This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35372987
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Wales would 'lose out' if more welfare is devolved, says Jones | Wales would 'lose out' if more welfare is devolved, says Jones |
(35 minutes later) | |
Wales would "lose out" if more welfare benefits were devolved, First Minister Carwyn Jones has warned. | Wales would "lose out" if more welfare benefits were devolved, First Minister Carwyn Jones has warned. |
UK ministers are considering transferring responsibility for Attendance Allowance, paid to over-65s with a physical or mental disability. | UK ministers are considering transferring responsibility for Attendance Allowance, paid to over-65s with a physical or mental disability. |
On Thursday, Mr Jones told a House of Lords committee he opposed this, and the devolution of welfare generally. | On Thursday, Mr Jones told a House of Lords committee he opposed this, and the devolution of welfare generally. |
He said he was "firmly of the view" that the benefits system should remain "at a much wider level". | He said he was "firmly of the view" that the benefits system should remain "at a much wider level". |
Mr Jones was giving evidence to the Constitution Committee's inquiry into the UK union and devolution. | Mr Jones was giving evidence to the Constitution Committee's inquiry into the UK union and devolution. |
"I'm not in favour of devolution of welfare benefits," he said. | "I'm not in favour of devolution of welfare benefits," he said. |
"There's talk now of Attendance Allowance being devolved. | "There's talk now of Attendance Allowance being devolved. |
"Again, it's not something that we would push for." | "Again, it's not something that we would push for." |
'Historic underfunding' | |
Mr Jones said that 7.1% of those claiming Attendance Allowance were from Wales, but only 4.8% of the UK population lived there. | Mr Jones said that 7.1% of those claiming Attendance Allowance were from Wales, but only 4.8% of the UK population lived there. |
Under the Barnett formula, which decides how much money the Welsh government receives from Westminster, he said Wales would only receive 6.2% of the budget and would therefore "lose out". | |
"So, I'm firmly of the view that there are some issues - and the benefits system is one of those issues - that should remain at a much wider level," he said. | "So, I'm firmly of the view that there are some issues - and the benefits system is one of those issues - that should remain at a much wider level," he said. |
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies agreed that "for the forseeable future" it was better to maintain a "unified welfare state for the whole of the United Kingdom". | |
Leanne Wood, the Plaid Cymru leader, said the "best way to secure redistribution", from wealthier to poorer parts of the the UK, was to replace the Barnett formula with a "needs-based formula". | |
This would end Wales' "historic underfunding", she said. | |
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams told the committee there was a "consensus" amongst the Welsh political parties that the Barnett formula needed to be reformed, but the difficulty was "being able to convince the Westminster government". |