7. Will the Minister make a statement on support for residents to reduce energy costs in their homes? OQ55690

Thank you, Darren. Since 2011, support to people in Wales to improve their home energy efficiency has been available through our Warm Homes programme, which has helped more than 61,400 households reduce their energy bills. Improvements to home energy efficiency in the social housing sector is supported through the Welsh housing quality standard.

Thank you for that answer, Minister. I recently held a meeting with residents in Llysfaen, which is just outside Colwyn Bay in my Clwyd West constituency. I've corresponded with you on behalf of residents in Llysfaen in the past because there was the potential prospect of a gas mains connection scheme for that community. It's quite an elevated community and very exposed to the elements, so heating costs are very high. Unfortunately, the proposed gas scheme didn't stack up because of the financial costs of getting those mains connections in place. What assurances can you provide to my constituents that, should an alternative scheme that is non-gas related come forward, you'll be able to sign it off prior to the end of this financial year, if that package is presented to you by Arbed am Byth?

Well, Darren, obviously, I can't comment on an individual scheme of that sort or give such an assurance, as I don't know enough about the individual detail. I'm more than happy, though, to talk with you about the detail of that and to try my very best to see what we can do for residents who find themselves in that situation. As you rightly said, Arbed, which is actually in the portfolio of my colleague the Minister Lesley Griffiths, provides schemes of that sort to assist people who find themselves off gas grid, with oil and various other more expensive alternatives for heating a home, and insulation and so on.  So, I can't give that very specific promise that you ask from me, but I'm very happy to talk with you and my colleague Lesley Griffiths in terms of what schemes might be available for that particular instance.