Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:39 pm on 6 December 2022.
I'd request a statement, please, outlining what extra support will be available to households that are really struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. We talk about the cost-of-living crisis so often I think the phrase has become normalised, but there will actually be thousands and thousands of people who genuinely don't know how they're going to get through the winter, if they're going to get through. And for some households, rising energy costs will be felt even more acutely—disabled people or people with complex needs require more heating and electricity, not just to be comfortable but as a basic function. If someone is incontinent, their household will need to use the washing machine and the tumble dryer sometimes multiple times a day. If someone has Alzheimer's, they'll get cold more quickly. Telling people in those situations that they just need to put on an extra layer just won't work. There are people living in our communities who won't just be facing the winter months with worry but with absolute and acute dread. I know that a lot of this is reserved to Westminster, so can a statement please set out if these issues are being raised with urgency with the UK Government? Thank you.