Oral Answers to Questions

Wayne David Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd May 2018 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab)]

1. What recent assessment he has made of the effect of welfare reforms since 2015 on people living in Wales.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Stuart Andrew)]

Welfare reforms in Wales are working. Since 2015, 54,000 more people have been employed; 25,000 fewer people are unemployed; and 25,000 fewer people are economically inactive. This demonstrates that welfare reforms are transforming lives across the country. As research shows, universal credit claimants spend more time looking and applying for work than those on previous benefits.

[Wayne David]

In January, the Wales Audit Office produced a report saying that the Government’s welfare reform policies were contributing to homelessness in Wales. What does the Minister think is causing homelessness in Wales?

[Stuart Andrew]

We have been taking time to roll out universal credit and have responded to some of the needs and suggestions put forward, which is why people now get two weeks’ extra housing benefit, but I would add that not every council has used its discretionary payments for housing.