7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Poverty

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:56 pm on 27 November 2018.

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Photo of John Griffiths John Griffiths Labour 5:56, 27 November 2018

Well, as I said, I think there are issues around accountability and scrutiny. I know the sector outside the Assembly feel that as well, and I think our committee's view is quite clear. There have been various approaches from Welsh Government over a period of time in terms of how you tackle poverty most effectively, and currently Welsh Government obviously stress a collaborative, cross-Government approach. The committee doesn't believe that having a more direct ministerial accountability and an overarching anti-poverty strategy would negate that sort of cross-Government approach that is seen as the best way of dealing with these matters by Welsh Government at the moment. So, I think the committee's view is quite clear, and we are looking for progress and change to that effect. And, whatever happens, we need that clearer focus—a laser-like focus—and more and clearer accountability and scrutiny opportunities. 

Also, Dirprwy Lywydd, I think I need to move on to the administration of welfare in Wales and possible devolution. Again, the committee that I chair is going to do a body of work on this and will look at all the issues, including the financial aspects. We believe that the experience is that there are real problems around the roll-out of universal credit. It's had a terrible impact on rough-sleeping, for example, and we see the evidence of that in all our town and city centres all of the time. And, if we are going to deal with the problems of waiting times when claims are first made, the way the sanctioning regime is taken forward and, in fact, how easy it is to have direct payments of housing benefit to the landlord, then it would be very useful if we had more direct control over that. So, the committee will be looking at those issues in the new year, and that will include looking at the experience in Scotland and Northern Ireland.