The First Minister has today refused to outline what his Government has done to protect people from poverty amid the coronavirus pandemic after being asked to do so by North Wales MS Mark Isherwood.
Mr Isherwood challenged Mark Drakeford over the matter in today’s Plenary meeting of the Welsh Parliament, asking him what analysis the Welsh Government has conducted of the impact of coronavirus-related poverty in Wales, referring to the calls for action made by Citizens Advice Cymru and the Bevan Foundation.
He said:
“Citizens Advice Cymru research, ‘Facing the cliff edge: Protecting people in Wales from the financial consequences of Covid-19’, in May stated that: “The Welsh Government must be proactive in encouraging people to check what benefits or support they are entitled to. This should include benefits and support schemes administered in Wales, such as the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and the Discretionary Assistance Fund.”
“The Bevan Foundation’s September report ‘reducing the impact of Coronavirus on Poverty in Wales’ stated that the Welsh Government should: Undertake a large-scale benefits take up campaign to ensure people are accessing the benefits they are entitled to, including UK Social Security benefits as well as schemes operated by the Welsh Government and local authorities, such as the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, Free School Meals and the Discretionary Assistance Fund, and establish a single point of access for Free School Meals, the Pupil Development Grant Access and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
“What specific consequent action has the Welsh Government taken?”
In his response, the First Minister failed to answer the question.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said: “We must assume that his refusal to answer my question and the Party Political rant he instead resorted to mean that he and his Government have failed to take the action called for.”