A ROW about the impact of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s welfare reforms in her budget on Wales intensified today.

First Minister Eluned Morgan wrote to the UK government on March 11, asking for an assessment of the impact of welfare reforms on Wales before the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

But the impact assessment covered England and Wales and did not look at the specific impact in Wales where there are more people claiming disability and other benefits.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth wrote to the First Minister urging her to publish the response she has received from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall.

Labour MP Kanishka Narayan, speaking on the BBC’s Politics Wales programme at the weekend, claimed the FM had received a response from Ms Kendall.

A tight-lipped spokesman for the FM said a letter had been received, but it would not be published and he refused to say if it was the impact assessment for Wales.

Last week, the FM expressed her disappointment that she had not received a response ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

Ms Morgan also refused to back the changes to social security spending, despite Wales Secretary Jo Stevens claiming the First Minister supported them.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Given the significant consequences these reforms will have on the people of Wales I urge you to publish the response in full, without delay.”

The row about the cuts to welfare spending come as official figures show a 2 per cent rise in the number of children living in poverty in Wales, to 31 per cent.

A Plaid Cymru debate in the Senedd tomorrow has called on the Welsh government to implement a child payment.

But the Welsh government has deleted the calls in its amendment to the original motion and said it will focus on engaging with the Scottish government to better understand its child payment and how it operates.

Social justice spokeswoman Sioned Williams said: “Their choice to delete Plaid Cymru’s calls to implement a child payment is just another example of their refusal to take direct action on tackling child poverty.

“How long will Labour be content to talk around the issue when the actions needed are known and proven?”