Julie James, Minister for Housing and Local Government
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Section 45C of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (‘the 1984 Act’) enables the Welsh Ministers, by regulations, to make provision for the purpose of preventing, protecting against, controlling or providing a public health response to the incidence or spread of infection or contamination in Wales.
As Minister for Housing and Local Government, and using the powers under section 45C of the 1984 Act, I made the Public Health (Protection from Eviction) (Wales) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 to respond to the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incidence and spread of Covid 19. The Regulations came into force on 11 January and are due to expire at the end of the day on 31 March 2021.
Regulation 3 of the Regulations requires that the Welsh Ministers must review the need for the restrictions and requirements imposed, and whether those restrictions are proportionate to what the Welsh Ministers seek to achieve by them:
(a) at least once in the period from 11 January 2021 to 28 January 2021; and
(b) at least once in each subsequent period of 21 days.
In accordance with that requirement, I have completed the first review of the Regulations. I have concluded that given the continued prevalence of Covid 19 in the community and the decision that Wales should remain at Alert Level 4, the Regulations should not be modified or revoked.
A copy of the Regulations and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum can be viewed here and here.