Debate contribution: Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Debate contribution by Ms Sian Mulholland on 18 March 2025.

MLA

Ms Sian Mulholland

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

18 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Welfare Supplementary Payment (Universal Credit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4860320

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank the Minister very much for coming to the House to introduce the regulations. I support the draft welfare supplementary payment regulations, and I acknowledge the vital role that those mitigations have played in alleviating financial stress for many families across Northern Ireland. Extending the measures for another three years provides an element of stability, as stated by the Chair, amid the particular ongoing economic challenges, which, we know, our community faces. I thank the Minister for that.

Like the Committee Chairperson, however, I regret the fact that there could not have been a longer-term fix rather than another medium-term cliff edge. Although the mitigations are essential, they sadden me. Today was an opportunity to be a bit bolder and help lift people out of poverty by mitigating the worst of Tory austerity cuts and what could regrettably happen in the next couple of hours as a result of Labour cuts. The independent advisory panel on welfare mitigations, led by Les Allamby, presented a comprehensive suite of recommendations aimed at mitigating and alleviating poverty for those most in need. One of the biggest injustices that could have been tackled is the two-child benefit limit. One in 10 children in Northern Ireland — more than 45,000 children — is affected by the policy. The Minister has previously told the House about the administrative costs associated with mitigating that cut, but, given what we are facing now, with rising child poverty levels, mitigating it is something that we need to consider, instead of saying that we do not have the money to do so. If we do not have the money now, we will end up paying for the cuts down the line. The Minister has also said that. I had such a heavy heart coming to the Chamber today because of the rumours and conjecture about what our communities are about to face. When we look at the regulations before us and at the costs involved, we can see that they are essential. The mitigations will raise people out of really dire situations, but they are not going to be enough. That is from where my heavy heart comes. I know that what is about to come down the line will be so much worse for the most vulnerable cohort of our community. I have just done away with my speech, because that is the crux of where we are at today. Although the regulations are really welcome, they are not enough. We have to call for a legislative programme that is linked to our anti-poverty strategy, which the Minister has committed to bringing to the Executive by the end of the month. The strategy has to be coupled with investment and support, however, especially if we are looking at cuts that will take from the purse of the most vulnerable. What are we putting in place? For what kind of society are we trying to legislate? The regulations, particularly the benefit cap, will take some of the sting out of the cuts, but what else are we going to do? Minister, what are you planning to do about what our most vulnerable people could be facing?

I know what you are going to say, Gerry, but I will allow you to say it.

I really appreciate that the Member did not use that as a wee opportunity to mention the very difficult situation that we faced as a result of previous welfare reform. I absolutely agree with him. There was a lot of hope when people heard that Labour was coming into power. I know that I felt hope, particularly after the years of devastating policies from the Tories. There was hope, so what is most devastating is that we have recently seen cut after cut focused on the most vulnerable in our society. I do not think that any MLA, past or present, would want to be seen to justify the attack on and removal of benefits from the most vulnerable. Although I understand that there are cost issues involved and that there is an economic argument being made, I hope that the Minister can give us an update on the anti-poverty strategy. Will we see it before next month? What measures will be put in place to provide support for those who will be left behind as a result of the regulations? Finally, can he update the House on what he has heard is coming down the line from the Department for Work and Pensions?

748 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:08 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification