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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
1 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Not Addressed

The demographic, economic and geographic challenges we have highlighted set the context for the benefits...

The demographic, economic and geographic challenges we have highlighted set the context for the benefits system in Wales. While it is a reserved competence, that does not mean the environment in which it operates is identical to that elsewhere in Great Britain. While the evidence shows that the key challenges … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response focuses on improving access to Universal Credit and data protection, without addressing the demographic, economic, and geographic challenges in Wales or acknowledging the need for welfare policy to be conscious of the Welsh context.
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Wales Office
4 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Not Addressed

The DWP should run a consultation with welfare rights advisors on Universal Credit’s explicit consent...

The DWP should run a consultation with welfare rights advisors on Universal Credit’s explicit consent model and examine whether any changes are necessary.

Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation for a temporary increase to Universal Credit arguing that the £20 uplift was a temporary measure and has been replaced with over £15bn in support towards cost-of-living pressures and schemes to help people find employment.
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Wales Office
15 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Not Addressed

We welcome the extent of support that the UK Government provided during the pandemic, but...

We welcome the extent of support that the UK Government provided during the pandemic, but we note that not all self-employed people were eligible. We welcome 44 The Benefits System in Wales the UK Government’s acknowledgement that it has “learned more” about the issues with capital limits and we would … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Department for Work and Pensions has advised the Welsh Government how Universal Credit would be affected by payments under the proposed basic income pilot and HMRC has similarly advised about the treatment of taxation, not providing more details about the lessons it has learned …
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Wales Office
28 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Not Addressed

Care-leavers are a vulnerable group and there is a strong case for arguing that they...

Care-leavers are a vulnerable group and there is a strong case for arguing that they should have enhanced support. While the Welsh Government supports a basic income pilot for this group, we note that the UK government opposes universal basic income.

Government response AI summary
The government stated that the DWP and HMRC have provided technical advice to the Welsh Government regarding the interaction of Universal Credit and taxation with the proposed basic income pilot for care-leavers, but did not address the committee's broader point about enhanced support for this …
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Wales Office
31 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Not Addressed

The evidence collected during the inquiry showed that attitudes to the idea of devolving welfare...

The evidence collected during the inquiry showed that attitudes to the idea of devolving welfare vary significantly. Some were concerned about the financial implications and many felt that they did not have enough information. However, during the course of the inquiry many experts noted the potential merits of being able … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government restates its position that it has no intention to devolve social security to the Welsh Government and notes the advantages of the current system without addressing the conclusion about varying attitudes.
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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…