Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:04 pm on 12 January 2022.
I'd like to thank the committee for tabling this debate today, and for their work on this important report. Thanks too to everyone who contributed to the inquiry, which has painted a heartbreaking picture of the hardship that so many people in our communities have faced during the pandemic, hardship that they continue to face. It's difficult to comprehend the scale of the problem, and I’m pleased to see recommendations on what we can do in practical terms as a Senedd in the short term and longer term to ensure better support for people who are facing economic hardship that means that they have to go into debt to be able to afford essentials such as food, heating and clothes, things to which we all have a fundamental right.