Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Hart and John McNally

Wednesday 25th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Simon Hart]

I am happy to meet my hon. Friend on that point. I have travelled that route myself many times, and I would be happy to see what we can do to help.

[John Mc Nally (Falkirk) (SNP)]

2. What recent steps the Government have taken to mitigate the impact of rising costs of living on (a) households and (b) businesses in Wales.

--- Later in debate ---

[John Mc Nally]

The Scottish Government introduced the Scottish child payment to tackle child poverty head on. That payment doubled to £20 and is set to increase further and be extended to children under the age of 15, resulting in 50,000 children being taken out of relative poverty. Given that Wales has persistently had the highest child poverty rate in the UK, does the Secretary of State not agree that welfare powers should now be devolved to Wales so that the Welsh Government can introduce a targeted child payment of their own?

[Simon Hart]

Even the Welsh Government have not made that argument to me. I think they fully recognise that the proper and fair distribution of welfare is done most effectively and cost-effectively on a UK-wide basis, but I am grateful that the hon. Gentleman has raised this issue because the money that the Scottish Government are using is available as a consequence of the Barnett formula, and the situation is the same in Wales.