6. What is the Welsh Government’s latest assessment of economic and social inequality in Wales? OQ56888

The pandemic has highlighted the stark inequalities between those with protected characteristics and their peers. Analysis of the socioeconomic impact of coronavirus shows that those who were already vulnerable have been hardest hit. The damaging decision by the UK Government to end the £20 uplift will further entrench these disparities. 

Minister, we have lived through an extended period of austerity, with all the damage that has brought. We now live and continue to live through the pandemic, and, as you say, that has further damaged prospects for those who are most disadvantaged in Wales. We see prices for food and energy going up and set to go up further. It really is a very difficult time for people who are struggling in Wales, and the Bevan Foundation and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation made it clear that what needs to be done is to increase income and reduce outgoings for families in these circumstances. It's frustrating that many of the tax and benefit levers are not in the hands of Welsh Government, but there are of course things that can be done in Wales. Minister, will Welsh Government continue to work to look at devolving the administration of benefits, which would help in many respects; consider a Wales-wide roll-out of the pilots on increasing benefit take-up, because we know that sadly there is still a lot to be done to persuade and enable people to take up benefits, which they badly need and which they will spend in their local communities for the good of the local economy; and also, will Welsh Government carefully look and continue to look at extending eligibility for free school meals? All of these would help with increasing income and reducing outgoings.

Thank you very much, John Griffiths, for your question. You've identified the disproportionate impact and the deepening inequalities as a result of COVID-19, and also the impact of UK Government further cuts—the cut in the £20-per-week increase to universal credit—and of course we'll hear more, indeed, in terms of the impact of fuel prices and food costs going up as well. So, we need to, as the Bevan Foundation have said, make sure that we can increase income where we can. So, that's why the income maximisation action plan has been so important, getting money into people's pockets, and also the fact that we are extending the discretionary assistance fund as well. But I certainly will be taking back your views in terms of the second national welfare benefit take-up campaign later this autumn, so we can press on with that in terms of the pilots, and also make sure that we deliver on your previous report from when you were Chair of the committee that looked at 'Benefits in Wales: options for better delivery' in terms of our social security welfare system and the impact it has on Wales. But also, of course, the review of free school meals is under way in terms of eligibility.

Question 7 [OQ56876] was transferred for written answer by the Government. Question 8, finally, Vikki Howells.