North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today renewed his calls for the Welsh Government to provide a timescale for the introduction of a Welsh Benefits System.
In recent weeks, Mr Isherwood has repeatedly asked Ministers to outline when the new system will be established, but to no avail.
In the Senedd Chamber this afternoon, he raised the matter again when responding to the Social Justice Minister’s Statement on ‘The Welsh Benefits System and Charter’.
He said:
“Questioning you here three weeks ago on the Welsh Benefits Charter, I noted that, for almost a decade, service providers and researchers across the sector have been calling for a coherent and integrated Welsh benefits system for all the means-tested benefits the Welsh Government is responsible for.
“When you launched the Welsh Government's Benefits Charter last month, you told us that it aims to increase take-up of Welsh benefits, enabling more people in Wales to take up their entitlement, and to identify and remove the barriers that prevent people from claiming their entitlements.
“However, the Welsh Local Government Association then issued a press release making clear that, far from being the launch of a Welsh Benefits System, local authorities had only agreed to work with the Welsh Government to take action towards developing one. Do you therefore have a timescale for the introduction of a Welsh Benefits System, and, if so what targets will be in place to measure progress?
“In your reply, you stated that all 22 Local Authorities have signed up to the Charter. Have they agreed when they will implement a Welsh Benefits System by, and if so, when is this?
“Have they agreed to implement this on a uniform basis across Wales to avoid any Postcode Lottery, and, critically, how will you monitor implementation and practice to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and target outcomes?”
He added:
“The Bevan Foundation states that it's eager to ensure that the Welsh Government delivers on its commitment to establish a Welsh Benefits System in the round.
“How do you, therefore, respond to their statement that, although the current arrangements are based on collaboration and partnership, participation is therefore voluntary, with a risk that some bodies do not participate at all, while others do their own thing?”
Mr Isherwood asked the Minister what, if any, specific discussions she has had with the UK Department for Work and Pensions regarding the role that Jobcentre Plus offices can play in an integrated Welsh benefits system, working collaboratively with local authorities across Wales.
He also asked how the Welsh Government will ensure that the call by witnesses to the 2019 Committee Inquiry (the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee inquiry into 'Benefits in Wales: options for better delivery') for Job Centre Plus Offices to act as a single point of access by incorporating a Local Authority Welsh Benefits service is acted upon.