Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 24
Fourth Report - The Benefits System in Wales
Published 17 Mar 2022
Paragraph 132
Addressed to Wales Office
Welsh Affairs Committee The Benefits System in Wales All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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 systems and make the system more accessible. Should any of this work require DWP cooperation, then we urge both governments to work closely in order to deliver the best outcome for claimants.
From: Welsh Affairs Committee, Fourth Report - The Benefits System in Wales (HC 337), paragraph 132, 17 March 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 6 July 2022 (deadline 17 May 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The UK Government rejects several of the Committee's main recommendations, including reinstating the £20 uplift, changing benefit up-rating and devolving social security, while describing existing action on others.
- On the £20 uplift and up-rating, the Government "rejects" both recommendations, saying the uplift "was always intended to be temporary" and that annual up-rating follows the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September.
- On Statutory Sick Pay, it is "keeping the system under review", says any changes "will be announced to Parliament", and will not provide a further update to the Committee.
- It "rejects" the proposed UK-Welsh government Inter-ministerial Advisory Board on Social Security, citing existing ministerial engagement channels, and has "no intention to devolve social security" to the Welsh Government.
- On Universal Credit consent, it says "to pause to run a formal consultation exercise at this stage" would delay work, while welcoming input through ongoing stakeholder discussions.