Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I start by thanking Mabon ap Gwynfor for his comments about the Minister's family situation, which I'll pass on to her?

Ending homelessness remains a key priority in Wales and is reflected in our programme for government and in the co-operation agreement. The emergency homelessness response throughout the pandemic, and continuing today, has been phenomenal, as Sioned Williams rightly recognised. But we've been clear that we mustn't slip backwards, and there will be no going back, Dirprwy Lywydd. We are committed to ending all forms of homelessness, and this is reflected in our all-age ending homelessness action plan published last November. That sets out how we will achieve our long-term ambition and has at its core the radical shift needed to end homelessness in Wales. Underpinning this is our ambitious target to deliver 20,000 new low-carbon homes for rent in the social sector in this Senedd term.

Our commitment is demonstrated in the investment we're making: over £197 million in housing support and homelessness prevention services in the final budget this year and a record £310 million in social housing. But we don't underestimate the scale of this challenge, and that's why we're working cross-Government to use all the levers we have in Wales to deliver for those most in need. The Minister for Social Justice has already spoken about the range of measures that we've implemented as a Government to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis. The recently announced £380 million package includes a £150 cost-of-living payment for all households in properties in council tax bands A to D and to all households receiving support from the council tax reduction scheme in all council tax bands. The package also includes a winter fuel support scheme that provided a £200 payment for eligible households to help meet the cost of essential bills over the winter. This is tangible help, money in people's pockets that will help them with their day-to-day expenses.

But the powers and the fiscal resources needed to help people with the spiralling cost of energy bills and increasing housing costs lie mainly with the UK Government, and our calls on them to take the action they need to take are sadly falling on deaf ears. The Minister for Climate Change and the Minister for Social Justice have recently written to the UK Government calling on them once again to take urgent steps to relieve householders of the energy and broader cost-of-living crisis causing such distress and concern to Welsh citizens. The Office for National Statistics data indicate that rents increased, on average, by 1.6 per cent in past year. Rents for new lets and rents in particular areas of Wales are increasing at a much faster rate, and this is undoubtedly putting further pressure on people who are already struggling.