Universal Credit

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 20 October 2020.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 2:16, 20 October 2020

Well, Llywydd, I want to agree absolutely with Joyce Watson. That £20 a week is a real lifeline for so many families here in Wales, families out of work and in work, who work in low-paid occupations. It was very disappointing that the Chancellor, when he had an opportunity only a couple of weeks ago in announcing other ongoing support, that he did not commit to continuing that £20 a week lifeline for so many families across the United Kingdom. I can assure Joyce Watson that this is raised directly with UK Ministers when I have an opportunity; our finance Minister will be meeting again with UK Ministers this week, it's on the agenda for her to raise it with them as well.

I think the Member will know that I had the privilege of sharing a platform with the former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, at the weekend, speaking on behalf of the Alliance for Full Employment. I was very pleased to see the Archbishop of Canterbury writing to Gordon Brown yesterday, setting out his support for the alliance and focusing, in what he said, on child poverty and on the £20 that is currently available to families through that additional sum in universal credit. And absolutely, any government that is serious about sustaining families through these difficult times wouldn't hesitate to make that £20 a permanent addition to the incomes of some of the poorest people in our country.