by David Nicholson and Harry Johnstone 

WELFARE cuts dominated First Minister’s Questions today as Senedd members queued up to call for transparency and condemned the impact on people in Wales.

Eluned Morgan was asked repeatedly to condemn the budget cuts affecting welfare payments and publish the risk assessment from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall.

The First Minister said she was happy for the letter to be made public and hoped that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) would release it.

Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell said he had attended an event for people over 50 where one woman said that if her personal independence payment (PIP) was cut, she would lose her home, while another person said they would have to cut back on food shopping.

“Is this the kind of policy you expected from Labour in government and the partnership in power?” Mr Campbell asked.

Ms Morgan acknowledged that people were suffering in Wales and it was necessary to stand with and speak for them, but she said: “I am not a spokesperson for Westminster.”

Plaid’s Sioned Williams said her breath was taken away by the First Minister’s answer, since whatever Ms Kendall’s letter contains, “we know what the impact in Wales will be.

“It will push thousands of disabled people and children into poverty, and these cuts have been condemned by policy experts and by disabled people themselves,” Ms Williams said.

Plaid’s Luke Fletcher told the Morning Star that Labour backbenchers were subdued during the exchanges relating to welfare cuts, adding: “Many looked embarrassed and so they should be.”

Labour’s Jenny Rathbone said she was concerned at the failure to share information that the UK government is sitting on.

“The Treasury must have this information, so why is it not possible for them to share it with us?” Ms Rathbone asked.

Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds demanded that Ms Morgan tell the British government to scrap the two-child benefit cap, restore payments to people who need them and agree to a child payment, as the Scottish government does, to reduce child poverty.

Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “The First Minister says she’s listening, but she’s not hearing a single thing.

“She doesn’t know who she spoke to in Downing Street when discussing the reforms, and the FM can’t bring herself to support a Plaid Cymru motion this week on bringing in a direct payment to children living in poverty.”