I told No 10 of benefits concerns, Welsh FM says

The first minister of Wales contacted Downing Street to express concerns over major changes to the benefits system, the Senedd was told on Tuesday.

Eluned Morgan said she "personally spoke to No 10" last week to outline the potential impact on Welsh communities.

She spoke after the UK government's work and pensions secretary set out proposals aimed at saving £5bn from the welfare bill by the end of 2030.

Morgan said reform was needed, however, and said "many" of her concerns had been taken on board.

However one of her backbenchers, Labour MS Mick Antoniw, said by presenting savings the statement would fuel concerns the "real driver" is to "cut costs".

Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth meanwhile criticised the first minister for defending the changes for two weeks in a row.

Liz Kendall's plans include narrowing the eligibility for the main disability benefit, Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Speculation that ministers may freeze PIP had prompted opposition from among Labour MPs - Kendall told the Commons she would not be doing so.

For the second week in the Senedd, Eluned Morgan was challenged on her stance over her party colleagues' benefits plans.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru leader, said: "The UK government has today announced punitive cuts to welfare that will, no doubt, lead to denying many disabled people a sense of dignity and trapping more people into poverty."

Morgan, in reply, said: "I know that there have been people across the whole of Wales who have been very concerned about the speculation that's been going on over the past few days, and I recognise that concern.

"That's why I personally spoke to Number 10 last week, to outline some of our concerns in terms of the potential impact on some of our communities in Wales.

"I'm very pleased to see that many of those concerns have been taken on board and that the most vulnerable will continue to be protected."

She added: "I think it is important to recognise there is a need for reform of the system... Benefits trap people in poverty. We need to give people a ladder out of benefits and out of poverty."

Ap Iorwerth responded: "Again today we hear the first minister here in Wales defend the actions of the UK government that will have a detrimental impact on the people that she serves."

He said Morgan had previously criticised cuts made by the Conservatives when they were in charge in Westminster.

Morgan also told the Senedd that she had written to the work and pensions secretary "making sure that she assessed how that any changes might impact Wales and people in Wales".

The letter to Kendall, which was shared with BBC Wales, said: "I agree the system needs to ensure it is effectively supporting people into work and offering an effective financial safety net for people who are unable to work."

It asked for any analysis of the impact on Wales to be shared with the first minister prior to publication.

BBC Wales has asked who Morgan spoke to in Number 10.

Mick Antoniw, Pontypridd MS and a former minister, told BBC Wales: "The UK government's statement on welfare reform has not alleviated concerns about the potential impact of the changes."

The Labour MS said there were "some positive commitments" but said it had been "presented the wrong way round".

"I would have preferred the government to announce improvements to the welfare system and to announce investment in improving the support to those who need it to get back into employment.

"If successful this would inevitably lead to a reduction in costs. However presenting a £5bn saving will only fuel concerns that the real driver is not improvements in the system but to cut costs."

Ap Iorwerth said after the Senedd exchange: "The fact that the first minister refused to condemn the swingeing cuts for the second week running begs the question what are Labour in Wales for?"

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar said: "Reducing the ballooning cost of welfare is no longer optional. Far too many people are receiving sickness benefits compared with recent years.

"The UK Conservative government put in place a balanced plan to stem the ever-rising welfare bill, but Labour dithered, delayed and then ditched it. They are now faced with reality and are having to backtrack."

In the Commons on Tuesday Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies asked Kendall if she had secured "her Labour Welsh government's colleagues" approval for her changes.

In response, the work and pensions secretary said: "Welsh Labour wants to see more people having the chances and choices to get good jobs."