In the last term of Government, we achieved our target to build 10,000 affordable homes. We have committed to an ambitious target of delivering a further 20,000 affordable homes during this term of Government. Whilst it's early days and we can't afford to be complacent, I am confident that we can achieve this by continuing to work closely with partners involved in housing delivery.

We're making a record £1.7 billion investment in housing in this Assembly term towards the improvement of existing homes and the development of new homes. Last year alone, we invested £124 million in our social housing grant programme, and a capital equivalent of £55 million in our housing finance grant. In addition, we have protected social housing for future generations and for those who need it most, with the abolition of the right to buy and the right to acquire. 

We also acknowledge the importance of addressing a range of different housing needs. We know that what some people want is support to buy their own home. The Welsh Government now supports a range of products aimed at helping people access home ownership: an offer that was expanded at the end of February when I launched the Rent to Own—Wales and Shared Ownership—Wales schemes. Help to Buy—Wales has been a real success. By the end of March 2018, the scheme had supported the construction and sale of nearly 6,900 homes, and it will make a significant contribution to the delivery of our 20,000 affordable homes target.

We recognise that we need to continue investing in housing, as this has clear benefits for the economy, supporting the construction industry and the associated supply chain. I'm working with local housing authorities to help them start building new council homes at pace and scale for the first time in decades. I want local authorities to be more ambitious in this area. They have a vital role in identifying the need for additional housing, but they're also well placed to identify creative means of responding to this need and strengthening our communities.

One of our key challenges as a nation is reducing carbon across all sectors, and housing is no different. If we are to meet our climate change responsibilities, we need to take urgent steps to see how we can introduce low and zero-carbon homes into mainstream delivery as soon as possible. Our innovative housing programme has made a good start at looking at potential solutions to some of these challenges. I'm excited by some of the projects that we've already funded. This work has included developing a better understanding of the practical issues that surround off-site manufacturing and construction, and I look forward to seeing even bolder innovative designs and innovative ideas being presented in the coming year, and I'll have more to say to Members later in the year once these proposals have been scrutinised.

Since coming into post, I have had the chance to listen to many views on the opportunities we have to work together with partners to improve delivery in the housing sector. This has been fascinating, thought-provoking and has given me a real insight into some of the key challenges that we face. We have already achieved a lot, and we have ambitious targets for this term of Government, but as we look to the future I am clear that there's more that needs to be done to accelerate house building across all tenures.

We face particular challenges as we seek to respond to the growing need for affordable housing solutions. It is therefore important that we occasionally step back to consider whether we are taking the best approach possible, and whether we're using our resources to the greatest effect, especially given the continuing impact of austerity. This is why, in April, I announced a review of current arrangements across the affordable housing sector.

I've established an impressive independent panel to oversee this work. This will ensure that the review is transparent and robust, and the panel will recommend changes, as it sees fit, and I expect the panel to report by the end of April 2019. My intention is that the review should futureproof our housing supply policies and ensure that we're investing in the right programmes for the longer term, making the best use of our resources. The review panel is tasked with developing an independent view, but I've emphasised that its findings need to be fully informed by wide engagement with the housing organisations and all those who care about housing in Wales, and have an appreciation of our distinctive circumstances.

There is huge expertise and enthusiasm, as well as lots of energy and ideas, in the housing sector and amongst tenants, and it's important that we harness that if we are to find the best way forward. I'm pleased that we've been able to assemble a panel that offers such a strong cross-section of skills and expertise across the breadth of areas being considered by the review. As I've previously told the Chamber, the panel will be chaired by Lynn Pamment, Cardiff office senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. The members bring real insight into housing supply issues and solutions both in Wales and further afield.

The panel are in the process of establishing a series of work stream areas. These work streams will involve members drawn from across the housing sector to inform the review's work. Detailed areas for investigation will include housing need, modern methods of construction, grant intervention rates, rent policy, and the use of public sector land. The full list of all the work streams identified by the panel was sent to all Assembly Members last week.

In addition to the work groups, the review panel will engage extensively with housing organisations involved in the delivery of affordable housing, as well as tenant groups. Panel members are anxious to contribute to events and conferences wherever possible. They also want to tap into the vast knowledge that we know exists in housing organisations, and amongst the people they represent.

So, I would urge Members also to engage with the review and to offer their opinions. I know that all parties in this Chamber are concerned about meeting housing needs. We all appreciate the challenge of getting the most out of our limited resources, and I hope everyone will take the opportunity to feed their views in and provide evidence for the panel to consider.

The review panel are in the process of issuing a call for evidence. This will be sent to a wide-ranging list of identified stakeholders and those believed to have an interest in the review. I know that the Chair is anxious that the review should provide a means for all those who wish to make a contribution to the discussion on this vital topic to have the opportunity to do so.

To close, Presiding Officer, I would add that the panel will certainly be looking very closely at the contributions in today's debate in terms of informing their way forward. Thank you.