North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today raised a number of concerns regarding the proposed move to a Welsh Benefits System and asked what actions the Welsh Government has taken to address the identified issues.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament on preparations for Wales to take responsibility for welfare administration, Mr Isherwood said:
“I was a member of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee that published the 2019 Report, 'Benefits in Wales: options for better delivery', which recommended 'that the Welsh Government seeks the devolution of the assessment process for sickness and disability benefits'.
“We found, as Community Housing Cymru stated, that the ‘biggest issue’ people have with the system is the ‘assessment process and the administration’, with people citing the high levels of successful appeals.
“However, our report acknowledged that, ‘in Scotland, the funding from the UK Government has not covered all the administrative costs’. We also recommended 'that the Welsh Government establish a coherent and integrated "Welsh benefits system" for all the means-tested benefits for which it is (already) responsible'.
“Nearly five years later, what specific action has the Welsh Government therefore taken to address these matters, which were well evidenced in our report?”
In her response, the Cabinet Secretary said:
“I think you raised a really important point about funding. For me, it's really important that, when we seek devolution of any further powers, we know why we want those powers. We know they will benefit the people of Wales, but it's really important that the funding comes as well.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“As we heard when we visited the Scottish Parliament, the increase in provision and costs there had to be met by the Scottish Budget”.