Welsh Government concerns over welfare reform taken to London

The Welsh Government’s concerns over proposed welfare changes was taken up with the UK Government Ministers in London yesterday (Weds 23rd May).

The First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones and Education Minister Leighton Andrews will attend a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), to be chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and with Ministers from the other devolved governments and the UK Government.

Controversial proposals to change the welfare system will be on the agenda. The Welsh Government has repeatedly raised concerns that the changes will impact on some of the most vulnerable in society.

The First Minister said:

“We have consistently made the Welsh Government’s position clear – we feel Wales will be hit disproportionately compared to the rest of the UK by the welfare reforms currently on the table.

“The principle of welfare reform is fine as long as it provides genuine support to individuals to help them find and keep work. But the current proposals will really hit parts of Wales and the JMC is an opportunity for us to raise our real concerns.”

Education Minister Leighton Andrews said:

“We have grave concerns about these proposals and that’s why we’ve established a top-level Ministerial group to examine the impact of the welfare reforms on Wales and how we can protect the most vulnerable in our society. A comprehensive assessment of the impact of the reforms is already underway so we are able to see a true picture of what these changes will mean for communities across Wales.”