Yes, Mark, I absolutely share your commitment to building a large number of social houses as fast as we can go. Housing is a key priority for the Government and that is why we've made the record investment of £2 billion in housing during this Government term. We've also been consistent in our message that social housing is our top priority, which is why it makes up the single largest element of our commitment to deliver the 20,000 additional affordable homes during this term of Government, which I'm very confident we have done.

The shame about the pandemic is that we would have overstripped that by some way if it hadn't been for the pandemic. But, nevertheless, in contrast to the stats that you've just read out, our latest statistical release—the Government's statistical release—shows that local authorities reported 2,592 additional affordable housing units delivered across Wales, which is a 12 per cent increase on the previous year and the highest annual total to date. A total of 13,142 additional affordable homes have been delivered from 2016 to 2019, and early indications are that 2019-20 will see a significant increase on the improved delivery of 2018-19. In 2019-20, we invested over £137 million in social housing grants and over £25 million in housing finance grants to support the provision of social housing across Wales. And a further £89 million has been budgeted this year.

In addition to that, we're investing £75.1 million of revenue funding over 29 years under the affordable housing grant programme to support local housing authorities to build new council homes. Around 400 new social homes are expected to be funded through this new initiative across Wales. We've already provided councils in Wales with £40 million to support property owners to help bring their empty properties back into use, and to date, we've invested around £90 million in innovative housing solutions under our innovative housing programme. This year's programme sees a further investment to accelerate our ambitions to build high-quality, energy-efficient, low-carbon social homes at scale and pace. And I recently announced £25 million for the IHP modern methods of construction special fund, as I just discussed with my colleague Joyce Watson, and a £19.5 million fund for the optimised retrofit programme, which I've just outlined in this answer.

Our latest new house building in Wales stats for October to December 2019 were published on 5 March 2020. During the 12 months to the end of December 2019, a total of 6,129 new dwellings were started, which is up 2 per cent on the 12 months to the end of December 2018. And during 12 months to the end of December 2019, a total of 6,071 new dwellings were completed, which is up 4 per cent on the 12 months to December 2018.