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Welfare: Free school meals at risk - Welsh government minister Welfare: Free school meals at risk - Welsh government minister
(35 minutes later)
Welfare change could put access to schemes like free school meals at risk, a Welsh government minister has warned.Welfare change could put access to schemes like free school meals at risk, a Welsh government minister has warned.
Anti-poverty minister Huw Lewis said Whitehall was not releasing key information about who will be eligible for benefits under universal credit.Anti-poverty minister Huw Lewis said Whitehall was not releasing key information about who will be eligible for benefits under universal credit.
He called it "a potential car crash" but hoped his concern would be misplaced "and that everything will come out in the wash".He called it "a potential car crash" but hoped his concern would be misplaced "and that everything will come out in the wash".
The Department for Work and Pensions has been asked to comment.The Department for Work and Pensions has been asked to comment.
The new system will merge benefits and tax credits into a monthly payout. Universal credit is beginning with a very small number of new claimants in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, but is to affect about eight million people by 2017. The new system will merge benefits and tax credits into a monthly payout.
Universal credit is beginning with a very small number of new claimants in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, but is to affect about eight million people by 2017.
Mr Lewis told a cross-party committee of AMs that his officials had been promised key information last May about how universal credit would relate to benefits provided in Wales - so-called "passported benefits".Mr Lewis told a cross-party committee of AMs that his officials had been promised key information last May about how universal credit would relate to benefits provided in Wales - so-called "passported benefits".
These include eligibility for free school meals, food vouchers for pregnant women, school uniform grants, reduced charges for eye and dental care, home energy efficiency schemes, Blue Badges for disabled people and student support.These include eligibility for free school meals, food vouchers for pregnant women, school uniform grants, reduced charges for eye and dental care, home energy efficiency schemes, Blue Badges for disabled people and student support.
Access to these in Wales is currently determined by the receipt of certain UK-wide benefits, but the introduction of universal credit means major changes to the way these are calculated.Access to these in Wales is currently determined by the receipt of certain UK-wide benefits, but the introduction of universal credit means major changes to the way these are calculated.
Mr Lewis, who is responsible for co-ordinating the Welsh government's approach to benefit reform, said "acute operational problems" were emerging due to the lack of information from Whitehall.Mr Lewis, who is responsible for co-ordinating the Welsh government's approach to benefit reform, said "acute operational problems" were emerging due to the lack of information from Whitehall.
He said: "We desperately need to have the income threshold data that would enable us to establish a fair system.He said: "We desperately need to have the income threshold data that would enable us to establish a fair system.
'Danger of collapse''Danger of collapse'
"If we remain in a situation, come turn of the financial year next year, that universal credit is simply a 'black box' into which we cannot delve to find out whether someone is, for instance, eligible for free school meals, then the passported benefits system will be in danger of collapse."If we remain in a situation, come turn of the financial year next year, that universal credit is simply a 'black box' into which we cannot delve to find out whether someone is, for instance, eligible for free school meals, then the passported benefits system will be in danger of collapse.
"I have to tell you that I am extraordinarily nervous - time is running out," Mr Lewis added."I have to tell you that I am extraordinarily nervous - time is running out," Mr Lewis added.
But members of the assembly enterprise committee expressed concern about the Welsh government's response to the welfare changes being implemented by Westminster.But members of the assembly enterprise committee expressed concern about the Welsh government's response to the welfare changes being implemented by Westminster.
Pontypridd Labour AM Mick Antoniw said: "My concern is that it doesn't appear that there is a clearly thought-out strategy here.Pontypridd Labour AM Mick Antoniw said: "My concern is that it doesn't appear that there is a clearly thought-out strategy here.
"I understand there are things that are unclear and uncertain in terms of the impact - but let's take one area we do know - the £22m the [Welsh] government had to put in in respect of council tax benefit."I understand there are things that are unclear and uncertain in terms of the impact - but let's take one area we do know - the £22m the [Welsh] government had to put in in respect of council tax benefit.
"We know that was effectively a one-off last year, and we know that was to mitigate the immediate impact of that benefit change being imposed on the Welsh government in a very short space of time - what, for example, is the strategy for next year?"We know that was effectively a one-off last year, and we know that was to mitigate the immediate impact of that benefit change being imposed on the Welsh government in a very short space of time - what, for example, is the strategy for next year?
'Desperate problem' 'Desperate impression'
"Is it the [Welsh] government's intention to try and do that again or alternatively what is the fallback strategy for preparing people that there is going to be a change?"Is it the [Welsh] government's intention to try and do that again or alternatively what is the fallback strategy for preparing people that there is going to be a change?
Mr Lewis replied: "We cannot say, and to impose some sort of grand strategy upon this situation would be, to my mind, to presuppose a knowledge which we do not have."Mr Lewis replied: "We cannot say, and to impose some sort of grand strategy upon this situation would be, to my mind, to presuppose a knowledge which we do not have."
The Conservative AM Byron Davies asked why the Welsh government had not managed to extract the information needed from the Department for Work and Pensions despite weekly meetings between officials from both administrations.The Conservative AM Byron Davies asked why the Welsh government had not managed to extract the information needed from the Department for Work and Pensions despite weekly meetings between officials from both administrations.
Mr Davies said Mr Lewis was "conveying a desperate problem" and queried whether the issue was at political or civil service levels. Mr Davies said Mr Lewis was "conveying a desperate impression" and queried whether the issue was at political or civil service levels.
Mr Lewis said said there were "of course" political problems but that the problem was now becoming acute and it would "not be honourable" of him to come to the committee and downplay his concerns.Mr Lewis said said there were "of course" political problems but that the problem was now becoming acute and it would "not be honourable" of him to come to the committee and downplay his concerns.
"I hope to goodness my concerns are misplaced and everything will come out in the wash," Mr Lewis added."I hope to goodness my concerns are misplaced and everything will come out in the wash," Mr Lewis added.