect, the main citizen-facing information portal, as well as through the Department's social media channels, and through a network of grassroots independent advice and community organisations. <BR /> <BR />A number of steps has been taken to improve our ability to respond to the increased demand for discretionary support.”
“<BR /> <BR />During this period, I have widened the eligibility criteria for some of our support in order to provide further help and to direct the support to people who find themselves in a crisis situation as a result of COVID-19. That has been possible only by the swift introduction of significant changes in how we operate, including removing some processes, such as suspending reviews and reassessments for health and disability benefits for three months and introducing necessary changes to the discretionary support scheme. <BR /> <BR />Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, on 16 March, there has been an increase of 294% in claims to universal credit and a 110% increase in claims to jobseeker's allowance (JSA). That equates to about 71,000 applicants for universal credit, with an average of 7,900 claims a week.”
“It has been truly humbling to witness the extraordinary efforts and selfless actions of so many, including my staff in the Department for Communities, our partner organisations, local councils, the voluntary and community sector, local sporting bodies, faith organisations, and the many, many community activists who have all played their part in protecting those most in need at this time. <BR /> <BR />In a statement to the COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee on 9 April, I advised that one of my key priorities was to ensure that our services were reconfigured in a way that maintained delivery of our suite of social security supports for those most in need. Officials in the Department have faced a dual challenge to adapt quickly to social-distancing measures to protect our staff whilst responding to the unprecedented demand for our services.”
“Thanks very much, and thank you to all Members. If you see me looking at my phone, it is because my sister has been taken in at 10.30 to have her baby. I am waiting on news of the arrival. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to have this opportunity to provide a further update to the Assembly on the work being taken forward across my Department and with multiple partner organisations to support and protect those most in need during this public health emergency. To begin with, I wish to place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who have gone the extra mile to help strangers, their families, their neighbours and their communities during the crisis.”
“I encourage Members to engage in a collaborative way with other Ministers, as I will do. I am sure that those Ministers will take steps to deal with the issue and, again, I ask Members to take it up and engage in a constructive way with the Minister for the Economy. <BR /> <BR />I want to thank people. I will provide an update on the issue of councils and supermarket priorities. We hope to have movement on that issue in the next week. <BR /> <BR />I commend the Bill to the House.”
“The issue of students is not within my remit. That said, it has come up as an issue. As an elected representative for the South Belfast constituency, which includes the Holylands, I know that we are cheek by jowl with a local university and there are a lot of students. I have been in contact with the Department for the Economy, which has responsibility for the student hardship fund, and it is looking at additional resources and what else can be done. <BR /> <BR />I have acted on anything within my remit. I have seen what we can do about the guidance on additional financial support. I have declared an emergency to ensure that groups such as students can avail themselves of that support. I have moved on those issues but, if it is not within my competency or remit, I cannot go into another Department and tell it what to do.”
“Thank you. I am not going to talk for too long. Again, I take the opportunity to thank the Committee, and its Chair, for the speed in which it approached the Bill; the Speaker's Office for allowing this to be done in two days; all of the Members who have contributed to the debate and who want to get this legislation through as soon as possible; the staff within the Department; and the activists in the community for the community response, which has been amazing throughout this pandemic: they have worked together and collaborated. What it has really shown is that things that could not be moved before, could be moved during the pandemic and, if they can be done during the pandemic, they can certainly be done after it. Hopefully, there will be a lot of lessons learned as a result of this in the time ahead.”
“I also thank Assembly officials, my departmental officials and my legal team who have worked to help achieve that. David and Eilish, who have worked on it, are in the Chamber this evening. <BR /> <BR />I hope that all parties can give the Bill their full support, and I hope that they understand the reasons why I have brought the Bill and why I do not want a delay in it: now is the time for action, not delay. I commend the Bill to the House.”
