Universal Basic Income

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Social Justice – in the Senedd at 1:31 pm on 30 June 2021.

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Photo of Tom Giffard Tom Giffard Conservative 1:31, 30 June 2021

Diolch. Can I thank the Minister for that answer? The Centre for Social Justice's report, 'Universal Basic Income: An Effective Policy for Poverty Reduction', argues that UBI is unaffordable, putting at risk the provision of important services in healthcare and in education, adding that it, quote,

'Doesn’t meet the needs of low income households facing complex problems such as drug addiction, dangerous debt, and family breakdown', and

'Provides a major disincentive to find work', and

'Is no more generous to the most disadvantaged households than the provisions under Universal Credit.

In addition, we also know that studies show that UBI also has a limited effect on people's overall engagement with the labour market, and they also ask whether a higher rated UBI would be so expensive that it's difficult to invest in other essential services, such as the cost of construction of new social housing and the provision of low-cost public transport. So, with the evidence against UBI stacking up, Minister, will you outline which of our public services in Wales you think will need to be cut in order to afford it?