Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Historic day for Welsh devolution
Tomorrow is quite an important day for me in the Assembly as it will mark the final stage of my private members bill on Mobile Homes sites. It has not been an easy ride but I think that the bill as it looks now is a good one and will make a huge difference for mobile home owners across Wales.
I should of course acknowledge the contribution of the Housing Minister and his officials in helping to shape the bill and to get it to this stage. This is the very first Private Member’s Bill under the Assembly’s new powers.
I got into politics to make a difference to people’s lives and that is exactly what this Bill will do. This Bill has always been about fairness and social justice. For too long mobile home residents have had a raw deal and not had the rights they deserve.
Under the current law there is little protection for residents from unscrupulous park homes site owners; a minority of whom may exploit their position for personal gain. Problems can include poor site management and vetoing or deterring legitimate sales. My Bill will stop this unfairness.
If voted through on tomorrow, Wales will have a new system that will protect people by bringing in fair, easy to use processes and clear rights for both residents and site owners. It will also develop a ‘fit and proper’ persons test for park home site owners, and a licensing system, so that park home owners can be confident that their site is effectively managed.
I should of course acknowledge the contribution of the Housing Minister and his officials in helping to shape the bill and to get it to this stage. This is the very first Private Member’s Bill under the Assembly’s new powers.
I got into politics to make a difference to people’s lives and that is exactly what this Bill will do. This Bill has always been about fairness and social justice. For too long mobile home residents have had a raw deal and not had the rights they deserve.
Under the current law there is little protection for residents from unscrupulous park homes site owners; a minority of whom may exploit their position for personal gain. Problems can include poor site management and vetoing or deterring legitimate sales. My Bill will stop this unfairness.
If voted through on tomorrow, Wales will have a new system that will protect people by bringing in fair, easy to use processes and clear rights for both residents and site owners. It will also develop a ‘fit and proper’ persons test for park home site owners, and a licensing system, so that park home owners can be confident that their site is effectively managed.
