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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

5 items
12 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Deferred

We urge the UK Government to use nearer-term forecasts to increase benefits in line with...

We urge the UK Government to use nearer-term forecasts to increase benefits in line with the actual rate of inflation that will apply in April 2022. As a long-term solution to these issues, the DWP should outline what the benefit system is trying to achieve and how this can be … Read more

Government response AI summary
The DWP states that social security is reserved in Wales and that they will continue to work with Welsh Government colleagues to discuss improvements in signposting grants and allowances.
Read full response →
Wales Office
13 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Deferred

Around 39% of claimants are in work.

Around 39% of claimants are in work. Many of those who became eligible for Universal Credit during the pandemic will have done so through losing income while on furlough rather than through losing a job. For those whose pay is supplemented by Universal Credit, the issue is not finding work, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that this recommendation, urging it to keep further changes to Universal Credit under review, is a matter for the Welsh Government.
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Wales Office
22 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Deferred

We welcome efforts to improve awareness among claimants of all UK Government, Welsh Government, and...

We welcome efforts to improve awareness among claimants of all UK Government, Welsh Government, and local authority support, but written evidence suggests that there is still a long way to go. People requesting help need to feel confident that they have been informed of all the benefits and grants available … Read more

Government response AI summary
The DWP states that social security is reserved in Wales and that they will continue to work with Welsh Government colleagues to discuss improvements in signposting grants and allowances.
Read full response →
Wales Office
23 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Deferred

The DWP and Welsh Government should work together to improve the signposting of benefits, grants,...

The DWP and Welsh Government should work together to improve the signposting of benefits, grants, and allowances by producing a toolkit for Work Coaches. It should cover all devolved and local authority support. The DWP should report back to us in six months with an update on progress. Read more

Government response AI summary
The DWP states that social security is reserved in Wales and that they will continue to work with Welsh Government colleagues to discuss improvements in signposting grants and allowances.
Read full response →
Wales Office
24 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Deferred

While we note the positive comments regarding the Welsh Government’s response to the pandemic via...

While we note the positive comments regarding the Welsh Government’s response to the pandemic via the Discretionary Assistance Fund, we also heard concerns about the application process for various Welsh Government and local authority grants and allowances. We welcome the fact that the Welsh Government is seeking to streamline their … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government redirects this recommendation to the Welsh Government.
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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…