Diolch, Lywydd. In support of the ‘Let’s Keep on Supporting People’ campaign for 2017-18, which is now gathering speed, I visited a number of projects during the summer. In one, a recovering alcoholic told me that their Supporting People programme essentially saved their life: ‘with their support past and present I have the chance of a much better life’. The second—I won’t refer to any more—said: ‘it was on 12 March of this year I had my last drink. I was so consumed by negative thoughts, ill health and the desire to end everything, I was nothing but a strain on society, a drain on the NHS, police, doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, support workers in mental health, family friends and God knows what else. All these people and resources taken up by my alcoholic state. The cost of all this: incomprehensible. All this involvement and treatment now has given me an opportunity at life once again’.

Do you recognise, as I’m sure you do, that these projects save money for statutory services, and will you be making representations accordingly as we move towards the draft budget for next year?