Extra Cash Support for Poorest Parents in Wales
Some of the poorest parents in Wales could receive additional financial support within just over three months, according to the new Deputy First Minister.
The Plaid Cymru administration has announced plans for a £10 million pilot scheme that would provide £10 per week for 15,000 children aged between 0 and six years. This support targets families whose parents are already in receipt of universal credit (UC).
The payment, called the Cynnal payment—Welsh for "maintain"—is modeled on a similar scheme in Scotland. The Scottish pilot began with £10 per week and has since increased to £26.70 per week.
New Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams stated that work would be undertaken within the next 100 days to "initiate" the plan.
Unlike Scotland, the Welsh government does not have control over benefits, raising concerns that the UK government might deduct money from Welsh parents if they receive payments through this Plaid Cymru initiative.
Williams, speaking to BBC Walescast shortly after First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth unveiled the first-ever solely Plaid Cymru ministerial team, said Plaid ministers would begin work on the plan immediately.
"This is something we've said that we're going to start work on immediately to understand what that would look like, where would it be best to pilot this in order to have that proper evaluation of the impact of it."
When asked if the government would be able to confirm the policy's start within 100 days, Williams responded:
"Yes. We're going to plan it. We've said that we were going to do that work in the first one hundred days and then be able to initiate it."
If the pilot proves successful, Williams said the government would make the case to the UK government for further powers.
"If we needed further powers in order to roll that out beyond a pilot, then we would take the evidence that we have, evidence that is already apparent from Scotland. We would be able to show the impact that it's had and then we would say we need those powers to roll it out across Wales."
Plaid Cymru's election pledges also include working towards establishing a national care service free at the point of use.
Financial Constraints Affect Social Care Plans
Before unveiling his ministerial team, First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that financial constraints currently prevent the government from advancing the idea of free social care immediately.
"Financial constraints are the reason why ultimately we are not able to say we're pressing ahead with free social care right now. But that doesn't mean to say that we don't believe that having that national health and care system is absolutely crucial and that we continue to work towards the delivery of that genuinely integrated landscape."
Ap Iorwerth emphasized that the government should be moving towards free social care but acknowledged the difficult decisions made during the election period.
He also highlighted the need for more childcare workers to support the government's plans to expand childcare.
"There needed to be 'a thousand' more childcare workers to deliver its plans to expand childcare."
The party aims to extend care to every child aged nine months to four years, providing 20 hours of care per week.
Broadcast Information
Walescast is broadcast on BBC One Wales at 22:40 GMT on Wednesdays and is available on .
