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21.02.09
11 Senator S.Y. Mézec of the Chief Minister regarding the publication of the Housing
Policy Development Board (OQ.40/2021)
Further to the answer given to this question on 17th November 2020, is the Chief Minister now in a position to publish the Housing Policy Development Board report, and does he accept its recommendations?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister):
Yes, the Housing Policy Development Board's final report has now been sent to the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Panel to request their comments and feedback. Following this, it is going to be presented to the Council of Ministers in early March and, thereafter, published for the consideration of States Members. The report has also been provided to Andium Homes and other social housing providers in its draft form.
- Senator S.Y. Mézec :
That conveniently missed the last part of my question, which I think was quite clear, which asks does he accept its recommendations?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
At the moment I am working my way through the report and reading it with interest. It is part of my homework to finish it next week. But ultimately it is a matter for the Council of Ministers and the newly appointed what will become the Minister for Housing and Communities. As I say, it is very much going to be a matter for the Council of Ministers in early March.
- Deputy M.R. Higgins:
Could the Chief Minister tell us why he cannot disclose that to all States Members rather than just the Scrutiny Panel? Therefore, letting the findings be widely known and giving Members the opportunity to make comment as well.
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
That will be the case once it goes up to the Council of Ministers and then gets published. It is purely a matter of timing. It is purely a matter that normally, out of courtesy, on things like this we try to let the relevant Scrutiny Panel have the advance warning, sometimes in advance or sometimes just after the Council of Ministers, and then it goes out to States Members.
- Senator S.Y. Mézec :
Will the Chief Minister endeavour to publish as soon as possible after the Housing Policy Development Board report comes out? By that, I mean really soon, because it is going to be, by the look of it, a month until it comes out and he will have had it for 5 months at that point. Will the Chief Minister publish a timetable for the implementation of its recommendations?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
Once the Council of Ministers have considered it, I am sure then that the timetable will come through, which will then determine output as a result of the recommendations and how that then forms into policy and any legislation requirements.