7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Poverty

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:40 pm on 27 November 2018.

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Photo of Leanne Wood Leanne Wood Plaid Cymru 5:40, 27 November 2018

Well, they did in Scotland, and I don't hear any Members of Labour arguing that the administration of the criminal justice system shouldn't be devolved just in case the Westminster Government doesn't pass on the cash that goes with it. You argue for the devolution of the criminal justice system on the basis that that cash will come, so you should argue for the devolution of welfare and administration of benefits as well.

We have all known for quite some time that people in our communities are suffering, and they are suffering really bad, and this report now provides us with evidence for that. In his report, the UN rapporteur is quite clear that the Welsh Government can do something about that, too. So, before waiting for poverty in Wales to get even worse, which it will if it's left to itself, now is the chance to act, and this report provides us with the tools that we need to do that.