“My Department will publish guidance in relation to the legislative change that will assist tenants and landlords in better understanding the new rights and obligations that will come into effect under the new law. <BR /> <BR />Numerous stakeholders, such as officials from other Departments, Legal Services and, importantly, those at the grassroots, such as the housing rights sector, have worked closely with the Department in the development of the Bill, and I take this opportunity to thank them for their contributions. I extend my thanks to them for the speediness with which they responded to this emerging situation. I join those across government and the health service to urge everyone to stay at home and stay safe. I thank Committee members and the Chair for their support in helping to get the legislation through so quickly.”
“These are extraordinary times in which a number of people will temporarily struggle to pay their rent through no fault of their own. In the meantime, they need certainty in their homes, and they need to be assured that they are safe and that their landlords cannot move to evict them. The Bill will ensure that no renter in private accommodation will be forced out of their home during this difficult time. <BR /> <BR />Landlords will be required to give tenants 12 weeks' notice to quit before seeking a court order to begin proceedings to evict. That will reduce the possibility of tenants in the private rented sector becoming homeless and mean that no tenant is evicted because of an inability to pay rent during this period of economic disruption.”
“If you start to get into an argument around rights, you leave people open to having no protection. It would be irresponsible of me, or anyone in the Chamber, to do that, because it would mean that people would be unprotected for a longer period. That would be a bigger disgrace. <BR /> <BR />The response to the public health emergency will endeavour to reduce the movement of people between households in the private rented sector. That will allow the shielding of vulnerable people, self-isolation and social distancing in line with public health advice. <BR /> <BR />Private renters continue to be a group who are facing significant concerns and anxieties during this period, particularly due to the loss of employment for many.”
“Any delay would be a delay on those protections. That is the critical point. The public health advice is clear: stay at home, protect our key workers and save lives. I also consider the Bill necessary to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to provide private renters with additional support as we battle COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />The fear around challenging landlords, or others, in court, as a result of this response, has been touched on. I do not fear any landlord or developer; I never have. In fact, as a community activist and as a political activist, I have fought landlords, all the way to the High Court, about the rights of communities, and I will continue to do that. I do not fear any of them. My concern is around the timescale and the response.”
“Thanks very much, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, and, again, thanks to Members. I welcome the opportunity to speak about my Bill, which responds to the coronavirus outbreak and the public health emergency that has followed. <BR /> <BR />Due to the crisis caused by the pandemic, it has been necessary for me to take steps to introduce measures to help prevent and reduce significant numbers of households coming under threat of being homeless at a time of crisis and when housing, health and other public services are under extreme pressure, and where there is a significant risk to individuals, their health and their well-being as a result. The Bill is necessary during this unprecedented public health emergency to ensure that private renters are provided with protections during this difficult crisis.”
“In the past few years, that rate has been frozen. The local housing allowance freeze was lifted, and it has been increased for everyone. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, people who have become unemployed can now apply for discretionary housing payments to have their full rent covered for the 13 weeks. That protection extends to housing benefit for universal credit claimants.”
“This is about bringing in protections here and now so that no one will be left homeless during this public health pandemic. Any delay on this of a week or two could push it back. It would have to be redrafted and go to the Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO) and the Attorney General. It would have to go back to the Executive and to the Committee and then a result brought back to the Chamber. That is the concern for me. That is the only overriding fact for me. I want to get the protections in as soon as possible, so I ask Members to reject the amendments. <BR /> <BR />The last thing that I want to add relates to housing benefit, because it was raised. Obviously, there is a housing cost element to housing benefit and universal credit. People are entitled to the local housing allowance. That was set at the bottom end of private rents.”
“Again, this is all predicated on public health advice and medical advice. That will be assessed as we move through this in the coming weeks. I ask for that amendment to be rejected for those reasons to allow me to take that forward. <BR /> <BR />I know that the last amendment was withdrawn, but my Department issued guidance to tenants and landlords a few weeks ago. That guidance will be taken into account by the court service. We have had engagement with the court service and the Lord Chief Justice. I am bringing the protections in to try to protect the most vulnerable at this time as a response to the coronavirus. This is not trying to change the whole Private Tenancies Bill; that will be at another stage, and we will have the proper consideration.”
