To compound matters, we have a Tory Government in Westminster that is beyond parody. While millions of people worry about how they will be able to afford their utility bills over the next 12 months, the lack of a cohesive answer from the UK Government over the looming cost-of-living crisis is unacceptable. If they devoted as much time and effort into tackling the cost-of-living crisis as they do organising lockdown-busting parties, we would be in a better position. Perhaps the indifference to the crisis is because Johnson and Sunak will not be subject to rising prices, due to the cap on the contributions they make for their Downing Street flats. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are granted grace and favour accommodation, rent free, with utility bills and council tax costs met by the Government. I wonder whether they would act with a little more urgency if they were taken out of their cosseted lifestyle and forced to live on the breadline for some time. Perhaps Johnson has forgotten that he promised to end VAT on fuel bills, in an article he co-wrote for The Sun newspaper a month before the 2016 European Union referendum. Given that we are yet to see this policy delivered several years into his premiership, it can probably be chalked off as yet another Brexit broken promise.

The rising cost of energy has resulted in more than 20 suppliers collapsing. It has meant that their customer base has returned to the hands of the big six. There is now a compelling case to direct funding towards nationalised secure energy, particularly in renewables. The chances of seeing something positive and effective like this from a UK Government ideologically opposed to such measures are slim to nothing.

This cost-of-living crisis will hit older people particularly hard. The Older People's Commissioner for Wales has stated that older people on low incomes need more money to help with rising fuel bills. With an increase in the winter fuel support scheme, pensioners may face a choice between food or fuel, as highlighted by Rhun in his comment earlier. Older people were more likely to be affected in their jobs by coronavirus. A quarter of workers aged 60 to 64 were furloughed, lost hours or pay, or lost their jobs completely during the pandemic. Those who lost their jobs at this age during the pandemic may never find another job before reaching state pension age. We also know that credit use falls with age for those over 50, due to many lenders refusing to lend to people over a certain age.

Plaid Cymru wants this Government to invest in a targeted campaign to increase the take-up of pension credit. In 2018-19 alone, unclaimed pension credit totalled as much as £214 million. Pension credit not only provides financial assistance, but claiming the credit unlocks a range of other entitlements, such as council tax discounts, free dental care and help with housing costs. This is why this debate is so important. We cannot wait for action from a Government in London that is so out of touch with people from working-class communities. If anybody thinks there is a political will within No. 10 Downing Street to deliver for ordinary people living in Wales, then they haven't been paying much attention to history. People in Wales need help and reassurances, and they need them soon. I urge Government to act swiftly. Diolch yn fawr.