The frustrating thing for so many of us is that this is a crisis that we've seen coming. We've known energy prices are rocketing, we've known inflation is rising, yet what did this Conservative UK Government do? They cut universal credit, taking away a vital lifeline for the most vulnerable in society, they chose to raise national insurance, which will hit so many, and then, this morning, we've heard today that they've stood by to let inflation hit a 30-year high. As I speak, the Conservatives in Westminster are too distracted by the latest Downing Street disaster to get a grip on this crisis. This is why I really welcome this debate today, and I'm pleased to support the motion.

While most of the levers to counter the cost of living remain within the Westminster Government, it is imperative that the Welsh Government still must do whatever it can to alleviate the worst impacts of this crisis. The Welsh Government must be commended on the £51 million package that the Welsh Government drew from its reserves in November to help tackle the soaring cost of living through the winter. At a time when the UK Government Conservatives refuse to take meaningful action on the cost-of-living crisis, Welsh Government stepped in, and I and many residents are grateful for that. Through this funding, the Welsh Government have introduced good schemes: the council tax reduction scheme, the winter fuel support fund and a tenancy hardship fund. These will all make a difference, but, as we head through the coming months, we must explore whether there's scope to push further.

Firstly, with regard to the tenancy hardship fund, with rent arrears often come other debts too. The citizens advice bureaux have seen a dramatic rise in the demand for their debt advice services. Traditionally, the majority of the concerns are centred around council tax arrears, people who are struggling with escalating debts, additional fees and threats of bailiffs. However, sadly, and almost inevitably, the biggest increase has been in the number of people who have energy debts, which was 150 per cent higher in November than the same period in 2019, with bills set to rise later again this year, making even more people worried about how this will affect them.

And this is where debt advice can help. In Newport, with a Labour-led council, we're very fortunate to have financial inclusion officers in the housing support team, alongside our local citizens advice bureau office. While both groups have a heavy workload, they provide an excellent service and are a good example of good practice that can be rolled out across Wales—