It's time to get real here: the UN report does squarely, unequivocally put the blame at the door of the UK Government. For nearly a decade, the Tory Governments have 'inflicted great misery' on the British people, with 'punitive', 'mean-spirited' and 'callous' austerity policies. Those are the words of Philip Alston, not mine. Levels of child poverty are,

'not just a disgrace, but a social calamity and an economic disaster'.

Again, his words, not mine. A key finding is this huge rise of in-work poverty. And we heard stats again—loads of them, again—from Mark Isherwood, talking about the reduction of in-work poverty. And yet, this report finds quite clearly that it is in-work poverty that is at the root of child poverty, and it is those people who are in work who are being affected by the universal credit roll-out.

So, let's be clear. This isn't about getting people into work. This isn't about, as the Tories used to say, 'Get on your bike.' Well, you try and tell that to the courier who can't pay this month's rent, despite getting on his bike or her bike, and despite working all the hours that god sends their way. You tell it also to the one in four people in this country who work for below minimum wage pay. You tell it also to the individuals and families in Ammanford, in Carmarthen, in Llanelli, in Aberystwyth, in Cardigan, in Dolgellau, in Porthmadog and in Pwllheli who will have a miserable Christmas this year, because they are subjected to the universal credit roll-out, right across Christmas. And we all know, don't we, that one in four claimants doesn't get their money on time. So, I don't see what Christmas cheer they're going to have in their households. And it is a deliberate policy. Can you imagine rolling out a policy that puts people and families with no money, no prospect of having any money, right across Christmas? I don't think Scrooge could have done a better job had he tried.

So, we go back to the former work and pensions Secretary, Esther McVey. She admitted that some of the poorest families will be £200 a week worse off—the poorest people £200 a week worse off. I don't know if you're going to go and argue with those families and say that this is a good idea. I read today that a group of women have launched a high court legal challenge arguing that the universal credit payment system is irrational and discriminatory. I absolutely agree with them. I wish them good luck, but they shouldn't have to fight that battle.

It's the same with food banks. It's wonderful that people support them—I'm sure that we all do, and I'm sure that some of us will go and join them over Christmas. What I don't want to see is another smiley picture of a Tory politician proudly supporting the biggest growth industry that's been created by their policies, in the local paper. What I would like to see is a photo of any Tory politician hanging their head in shame at the fact that it is the biggest growth industry.

I think, as the UN report says, that the cost of austerity has fallen disproportionately upon the poor, upon women, racial and ethnic minorities, children, single parents and people with disabilities. And we've heard today that the Welsh Government has defended, where they can, the most vulnerable in society. That hasn't happened in England. Where we've continued to provide access to welfare funds for emergency hardships, they've been removed in England. We've got a comprehensive childcare offer and school holiday lunch clubs; they're a great example of a Government intervention. And it's progressive and it's socialist, and we are at least proud of trying to do what we can.

The UN report does go on to say that we don't have the devolved power over social security benefits. I wish I had the confidence of Plaid Cymru that if we took it over, we'd have the money. But, it's cost £266 million for the Scottish Government to do something with those powers to very little effect. I'm sure that £266 million, had it been spent in targeted approaches, might have had a much bigger effect.

I know that all of us understand quite clearly in this Chamber that the biggest danger to people on this new system of universal credit is homelessness. When rents aren't being paid on time, people become very vulnerable to finding themselves on the street. What I will ask the Cabinet Secretary is whether she will be able to do something to protect those people who find themselves in private tenancies, so that they don't actually end up on the street for Christmas or any other time in the future.