Thank you for your answer, Minister. We are well aware that social care is facing increasing demand. Unfortunately, we are not meeting that demand. This is highlighted all too clearly by Age Cymru's recent 'Care in Crisis' report. Age Cymru found that older people in some parts of Wales were not getting the required carers assessments, and that there was huge variation between local authorities. The social services Act was supposed to end the postcode lottery of care, but we are still finding that some local authorities are better than others in delivering this package.

Minister, what more can your Government do to ensure that local authorities fulfil their duties under the Act, and ensure that budget cuts do not impact upon their ability to fulfil these duties? And I would also like to say that, whilst monitoring this situation across my region, I have noticed within the region different standards of care being given to elderly patients, and I'd like to speak to you at some time about it.

Thank you.