Data published earlier this month show that the pressure on our health and care system continues to grow. Social care workers play an essential role in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities and help alleviate pressure on their NHS colleagues. I was so pleased to see their hard work recognised by Rhondda Cynon Taf council, which has committed to providing all of its contracted adult independent social care workers, as well as all direct payment recipients, with the real living wage by December.

It's absolutely right that social care workers receive a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. We know that the pandemic has taken its toll on us all, our health and care service and our local authorities in particular. Given this, will the First Minister please meet with the Minister for local government and our local government colleagues to discuss the possibility of providing immediate financial support to local authorities before Christmas to help meet the social care and NHS challenges this winter?