Debate contribution: Social Security Reform and Economic Inactivity

Debate contribution by Mr Maurice Bradley on 1 April 2025.

MLA: Mr Maurice Bradley
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 1 April 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Social Security Reform and Economic Inactivity
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4877159

Text

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank those who brought the motion to the House. It has encouraged a lively discussion on a very serious topic, namely the Government's welfare reform proposals and the implications that they will have for all our communities. The Democratic Unionist Party believes that welfare must support those who need it most and do so fairly and in a way that is sustainable for taxpayers and society. The Government's latest reforms present a mixed picture that lacks clarity or definition on how it is supposed to work. The reforms are ill-thought-out and, to be honest, devastating. Like other MLA offices across the country, my office has been contacted by a steady stream of worried constituents who feel that they have been left in the dark on how the Government's proposals are expected to work. The proposals narrow the eligibility for the personal independence payment by adding a requirement that individuals must accumulate their necessary points under a single daily living activity. That is deeply troubling for the constituents who are contacting my office. They are concerned as to how the changes will affect them. That is particularly the case for those with disabilities or complex or fluctuating mental health conditions, who often receive points under multiple daily living activities. They are, most likely, the ones who will suffer from the cuts. Those individuals face losing vital support purely because their conditions do not neatly fit the new restrictive structure. In my constituency, there are several lower layer super output areas. Those areas lack investment from the Executive, which reduces the employment opportunities in them. There is also real concern about the proposal to scrap the work capability assessment and make PIP eligibility the new measure for those who need extra financial support under universal credit. The DUP has long advocated strong anti-fraud measures to ensure that public funds go to those who genuinely require help. Equally, we acknowledge that the Government's attempts to tackle fraud and error are necessary. Yet, we question whether the additional measures that have been announced will truly tackle dishonest practices without penalising honest claimants. We do not lose sight of the bigger picture. Northern Ireland, like other regions, struggles with high levels of economic inactivity. While the 'Pathways to Work' Green Paper outlines a support package, we need clarity on how that £1 billion investment will filter into Northern Ireland and how much finance will be delegated to Northern Ireland to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected and help move people into sustainable employment. Let me reiterate the DUP's stance. We stand for fairness, safeguarding our most vulnerable and working with all parties and communities to ensure that these reforms strengthen rather than undermine our society. We must have clarity, backed up by tangible finance to offset welfare reform mitigations. I commend our amendment to the House.

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

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