Shadow Social Justice Minister and North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Finance Minister to respond to calls for improved support to help people survive cost-of-living rises.
Following a question on the Welsh Government's cost-of-living financial support package in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood referred to concerns raised by Age Cymru and on behalf of disabled people in North Wales regarding the Welsh Government’s ‘Winter Fuel Support Scheme’ and ‘Discretionary Assistance Fund’.
He also referred to the identified need for a coherent and integrated “Welsh benefits system” for all the means-tested benefits for which it is responsible.
He said:
“In addition to the largest ever financial settlement from the UK Government, the £25 Million extra Household Support Funding and the £180 Million extra funding for cost-of-living support so far received by the Welsh Government from the UK Government in consequence of its funding announcements, which the Welsh Government would not otherwise have had, the UK Government has said this week that a new package to fight the cost-of-living crisis is imminent and that ‘No option is off the table’.
“However, how do you respond to the call by Age Cymru for extension of the Welsh Government’s Winter Fuel Support Scheme eligibility criteria to include older people in receipt of Pension Credit, and to concern raised with me on behalf of disabled people in North Wales who need to use extra energy for the equipment that keeps them alive, but are ineligible for the Welsh Government’s Discretionary Assistance Fund, and how will you deliver on the Welsh Government’s acceptance of the recommendation in the 2020 Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee report on 'Benefits in Wales: options for better delivery', that it ‘establish a coherent and integrated “Welsh benefits system” for all the means-tested benefits for which it is responsible, co-produced with people who claim these benefits and the wider Welsh public’?”
Responding, the Minster insisted “we are doing everything that we can within our resources to support people”.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood said:
“Once again the Minister parroted dodgy economics whilst dodging the bulk of my question about matters for which her Government is responsible”.