Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I move the motion tabled in my name.

Dirprwy Lywydd, last week we debated our report on the recovery of the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors in Wales, and how the cost of living and the cost of doing business was affecting them. This week, we debate our report into some of the most pressing issues our communities face: how cost-of-living pressures have been affecting households and workers; the impact of rising costs of doing business; and the particular needs of our rural communities.

In this inquiry, we examined the effectiveness of the support measures that the Welsh and UK Governments have put in place, and what further support might be needed over the coming months. We were clear that we wanted to build on the work of other Senedd committees rather than reinventing the wheel, and the committee is very grateful to all those who gave evidence to our inquiry.

Back in the summer, the escalating cost of living was already being felt across Wales and affecting almost every area of public and private life. With wages and fixed incomes not stretching as far, people were tightening their belts and making difficult choices. Businesses were facing a double whammy of increased costs and consumers reducing their discretionary spending. And all of these issues are amplified in rural communities, which face a rural premium for accessing goods and services. Of course, things have moved on significantly since we reported in late July, but even then we were looking ahead to how businesses and individuals could be supported through the autumn and winter period we now find ourselves in. The Minister has provided a very comprehensive response to this report, in a timely manner, which I believe reflects the importance of action in this area.