Thank you for your statement. Following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, with its massive impacts on global food and fuel prices, and the pressures on the economy caused by the pandemic, the UK Government has taken extraordinary steps to support people with the cost of living. In addition to the pre-existing Warm Homes discount scheme, winter fuel payments and cold-weather payments, this includes a £400 discount for all energy bill payers; £650 for 8 million of the lowest income households in 2022, rising to £900 in 2023; £300 for 8 million pensioner households in both 2022 and 2023; £150 for 6 million receiving non-means-tested disability benefits in both 2022 and 2023; a time-limited cap on the unit price of energy for households; and extra consequential funding for the Welsh Government budget. We therefore welcomed further support announced by the Welsh Government, including the winter fuel support scheme, additional funding for the discretionary assistance fund for this financial year to support with the cost of off-grid fuel, and the fuel voucher scheme targeted at households with pre-payment meters and those not connected to mains gas.

Speaking here last February, I welcomed the doubling of the winter fuel support scheme payment to £200, and speaking as chair of the cross-party group on fuel poverty and energy efficiency, I called for the scheme’s eligibility criteria to be extended and was grateful when you subsequently did this. In this context, how do you now justify the Welsh Government’s plan to scrap the £200 winter fuel payment, despite the £1.2 billion extra funding coming to Wales over two years following the UK Chancellor’s autumn statement? And more specifically, will this be scrapped entirely, will it be replaced by the original £100 payment, or will it be replaced by something else?

After I wrote to you on behalf of a disabled paraplegic constituent, unable to access grants for home energy efficiency improvements under grant eligibility requirements to help him with his cost of living, you responded stating that you would ask your officials to investigate. I subsequently shared with you the good news that his county council had approved his grant. However, what measures have you taken or will you take to ensure that other disabled people do not miss out in similar circumstances?

In your written statement last week following your meetings with energy suppliers, in which you noted that, although Ofgem findings identified some good practice amongst energy suppliers, helping customers through this period of high energy crisis, severe weaknesses were found in five suppliers, and all suppliers needed to make improvements. In terms of good practice, I note, for example, that British Gas is donating 10 per cent of profits to the independent charity British Gas Energy Trust to help customers struggling with bills. However, I learned at this lunch time's 'Warm this Winter' Senedd event with the British Gas Energy Trust, that take-up in Wales has been particularly low. So, what action can you therefore take to help promote the availability of such schemes to people in Wales, alongside your other promotion work?

In your written statement last week, you also stated that energy suppliers agreed to share data with you on the number of households being supported and the reason for households being transferred on to pre-payment meters, and that you will be holding a follow-up meeting with energy suppliers in the new year, followed by quarterly meetings. What action will you therefore take to ensure that the data you receive is shared with this Senedd, this Parliament, and that this Senedd is updated on both the negatives and positives that result from these meetings? Further, what engagement are you having with the Church in Wales Food and Fuel campaign, which calls for co-operation with Government?

This is an international cost-of-living crisis, with current inflation rates higher in 23 European countries and 15 out of 27 EU member states than in the UK, and the International Monetary Fund forecasting that half of the eurozone countries at least are heading for recession. However, people in Wales are particularly hard hit, because Wales has had the lowest growth in prosperity per head out of UK nations since 1999. The pay packets in Wales are the lowest in the UK and Wales has the lowest employment rate in Great Britain, and all despite having received billions in supposedly temporary funding designed to support economic development and reduce inequality between nations and regions.

Finally, therefore, what, if any, action will the Welsh Government take to futureproof by changing tack, seeking and adopting guidance from both large and small business sectors and third sector bodies, supporting bottom-up community action and social enterprise? Diolch.