Thank you so much to Luke for bringing forward this debate. Diolch yn fawr iawn. You all know that I have a greyhound called Arthur. I've never been homeless, but if I had been in that situation, I don't know what choice I would make—either to sleep somewhere where I couldn't be with Arthur or to carry on being with him and, potentially, be out on the streets. That's the issue I want to focus on, those people who are homeless, which my colleague Luke has touched on.

It is estimated that 10 per cent of the people who are homeless have pets, yet most homeless shelters and social housing operate a blanket 'no pets' policy. This clearly acts as a huge barrier to those who are attempting to enter homeless shelters, meaning that many are rejected from accommodation and left still without a home. For instance, the RSPCA could only identify eight hostels throughout the whole of Wales that operate a dog-friendly policy. This leaves homeless people in an impossible situation and also means that the welfare of animals is at risk too.

We know how important dogs specifically are to homeless people. They provide them with support, with company, with warmth when it's cold and with the opportunity to have somebody with them who has been through so much as well. It is really essential that we consider abandoning this 'no pet' policy. 

Some other research is that not a single local authority in Wales has addressed the issue of pets in their homelessness strategy, so, without the intervention of national government here in Wales, it doesn't appear as though the issue will be properly grappled with, and people who are homeless will continue to have to deal with challenges in accessing accommodation and that terrible choice.

I will be supporting this motion and I'm glad to see that Wales, hopefully, will take an important step by scrapping this blanket ban, which is fundamentally unfair and impacts some of the most vulnerable people in our society. I hope I will never be homeless in Wales, but, if I am, I hope I will not be separated from Arthur. Diolch yn fawr iawn.