Diolch, Lywydd. Surely no-one can be unaware of the cost-of-living crisis that now threatens to engulf many of our constituents, except perhaps the occupants of No. 10. Inflation has leaped to 5.4 per cent, its highest level in almost 30 years. It's driven by higher costs of clothes, of food and footwear, furniture and household goods, and hold-ups in supply chains at British ports. The Bank of England expects it to rise further, especially if the UK Government continues in its state of paralysis, faced by the concurrent energy crisis, which could lead to an annual increase of £500 or more per household. While wages are rising for some, the cost-of-living increases, combined with measures such as cuts to universal credit, are outstripping this by far and leaving the average worker worse off.

The UK Chancellor says that he's listening. I think that the message from the public would be to start acting decisively before people freeze in their homes or go hungry or lose their tenancies or, indeed, the homes that they own. Many of the levers are in the hands of the UK Government. So, it is a matter of deep regret that the UK Government, and especially the Prime Minister himself, are so focused on intently clinging on to the keys of No. 10 at all costs that they cannot focus at all on the cost-of-living crisis. I can do no better than refer Conservative Members of the Senedd to the words of one of the Prime Minister's own backbenchers—and a former Minister and leadership contender, indeed—today at Prime Minister's questions, when he said to the PM, quoting Cromwell's address to the long Parliament:

'In the name of God, go.'

As the UK Government retreats into a bunker, outside the cold winds are biting. They are biting hard in places like Bury South. As we welcome Christian Wakeford, the new Labour MP for Bury South, today, we note the pertinence of his words on leaving the Conservative Party for this debate that we have today. He said:

'I care passionately about the people of Bury South and I have concluded that the policies of the Conservative Government led by Boris Johnson are doing nothing to help the people of the constituency and indeed are only making the struggles they face on a daily basis worse.'

His words are going to echo in many less affluent areas of the UK, including some that are currently represented by Conservative Members in this Senedd and their Welsh MP colleagues. In Wales, we know that this Johnson effect is telling too. Despite the best efforts of the Welsh Labour Government, it's like swimming upstream against a tide of Johnsonian indifference and ineptitude.

Citizens Advice in Wales tell us that there has already been a 17 per cent increase in people seeking help for debt. The biggest increase in enquiries has been on energy debts, now 150 per cent higher last November than in the same period in 2019. In UK-wide research, they report one in five people cutting back on their food shopping and heating to save money. They anticipate a massive surge in debt and hardship needs when the energy cap is lifted, leading to bills increasing by £500, £600, £700 or more annually. Minister, we know that Citizens Advice and others have specific asks of the UK Government, including a one-off energy support grant targeted at low-income households and a larger uplift in the value of benefits this spring. Well, let's see if the Chancellor is truly listening. But, meanwhile, I ask the Minister to write to the UK Government to bring forward these and other UK emergency measures.

But they also have asks of the Welsh Government, including additional support to help local authorities write off irrecoverable council tax arrears, which rose by 42 per cent last year, and an expansion of the council tax arrears scheme. We can make a difference here in Wales—differences like that made by the household support fund, helping families hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis, targeting support towards lower income households, with immediate help for people facing rising living costs this winter. More than £1.1 million has been provided to support and to bolster foodbanks and community food partnerships and community hubs, to help address food poverty and food insecurity and provide a wide range of services to help people and families to maximise their income. And locally in my area, Labour-led Bridgend borough council are proposing to freeze the level of council tax for the year ahead, to help residents who are suffering from the cost-of-living crisis, and it's thanks to a record increase in funding from Welsh Government. And they're also going to provide an extra £2.5 million to ensure that every local care worker receives a pay rise to at least the living wage. And there's more.

Minister, some of the most powerful levers do not lie here in Wales, but we have got to use every tool at our disposal to help those most affected by this cost-of-living crisis, and to tackle the inertia and indifference of the Johnsonian UK Government. We need to show the different priorities and values and the actions of the Welsh Government and partners locally. So, the motion we debate today calls on Welsh Government to publish an emergency plan to reduce the pressures caused by the twin problems of surging costs of living and stagnating wages. Regardless of the paralysis of UK Government in the face of this gathering storm, let's do all we can in Wales. I urge support for this motion.