Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I'm very pleased to be moving those amendments. I also refer Members to my own declaration of interest in terms of property ownership.

I'm indeed actually very grateful for the opportunity to discuss within our Senedd the cost-of-living crisis, which is affecting residents in each one of our constituencies. Already, the UK Government is, for example, cutting fuel duty, raising national insurance thresholds and delivering a £9.1 billion energy bill rebate package.

You're now asking for consideration to be given to reforming the local housing allowance. Whilst I would like to hear further details of the proposed reform, I do know that the National Residential Landlords Association wants to see further positive action by the UK Government, such as a replication of the decision in 2021 to unfreeze the housing cost support element of universal credit, and I have to say that I am becoming quite concerned by the numbers of people who are not receiving enough money to cover their rent. To me, it's a fundamental basic right. So, I will certainly be writing to the UK Government to ask it to look at this, because it does concern me that there is a gap between the local housing allowance payment and the average mean monthly rent of almost £92. However, it is a fact that how much an individual receives in housing benefit is dependent on a number of factors, including the lower figure of eligible rent, or LHA rate, household income, including benefits, pensions and savings over £6,000, and circumstances such as age or whether there is a disability.

I'm sure that every single one of us as Senedd Members want people to be in decent homes where they can then pursue the jobs that they love and save—actually be able to save one day—for a home that they might want to call their own. So, I do hope that Members will agree with the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP's suggestion that boosting social rented property is a key way into home ownership, as renters will be able to save more to buy a home of their own. And who are we to say that people don't, or shouldn't, deserve a home of their own?

The Welsh Conservatives have been clear that we should have an ambitious target to build 100,000 homes over the next 10 years, whilst ensuring enough affordable housing in our local communities, including 40,000 social homes. At a time when only 4,616 new dwellings were completed in 2021, when the figure should have been 12,000, it's basically fact that there isn't a drive forward of new housing projects.

In fact, what we are now seeing as a result of this co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru is one that does the complete opposite to making homes affordable for local people on low incomes. A recent English Private Landlord Survey shows that 70 per cent of landlords keep rents the same rather than increasing them when extending or renewing a tenancy agreement. So, tenants should be aware that what Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour are calling for is a Welsh Government-sanctioned rent increase. In fact, tenants watching this today should be aware that the Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour intention could actually see you in poorer quality housing, because the OECD has found a correlation between countries with the strictest rent controls having a poorer quality. The message is clear: we should support tenants by not forcing landlords to increase rents, and by seeing Wales deliver more social housing and market stock.

Of course, though, this should be accompanied by other policies, such as the reintroduction of right to buy, which ensures the reinvesting of sale proceeds into more social housing and protecting those homes for sale for 10 years; the development a Wales-wide scheme to provide incentives to bring more empty homes in need of renovation back into use; and further action to tackle homelessness.

I don't know if many Members have considered the road map to ending youth homelessness in Wales. It's obvious that it's essential that the Welsh Government respond to the recommendations in detail, but they do need to explain to the Senedd today why local authorities are not currently required to proactively seek the views of young people when determining housing need for local development plans. Young people at risk of youth homelessness are not included in these Welsh Government and local authority social procurement policies, and we simply don't have a comprehensive child poverty strategy with clear—