Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she has taken with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle poverty in Wales.

The Government is committed to tackling poverty and we will achieve this by increasing living standards through our Plan for Change.

Up to 160,000 workers across Wales received a record pay rise through the UK Government’s increases to the living wage and minimum wage. For full time workers 21 and over, this means up to £1,400 a year more for these individuals and up to £2,500 a year more for full time workers between 18-20. These increased incomes are set to boost financial stability for millions of families.

We are creating tens of thousands of jobs in every corner of Wales through our Freeports, Investment Zones, support for steelworkers, inward investments and our thriving green industries.

The positive impact our UK and Welsh Labour Governments are having is clear in how the Welsh economy is changing. Unemployment fell significantly last quarter. And, since we came into office, real wages have continually increased while interest rates have been cut four times. We are creating jobs and putting more pounds in the pockets of working families across Wales.

The Government is also developing a Child Poverty Strategy that will be UK-wide, building on shared effort across all nations and regions of the UK and placing children and families at its centre.