We're living in a place and a time where it's better to be alive than ever before, and we've heard contributions today that seem so negative about this country. It's pretty depressing. We have a welfare system that is one of the most supportive in the world, and we're making great strides towards a sustainable and green country across the United Kingdom and here in Wales. And of course, there are parts of this budget statement here today that I completely disagree with, and I would want to see things completely different, but I'm optimistic about the future of the United Kingdom and Wales's place within the United Kingdom as well. I just wanted to make that point, Llywydd, because I was getting pretty depressed listening to contributions from across the Chamber this afternoon.

But, Llywydd, you won't be surprised and the Minister won't be surprised that the meat of my contribution today is going to be in relation to local government and our fantastic councils that are at the forefront of delivering these really important local services that our communities rely on. Minister, I appreciate that it's a budget made during challenging times, as has been expressed, and you've made a welcome announcement of an additional £227 million to be provided to local government through the settlement. You've also stated today that funding will be provided to deliver the real living wage in social care. I just wanted to be clear as to whether that £227 million is the money you're talking about to deliver that real living wage or whether there is additional money to enable local authorities to do that.

There are a couple of other points where I'd like clarity, if you don't mind, as well. Clearly, there's a big proportion of this local government settlement increase that will be used for those staffing cost increases. So, I just wonder, in your mind, what proportion of that £227 million you expect to enable local authorities to survive and deliver business as usual versus what proportion of that money you think councils will be able to use to deliver additional services in our communities.