Diolch yn fawr, acting Llywydd. I want to take the opportunity, first of all, to thank the Local Government and Housing Committee for their important inquiry into the provision of sites for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. The committee and the Chair, John Griffiths, today asked the very pertinent question of whether our legislative and policy framework is robust and sufficient to support the development and provision of culturally appropriate sites for our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. I said, when I came before the committee, that we do have a very strong and comprehensive framework of duties and powers, yet there is clearly so much more to do to ensure that the impact of those powers and that framework is actually making a clear and urgent difference to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Your inquiry has been so important to bring that focus out: is it robust and what more can we do?

I do think it is helpful to look back to what has happened as a result of the 2014 legislation. Between 2015 and 2021, we funded local authorities to build 63 new pitches and refurbish many more, and last financial year we had a budget of £3.5 million for refurbishing existing accommodation, constructing new pitches and improving the sustainability of sites. This year, the budget is £3.69 million, and 93 pitches now have improved access to utilities, five new pitches are being constructed and 88 pitches improved or refurbished. You will have seen some of those examples during your inquiry. And of course, this also enables site safety as well as the provision that our Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities want and have planned for. So, in answering that question—that key question—we must recognise that the steps that have been taken are steps that are delivering progress, but make no mistake, we must do more.