Cost of Living Crisis Devolved Budget, Households and Businesses 2022-10-19

2022-10-19

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is concerned about the Welsh Government's devolved budget being affected by rising costs and its effect on households and businesses.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost of living crisis on (a) the devolved budget, (b) Welsh households, and (c) businesses in Wales?
We have taken action to support households and businesses across Great Britain, including Wales, through schemes such as the energy bill relief scheme and the £400 energy bill rebate. The Welsh Government have been very well funded to deliver their devolved responsibilities, with the largest ever block grant of £18 billion in the 2021 spending review.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide an assessment of potential impacts as requested; provided only general support measures and funding amounts without direct correlation to costs or impacts.
Provided Funding Figures Instead Of Impact Assessments
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is concerned about the Government's U-turn on properly protecting benefits and pensions against rising inflation.
Will the Minister be U-turning on that commitment as well, or will he fight the good fight in favour of proper uprating?
This Government will always be committed to supporting the least well off, which is why we have come forward with schemes such as the £650 payment for those on benefits, the £300 for pensioner households and the £150 for those who are disabled. If the hon. Gentleman is really worried about the cost of living, perhaps it is time he persuaded his Government to start supporting new nuclear and the new oil and gas fields that we so desperately need for the energy that people want.
Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address commitment to benefit uprating; instead suggested support for different economic measures.
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is interested in meeting the Minister to discuss how digital divides affect people in poorer communities.
Will the Minister agree to meet the APPG to discuss how that affects people in Carmarthenshire, in Carmyle, and throughout these islands?
I meet stakeholders who are dealing with poverty all the time, but if the hon. Gentleman is interested in dealing with poverty, perhaps he will be able to find out from his own Scottish National party Government why poverty levels in Scotland are rising, and why even the Labour party in Wales is making a better job of dealing with child poverty than his Government.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to meeting; instead criticised other parties for higher poverty rates.
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is concerned about the Government's reduction of devolved budgets and its alignment with the levelling-up agenda.
How does the Secretary of State think that slashing devolved budgets supports the supposed levelling-up agenda?
The hon. Lady gave me a bit of a promotion there; I am the Minister, not the Secretary of State. I am not telling stories. The figures about child poverty in Scotland come from Audit Scotland, which is responsible to the Scottish Government. I suggest that she takes a look at the other figures, which show that far from cutting Wales's devolved budget the UK Government have increased it every single year, and did so by £2 billion in the last financial year.
Assessment & feedback
Did not explain alignment with levelling-up agenda; instead corrected title and criticized Scottish figures.
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is concerned about the potential increase in fuel poverty due to rising energy costs.
How can the Minister claim that his party is fighting the cost of living crisis, when his Government are cutting back on the few measures that they have announced before they are even implemented?
I am afraid that I did not hear all of the question, but I believe the hon. Gentleman mentioned fuel poverty. I remind him again that the Government are doing everything possible to ensure that people in this country can access the cheap gas, cheap electricity and cheap petrol that they need. It is members of his Government in Scotland who are doing their best to prevent that from happening.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to stance on fuel poverty; instead criticized Scottish government for preventing access.
Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is highlighting the value of being part of a strong United Kingdom in times of crisis.
Does that not demonstrate the value of staying part of a strong United Kingdom, and that the Government do not walk away from serious challenges but meet them head on?
My right hon. Friend makes an excellent point. I could not put it better myself. The Government will stand up for the Union, and for the least well-off in society.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide concrete details or commitments; instead praised support without specifics.
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is concerned about the cost of living crisis affecting constituents on off-grid energy for heating.
On behalf of my constituents, will the Minister look at more targeted support for those on off-grid heating and liquefied petroleum gas?
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. The Government have already come through with a £100 payment for those who are off-grid, but I believe that there are genuine issues there, and she makes a very good point. I am sure that our colleagues in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Treasury will look carefully at what she has said.
Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to targeted support; instead mentioned existing payments and forwarded concerns to relevant departments.
Forwarded Issue
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Context
The MP is concerned about the priorities of the Welsh Government, given significant funding increases but poor performance in health and education.
Does he agree that the Welsh Government need to focus on the right priorities: investing in public services and getting value for money?
My right hon. Friend was responsible for ensuring that the Welsh Government got a more generous package than they had previously—£1.20 for every £1 spent in England. It is therefore very hard to understand why, under a Welsh Labour Government, health service waiting lists and ambulance response times have got longer. People have lower standards of healthcare in Wales than they do under a Conservative-run NHS in England, and Welsh Labour needs to take responsibility for that.
Assessment & feedback
Did not agree on priorities; instead criticized health performance in Wales.
Changed Subject
Response accuracy