The Impact of Austerity on Equality

Part of Questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 14 May 2019.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 2:35, 14 May 2019

I certainly do agree with the Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. And today we have seen this inquiry being announced—the Institute for Fiscal Studies inquiry being announced—into inequalities in the twenty-first century. He's already said in the first publication that the UK has a higher level of inequality than many other developed countries. That's shocking for us here in the UK, in Wales, in the twenty-first century. The levels of poverty across Wales and the rest of the UK are too high. Austerity and the impact of the UK Government's tax and welfare reform policies have fallen disproportionately on our most vulnerable groups. We remain deeply concerned about the fundamental flaws of universal credit. And indeed, the Trussell Trust has just reported that, when universal credit goes live in an area, there's a demonstrable increase in demand in local Trussell Trust food banks. On average, 12 months after roll-out, food banks see a 52 per cent increase in demand, compared to 13 per cent in areas with universal credit for three months or less. So we know, and indeed we know because of the impact of the cuts on our budget, what austerity is doing, not just to our public services, but to the most vulnerable people of Wales.