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Select Committee · Welsh Affairs Committee

The Benefits System in Wales

Status: Closed Opened: 11 Jun 2021 Closed: 16 Oct 2023 19 recommendations 14 conclusions 1 report

The Welsh Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry examining the benefits system in Wales. The new inquiry comes following a period of unprecedented challenge for the benefits system as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you live in Wales, fill out our short survey to send in your views about the benefits system in … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - The Benefits System in Wales HC 337 17 Mar 2022 33 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 items
2 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Acknowledged

The pandemic demonstrated how resilient the UK social security system can be in the face...

The pandemic demonstrated how resilient the UK social security system can be in the face of significant challenges. Despite the huge surge in demand, Universal Credit continued to function and benefits were paid out to a markedly increased pool of claimants. That Universal Credit was able to withstand these pressures … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the resilience of the social security system during the pandemic. However, the government believes that the pandemic was not the right time to introduce changes to the rate of Statutory Sick Pay and is keeping the system under review.
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Wales Office
3 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Acknowledged

We were concerned to hear that welfare rights advisors believe that Universal Credit’s explicit consent...

We were concerned to hear that welfare rights advisors believe that Universal Credit’s explicit consent model has impeded their ability to help claimants and has led to some people sharing personal data such as passwords. We would welcome the UK Government reviewing its decision to end the implicit consent model … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to continually improving access to Universal Credit. A policy of explicit consent exists to help reduce the risk of fraud. The Department welcomes any input through its ongoing discussions with a broad group of stakeholders.
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Wales Office
7 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Acknowledged

We welcome the swift changes to the financial support many claimants received during the pandemic,...

We welcome the swift changes to the financial support many claimants received during the pandemic, as well as to the operation of the overall system. We received evidence of the significant difference that the temporary £20 uplift made to those eligible claimants, as well as other support measures such as … Read more

Government response AI summary
The DWP will seek to make it clearer for claimants that Universal Credit does not count money in their account used for business purposes towards their capital.
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Wales Office
8 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Acknowledged

We acknowledge that the UK Government has difficult choices to make in ensuring that the...

We acknowledge that the UK Government has difficult choices to make in ensuring that the benefits system is financially sustainable in the long-term. We welcome its reduction of the taper rate and increase in the work allowance in the autumn Budget.

Government response AI summary
The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is committed to improving working relationships across Government to support the people of Wales and will continue to advise and support the DWP on matters impacting Wales, ensuring UK policy is delivered effectively and communicating policy …
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Wales Office
16 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Acknowledged

We welcome the extent of joint working between ministers throughout the pandemic, including meetings between...

We welcome the extent of joint working between ministers throughout the pandemic, including meetings between the Secretary of State for Wales and the First Minister and other Welsh Government Ministers, as well as multilateral meetings chaired by various UK Ministers. This reflected not only the gravity of the situation but … Read more

Government response AI summary
The UK Government will not devolve social security to the Welsh Government, citing the advantages of the current system and the varied attitudes to the idea.
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Wales Office
29 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Acknowledged

We have received a range of concerns regarding the limitations of the pilot and there...

We have received a range of concerns regarding the limitations of the pilot and there are also considerable issues concerning how the pilot will affect the benefits of the participants. It is crucial that those considering participating are aware of how it will affect the benefits they receive and the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC have advised the Welsh Government how Universal Credit and taxation would be affected by payments under the proposed basic income pilot.
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Wales Office
30 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Acknowledged

In the interests of the young people considering taking part in the Welsh Government’s Basic...

In the interests of the young people considering taking part in the Welsh Government’s Basic Income pilot, the DWP and the Welsh Government should work together to conduct an impact assessment on the benefits received and the amount of taxes paid by the average potential participant. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states DWP and HMRC have advised the Welsh Government on the impact of basic income pilot payments on Universal Credit and taxation, but does not explicitly commit to jointly conducting the requested impact assessment.
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Wales Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
8 Dec 2021 Andrew Latto · Department for Work & Pensions, David Rutley MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Geth Williams · Wales Office, Sarah Pearson · Department for Work and Pensions View ↗
2 Dec 2021 Alison Corriea · Cartrefi Conwy Housing Association, Cordelia Deady · Wrexham County Borough Council, Gwennan Hardy · Citizens Advice Cymru, Jane Hutt MS · Welsh Government, Megan Thomas · Meta, Paul Neave · Welsh Government View ↗
3 Nov 2021 Anna Coote · New Economics Foundation, Dr Malcolm Torry · University of Bath, Jonathan Williams · UBI Lab Wales, Professor Paul Spicker · Robert Gordon University View ↗
21 Oct 2021 Anvar Sarygulov · Bright Blue, Charlotte Pickles · Reform, Charlotte Pickles · Social Security Advisory Committee, Dr Mike Brewer · Resolution Foundation, Dr Victoria Winckler · Bevan Foundation View ↗
16 Sep 2021 Emma Congreve · Fraser of Allander Institute, Professor Christina Beatty · Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Professor Lisa Scullion · University of Salford View ↗

Who gave evidence

22 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alison Corriea · Welfare Adviser Cartrefi Conwy Housing Association 1
Andrew Latto · Deputy Director, Devolution, Pensioner Benefits a… Department for Work & Pensions 1
Anna Coote · Research Fellow New Economics Foundation 1
Anvar Sarygulov · Senior Research Fellow Bright Blue 1
Charlotte Pickles · Director Reform 1
Charlotte Pickles · Member Social Security Advisory Committee 1
Cordelia Deady · Welfare Rights Supervisor Wrexham County Borough Council 1
David Rutley MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Americas … Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Dr Malcolm Torry · Visiting Fellow, Institute for Policy Research University of Bath 1
Dr Mike Brewer · Deputy Chief Executive Resolution Foundation 1
Dr Victoria Winckler · Director Bevan Foundation 1
Emma Congreve · Knowledge Exchange Fellow Fraser of Allander Institute 1
Geth Williams · Deputy Director Wales Office 1
Gwennan Hardy · Senior Policy Officer Citizens Advice Cymru 1
Jane Hutt MS · Minister for Social Justice Welsh Government 1
Jonathan Williams · Co-founder UBI Lab Wales 1
Megan Thomas · Public Policy Manager Meta 1
Paul Neave · Head of Social Welfare Advice and DWP Policy Welsh Government 1
Professor Christina Beatty · Professor of Applied Economic Geography Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University 1
Professor Lisa Scullion · Professor of Social Policy University of Salford 1
Professor Paul Spicker · Emeritus Professor of Public Policy Robert Gordon University 1
Sarah Pearson · Area Director Work and Health Services, Wales and… Department for Work and Pensions 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
7 Sep 2022 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Welfare Delivery, Department for Work and Pensions…