Diolch, Lywydd. I’d like to thank Llyr Gruffydd for bringing this short debate forward. As you said, it’s the first one of this fifth Assembly, and I think it’s a very important topic to choose for the first one.

The Environment and Sustainability Committee’s report on smarter energy is a very important contribution, I think, to the energy policy debate, and I do look forward to responding to it formally in due course. So, I want to assure not just Llyr but all Members that it won’t be forgotten, because it’s been one of the first things I’ve read, actually, since coming into the portfolio on the energy side of it.

The Welsh Government shares much of the committee’s vision for the future, and I think you’re absolutely right, Llyr—it is constructive and it does bring forward very practical solutions, which I think we need to consider very carefully. I think we also need to look at the recent publication of the Institute for Welsh Affairs report at the same time. Advice is also coming forward to me from the task and finish groups that were established by the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport during the last Assembly term.

I believe we should all strive to bring about a Wales where low-carbon energy is a key driver in a vibrant economy, the energy sector continues to grow strongly and create good quality jobs, and communities drive forward the energy agenda and benefit directly from the generation of local energy. Energy underpins our whole way of life in today’s society, and I think the point that Lee Waters made about you have to take the community with you—you have to get them to understand their use of energy, and how we can take that forward. I think throughout the inquiry the committee did receive a great deal of evidence on how the transition to a smarter energy system in Wales could be taken forward, and again, I think this is a really valuable contribution to this agenda.