The Welsh ministers have declined to make public a letter discussing the impact of welfare reforms in Wales, sent by the UK government’s work and pensions secretary to the first minister. Despite acknowledging the receipt of the letter, the Welsh government has stated that they will not release it. Eluned Morgan had reached out to Liz Kendall on 11 March specifically requesting an assessment tailored to Wales, but it remains uncertain whether such an evaluation has been conducted. This decision comes after the first minister expressed hesitancy in supporting the reforms until more information is disclosed.
Plaid Cymru has joined the discussion by urging the release of Kendall’s response in its entirety without further delay. Morgan has previously expressed concerns about the disproportionate effects the changes would have in Wales due to the relatively high number of claimants. The welfare reforms coincide with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ efforts to enhance defense funding and adhere to her fiscal responsibilities, such as refraining from borrowing for everyday expenditures. Last week, Reeves revealed modifications to benefits, including stricter qualification criteria for Personal Independence Payments (Pips) – a primary disability benefit utilized by over 250,000 working-age individuals in Wales.
The situation has sparked controversy in Wales, particularly given the country’s significant reliance on benefits, and following Morgan’s revelation two weeks ago that she had engaged directly with top officials. While a copy of Morgan’s letter to Kendall dated 11 March was eventually made public, the first minister clarified in a recent session that she had not communicated with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and was uncertain about the details of her interactions. Labour representatives, including Alun Davies and Steve Witherden, have openly criticized the proposed changes and expressed concerns about their potential negative impacts. The Welsh government has clarified that it is ultimately the sender’s responsibility to release the letter, while inquiries have been made to the Department for Work and Pensions regarding their intentions to do so
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