7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Poverty

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:41 pm on 27 November 2018.

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Photo of Mark Isherwood Mark Isherwood Conservative 5:41, 27 November 2018

Diolch. As the UK work and pensions Secretary Amber Rudd stated last week:

'I know there are problems with universal credit, despite its good intentions. I’ve seen them for myself. I will be listening and learning from the expert groups in this area who do such good work. I know it can be better.'

She added that the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, on his visit to the United Kingdom, used language that actually

'discredited a lot of what he was saying.'

The rapporteur's report made no reference to any of the UK Government actions already undertaken or announced, despite my referring specifically to some of these when committee members met him in the Assembly.

I move amendment 1. As this states, we must note the actions taken by the UK Government to address concerns over implementation of universal credit. The system replaces an overcomplicated system—[Interruption.] I'll finish this sentence, Helen. And the evidence shows that people are more likely to get a job as a result. Helen Mary.