Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Conclusion 26
Fourth Report - The Benefits System in Wales
Published 17 Mar 2022
Paragraph 137
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 ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
We note that the In-Work Commissioner’s report on Supporting People out of Low Pay found that most Jobcentre Plus support is tailored to help people get into work: there is less support and training available for those who are already there. We support its recommendation that Jobcentres should provide a credible in-work offer for all working benefit claimants and with local groups such as employers and skills providers. As skills and lifelong learning are devolved responsibilities, for this to be successful in Wales, the UK Government must work closely with the Welsh Government.
From: Welsh Affairs Committee, Fourth Report - The Benefits System in Wales (HC 337), paragraph 137, 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.