Latest news with #WelshChildPayment
The National
01-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Labour MP backs calls for Wales to copy Scottish Child Payment
Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP Steve Witherden praised research by the Bevan Foundation which found that creating a 'Welsh Child Payment', based on the Scottish benefit, would be the 'most powerful and effective' way of cutting child poverty. The backbencher said that the evidence for 'putting money into people's pockets' as a way to tackle poverty was 'overwhelming'. Asked whether he believed that the Welsh Government should have the ability to set its own welfare policies, Witherden he was 'supportive of devo max', adding: 'I think it's about having the autonomy to choose, isn't it? If you have devo max, you do have more power to decide.' He added: 'I don't think anyone in Scotland would claim that it was some kind of utopia in this regard, child poverty exists there as it does everywhere in the UK, sadly. 'At the moment the Scottish percentages do look more favourable than the England and Wales combined percentages on child poverty.' (Image: PA Wires) Witherden highlighted research which looked at the potential impact of Wales copying the Scottish Child Payment, saying: 'There's lots of evidence for this – putting money in people's pockets, for lack of a more technical term – how helpful it is. 'There's sound research on this outside of the UK, USAID, UK development aid, it's found that when you can directly get the cash to people on the ground, it does alleviate poverty, it does make a difference. 'There's sound research backing that up, I know it has its critics, I'm not one of them, I follow the evidence and the evidence is quite overwhelming.' READ MORE: Welfare reforms could push 150,000 into poverty, official DWP modelling suggests The MP, first elected to Parliament last year, also called on the UK Government to publish an interim update on the work of its child poverty taskforce. He said: 'I'd like to hear some feedback on the findings thus far.' The taskforce was supposed to publish its findings this spring but the Government has delayed this, confirming in May that it was committed to publishing 'later this year'. It would look at a range of measures to bring down child poverty, including scrapping the two-child cap. (Image: Canva) The Scottish Child Payment was announced by the SNP in 2019 and the first payments were made two years later. It is paid to families who are in receipt of Universal Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Parents get £27.15 per week for each child they have under the age of 16. The Scottish Child Payment has been described as a 'game changer' by the Child Poverty Action Group. Official statistics have found that there were projected to be 90,000 fewer Scottish children expected to live in poverty by 2024 because of the policy and other measures. The Bevan Foundation's report from June this year said: 'Among all the interventions modelled, the introduction of a Welsh Child Payment emerges as the most powerful and effective. 'Based on the Scottish Child Payment, this intervention would provide support for each child in low-income families, with no deductions from existing benefits. It reaches nearly one-third of households that are in poverty within the data and reduces child poverty across the sample by almost 23%.' The Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru have also backed calls for a Welsh Child Payment, saying it had 'proved transformational in Scotland'. The UK and Welsh governments were approached for comment.
South Wales Argus
03-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Plaid Cymru criticise Labour on two-child benefit cap
The criticism follows First Minister Eluned Morgan's call for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to scrap the policy, which limits child benefit payments to the first two children in a family. Plaid Cymru's social justice and early years spokesperson, Sioned Williams MS, said: "This is staggering hypocrisy from Labour. "Just last Christmas, Eluned Morgan derided Plaid Cymru for demanding the two-child cap be scrapped. "As recently as last October, Labour MSs voted against our calls in the Senedd to stand up for children in poverty and end this cruel cap. "Meanwhile in Westminster, not a single Welsh Labour MP backed our efforts to scrap it – and Keir Starmer suspended his own MPs for voting to protect children. "Now, suddenly, Labour are changing their tone. "One would be forgiven for thinking this isn't about principle, but panic – driven by polling, not values." The two-child benefit cap has come under renewed scrutiny amid reports that the UK Government may consider scrapping it ahead of its spending review. First Minister Ms Morgan has urged the Prime Minister to remove the cap, which campaigners argue increases child poverty. However, Ms Williams said Labour's position lacked consistency. She said: "Plaid Cymru has been consistent from the start. "We've fought to scrap the two-child cap because it's the right thing to do for thousands of children growing up in poverty. "In Wales, we led the way on universal free school meals. "And in government, we pledge to deliver a Welsh Child Payment – a direct weekly payment to offer real, targeted help to support families who need it most." The policy has become a flashpoint within the Labour Party, exposing internal divisions and prompting criticism from across the political spectrum. Darren Millar MS, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, questioned Labour's promises to voters. Mr Millar said: "Labour promised that having two governments working at either side of the M4 would deliver for Wales, but all we've seen is a party at war with itself and a First Minister who clearly holds no sway with the Prime Minister. "The reality is that eliminating the two-child benefit cap would come at a financial cost, ultimately borne by hardworking taxpayers. "While the state should always support the most vulnerable, any extra costs must be weighed against the principle of fairness for the taxpayer." Ann Davies MP, Plaid Cymru's work and pensions spokesperson, criticised both Labour and the Conservatives for maintaining the policy. Ms Davies said: "The Tories are choosing to defend a policy that pulls 109 children into poverty every day. "There's nothing fair or responsible about that. "Ending the two-child limit would lift 350,000 children out of poverty across the UK instantly – more effectively and at lower cost than any alternative. "That is why Plaid Cymru have tabled motions in both Westminster and the Senedd calling for it to be scrapped, which have sadly been voted down by Labour consistently. "The Conservatives are once again proving just how out of touch they are with the daily struggles faced by people across Wales." Welsh Labour did not respond to a request for comment.