“If medical advice comes out after the 12-week period saying that there is a second spike, there may be a new wave and we still need people to shield, I need to respond to that as quickly as possible. In my current legislation, that means that you do not have the full and proper scrutiny, but surely people can understand my reasons and intent for asking for that to be done. I do not want to be in a scenario where I cannot table the regulations because there is a summer recess and the Assembly is not sitting. <BR /> <BR />I give a commitment that the regulations will have the proper scrutiny of the Committee. I give a commitment that I will engage early in that scrutiny to allow the members of the Committee to take the time to look at that if there is a need to do that.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the regulations extending the relevant period beyond 12 weeks — to look at draft affirmative procedure — that amendment would make things more complex if I needed to extend the notice-to-quit period. In all cases, the regulations are scrutinised by the Committee, but the main reason to reject the amendment is a practical one. A scenario in which the Assembly was not sitting, whether that was as a result of the coronavirus — we do not know how this will unfold over the coming weeks and months — or, possibly, because of the summer recess, is the reason that we have gone through accelerated passage and tried to hear the Bill over two days rather than over an extended period. We are trying to move it as quickly as possible to offer those protections.”
“That was considered during the policy-making process, and I touched on that last week. As I set out last week, taking account of legal advice received, I do not believe that it is possible to do so without making the legislation vulnerable to legal challenge. I would love to retrospectively have the legislation put back, but my reason for not moving on this is that you would get into legal challenge and debate. Again, that would delay the legislation. The point of the legislation is to bring protections in now, not to bring them in in two weeks. Any legal wrangling, argument or disagreement will delay the Bill's implementation. Therefore, you are actually working against what, you say, you are trying to do. That is the concern around trying to get into the debate around retrospective planning.”
“We are responding to a public health emergency, an emergency such as we have never seen in our lifetime. The 12-week period is tied to the shielding period and the public health advice that people need to shield for 12 weeks if they receive a letter. As of last week, people were still receiving those shielding letters from their GP. That measure is to protect the most vulnerable and enable buy-to-let landlords to have the three-month mortgage holiday. Therefore I consider the interference with landlords' property rights lawful, justified and proportionate. An appropriate balance has been struck to address the public health emergency in this period. <BR /> <BR />The amendment to request the Bill to take effect from 21 April would give a retrospective aspect to the legislation.”
“It would mean that the Bill was outside legislative competence, and it would likely be challenged; we know that. I am informed that that challenge would likely be successful. Therefore, while there may have been good intent behind that amendment, it would mean that, if the Bill were passed, it would do nothing and protect no one. It would fall to that legal challenge, and, therefore, there would be no protections for tenants. <BR /> <BR />The extension to 12 weeks is proportionate. It is a proportionate response to the current crisis. This is not normal private tenancy legislation, and the amendments were tabled in response to the public health emergency that we face. The other issues will be debated in the proper manner of primary legislation, but we are not in that space.”
“Any changes will mean a delay in the legislation, and that will mean a delay in the protections. I understand 100% that people want oversight and accountability. In the normal run of things, that is what would happen, and I would have no problem with that. I do weekly tie-ins with the Chair of the Committee. I know that the Committee is keen to scrutinise, but any delay will mean that tenants will be unprotected for a period. That is the concern for me. <BR /> <BR />There is a proposal to change the 12-week period for notice to quit to one year. Believe me, I have tried to push that as much as I can to give as much protection as I can, but that amendment would distort the balance that the Bill strikes between rights. That is the fundamental issue.”
“We are in a crisis; we are in a public health emergency; we are in a global pandemic. As Minister for Communities, I am trying to respond to that global health emergency as quickly as possible. At times, that means that I cannot bring things through by the proper processes, but that does not mean that we cannot have oversight. Obviously, that is important. It must be at the forefront of our minds that we ensure that we do not delay the protections being brought in. That is the big concern for me. Any undue delay will mean that people are not protected and we extend that situation for another few weeks. That would be unacceptable for anyone, as you will know from engaging with people who are being impacted. It is also important, as agreed last week, that the legislation moves as quickly as possible.”