8. What action is the Welsh Government taking to enhance energy security in Islwyn? OQ58589

Diolch, Rhianon. Our policies of supporting households, businesses and the public sector to reduce energy demand together with positive action to scale up the production of domestically produced renewable energy will enhance energy security in all areas of Wales.

Thank you, Minister. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens and anxiety levels rise for residents across Islwyn due to the ever-increasing energy bills, it is vital now more than ever that the UK grips the issue of energy security. Minister, you issued a written statement earlier this year in April, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that stated that the Welsh Government continued to oppose the extraction of fossil fuels in Wales, and continues to oppose fracking. Minister, what assessment, then, has the Welsh Government made, in the months since the written statement, of the UK Government's partnership working with devolved administrations to both safeguard and secure energy supplies for all the nations of the United Kingdom?

Thank you, Rhianon. The answer to this energy crisis is not to expand new extraction of fossil fuels. We do not support the UK Government's plans to expand new oil and gas licences in the North sea and open new fracking in England. Our policies will continue to oppose new extraction in Wales. Years—years—of regressive energy policy at UK level have left us really exposed to global price surges, highlighted by recent events, with energy prices already at record highs subject to further upward pressure due to Russia's war on Ukraine. Despite the welcomed energy price freeze—although, again, that's fluctuating all over the place as we speak, and goodness knows who the Chancellor is by the end of these remarks, with the volatility. We welcome an energy price freeze, but they are still considerably higher than they were last winter, even with this energy freeze—still unaffordable, despite the energy freeze, for many, many households.

We also have higher interest rates and a weaker pound, which fuels inflation to levels not seen since the 1980s when, let me think now, oh, a Conservative Government was in charge, and that is really sapping people's ability to pay these ridiculous prices, and, of course, it's making the energy more expensive anyway. We have an energy market that is pegged to the price of gas that takes no account of the different market in renewables, where the capital expenditure to build the facility is far more important than the supply of energy, because that's free, obviously, for a renewable resource. So, reforming the energy market in a way that gives stability to the industry and certainty for consumers, is much, much needed and long, long overdue. So, we're really working on progressing the recommendations of our renewable energy deep-dive, which Lee Waters undertook, as soon as we came into Government, actually, in order to be able to accelerate renewable deployment and secure economic and social benefit for Wales, and our local area energy planning will help identify for the people of Islwyn and across Wales the right energy solutions for the right facility in the right place.

Finally, question 9. Luke Fletcher.