In terms of the Welsh housing quality standard, we have 91 per cent compliance so far with that, and we're not yet at the end of the programme. It's important to remember that we would not expect to be 100 per cent compliant before the end of the programme for that. And actually, compliance in the housing association sector is at near blanket. So, I just wanted to put right a couple of the statistics there, and some of the expectations from that.

There are obviously areas where we may be able to get more homes from our investment in housing, which is why we commissioned the affordable housing supplier review last year, and the recommendations for that will be coming forward in April. And there are other reasons associated with why we haven't been able to build council housing or affordable social housing as fast as we would like, which have been rehearsed in this Chamber already, but I will just mention them again, which were the arrangements relating to the way that the housing revenue accounts were controlled. The removal of the cap has meant that we've been able to send out different arrangements to each of the local housing authorities that have got housing revenue accounts, and to have a discussion with those councils that don't have housing revenue accounts about the best way to take social housing forward. So, I think the picture is a great deal more nuanced than Caroline Jones's contribution might have led you to believe.

I just want to talk a little bit more about why we think that social housing should be and is our top priority. It provides not only quality homes but the support needed to ensure people can sustain their tenancies and thrive. It positively impacts on health, mental health and education, which is why Wales never moved away from support for social housing, not since the Assembly came into existence.

We recognise that social housing requires a greater level of Government subsidy, and we're comfortable with this. We support those for whom our investment can have the greatest impact. That investment can also potentially reduce the cost to the taxpayer in other areas. So, we've driven the standards up in social housing. The Welsh quality housing standard ensures, for example, a category D insulation standard, and in the next iteration of the Welsh housing quality standard, we will be looking to raise that to A. So, there was no way to transform the stock overnight from where it was to A, but we will have a second tranche of that in which we will be discussing raising that standard. 

The new build for houses built by local housing associations, which were the only people who were able to build them until the change I just mentioned, Deputy Presiding Officer, have made sure that all the new homes reach their standard by 2020, and all existing stock will reach it by 2036. Sorry, my eyesight's bad. It's 2036. I thought it said 2038. 

So, I just want to belay the suggestion that Caroline Jones appeared to me to be making, that social housing is somehow substandard, and so on, because it most certainly is not. During the relatively short time I've been Minister for Housing and Local Government, I've seen first-hand just how important secure, good-quality housing is to the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

Our integration agenda is supported by £105 million of the integrated care fund, aiming to improve public services by making collaborative working an explicit requirement for local authorities and health boards, while allowing the space for innovation. While the fund is beginning to support accommodation-led solutions to social care alongside housing and health capital programmes, we are supporting it to move towards developing a more scalable strategic programme of capital investment that has housing at its core. I want to see this accommodation-led approach embedded in the models of care we develop for people and vulnerable groups. I did agree with Caroline Jones that vulnerable groups need specialist accommodation, and that is exactly what we're aiming our integrated care fund at. 

You will all be aware that, as a Government, we committed to delivering 20,000 additional affordable homes during this Assembly term. Homes for social rent will make up the largest proportion of that target, although I recognise that there is a need for additional homes right across Wales. We've invested heavily in social housing and in housing more generally in this term, but we don't have limitless resources. We must think creatively about how we can achieve more from our investment and this is something I've challenged my officials to do. The challenge is also central to the independent affordable housing supplier review we commissioned, which will report at the end of April.

One area where I am convinced that we can see an increase in the delivery of social housing is through local authorities building again, and in that regard I do agree with Caroline Jones. I do think there is a need for local housing authorities to start to build social homes again. Now that that borrowing cap that was imposed by the UK Government has been abolished in Wales, authorities can and will start building again. I've had very good conversations across Wales with local authorities eager and willing to do just that. They can have access to very long-term low-cost finance through the Public Works Loan Board, which I'll be encouraging them to leverage to kick-start ambitious council house building projects across Wales.

I also recognise that there are aspects of the way we utilise our social housing stock that are not perfect across Wales. I've been clear that my ambition is for us to build enough high-quality social housing so that everyone who wants to can access it. Until then, we have to do the best we can to ensure we make the best possible use of our social housing to meet the needs of those who need it most. 

Evicting families from social housing, especially in local authorities who are social housing landlords, makes no sense. Once a family has been made homeless, they are likely to be moved into less secure accommodation or even temporary accommodation, which in the worst-case scenario could be a bed-and-breakfast hotel. The authorities have a duty to support families to prevent homelessness or relieve it where it cannot be prevented. True prevention means supporting families to make a success of their tenancies and remain in their communities. This is what we should be trying to achieve, and this is the point I'll be strongly emphasising to local authorities. This is a conversation I will also be having with housing associations.

So, Caroline Jones mentioned a couple of specifics in her case load that I would very much welcome her sending to me, because I would like to look in more detail at the specifics. But in general, looking to evict somebody who's committing anti-social behaviour is not the way forward. The way forward is to address the anti-social behaviour and contain it and allow the family to continue with their tenancy. So, just to be clear, I think we're not quite on the same page on some of those. 

In these uncertain times, with Brexit unresolved, we remain committed to ensuring that social housing continues to be a priority of Wales. I know from a recent debate that many of us across the floor share the same aspirations for social housing and I'm open to working with Members on this agenda. 

So, to conclude, Deputy Presiding Officer, good-quality social housing is the foundation for strong families and communities, the foundation for good health, and the foundation for a good education. This Government will continue to support this vital asset that benefits all of us. Diolch.