Politicians demand action as M&S closure sparks row over council “vanity projects”

Liberal Democrats have accused Swansea Council‘s Labour leadership of making “ridiculous” assurances about the impact of multimillion-pound regeneration schemes, pointing to recent claims that the new library would drive footfall to M&S.

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams MS has written to the Welsh Government demanding support for the 92 staff facing redundancy, describing the closure as a “sickeningly familiar story” of high streets losing historic stores.

The political fallout comes just days after M&S confirmed it will shut its Oxford Street store later this year, ending nearly a century of trading in the city centre.

Welsh Liberal Democrat lead Senedd candidate Cllr Sam Bennett said: “Time and time again the Labour Council Leader has assured us that the massive city centre projects would be the saving of the high street, and this announcement raises big questions.

“At the most recent Council meeting the Leader went as far to say how people were celebrating that the move of the library meant they could now go to M&S, this now sounds ridiculous.”

Cllr Chris Holley, Leader of the Opposition on Swansea Council and Welsh Lib Dem Group Leader, went further, claiming the council had privately assured them M&S would remain once the Yr Storfa development opened.

“We have continually asked and been told that Labour’s vanity projects would be the saving of our high street, and even been told in a meeting M&S would stay once Yr Storfa had opened,” he said.

“This is deeply embarrassing for Labour, and is a tragedy for the city centre workers and shoppers as the Swansea high street takes another blow.”

Y Storfa’s striking green wall and glass frontage at the former BHS store next door to Swansea’s Marks & Spencer which is due to close in 2026
(Image: Swansea Council)

The Liberal Democrats say they have long called for cheaper and easier parking to encourage city centre use, alongside reforms to business rates and VAT cuts to support high street retailers.

Torsten Bell, Labour MP for Swansea West, struck a more conciliatory tone, expressing “deep disappointment” at the closure and focusing on the impact on staff and customers.

“This decision will be a blow to the many loyal customers who regularly use the store, and for the dedicated employees, some who have worked for M&S over many years,” Mr Bell said.

“They need to be shown the dignity and respect they deserve, while it’s vital they are treated fairly during this difficult time. I have already contacted Senior M&S Managers, with a meeting arranged for next Friday to discuss this further.”

Mr Bell noted the closure comes “at a time when the City Centre has seen huge regeneration at key sites and more top retailers showing confidence in Swansea.”

Marks and Spencer on Oxford Street in Swansea city centre. The store, which has been open since 1957, is set to close in late 2026 with 92 jobs at risk.

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, drew parallels with M&S’s departure from Neath in May 2024, saying the closures represent more than just job losses.

“As with Marks and Spencer’s departure from Neath in May 2024, this is more than losing a job or losing a shop, it’s losing a piece of local history,” she said.

“The Oxford Street store is an important part of many people’s lives, not least for the 92 who work there currently. During its 100 year presence in Swansea, there will have been people who have given their working lives to this store and loyal customers who have helped build this company’s multimillion pound profits.”

Ms Williams said she had written to the Welsh Government asking what support will be offered to staff, and will be writing to M&S to urge them to retain a full-line store in the area.

“I’m glad to see the company not ruling out maintaining a presence in Swansea, but that location should be in the city centre, and not out of town,” she added.

The closure announcement has raised questions about the effectiveness of Swansea Council’s regeneration strategy, which has seen millions of pounds invested in projects including the Copr Bay arena, the new library and museum complex, and the ongoing Yr Storfa development.

M&S has indicated it is considering alternative locations in the Swansea area, but has not confirmed whether any replacement store would be in the city centre or at an out-of-town retail park.

The Oxford Street store, which has traded for nearly 100 years, is expected to close later in 2026, with staff consultations now underway.

#Business #CllrChrisHolley #MS #MarksAndSpencer #OxfordStreet #PlaidCymru #retail #SamBennett #SionedWilliamsMS #storeClosure #Swansea #TorstenBellMP #WelshLabour #WelshLiberalDemocrats

Call for new Human Rights law in Wales amid fears of US‑style crackdown

Plaid Cymru MS Sioned Williams is urging the Senedd to back a new Human Rights Bill for Wales, saying global events show how quickly protections can be weakened. She said a “powerful and co‑ordinated movement” is trying to redraw “who deserves dignity and protection”, and warned that Wales cannot assume its own rights framework is safe.

Her comments come after reports from the US of violent confrontations involving ICE agents, which she says show how easily governments can restrict freedoms when rights are not legally enforceable.

Warning Wales is not immune

Ms Williams said Wales has its own human rights failings, pointing to a Welsh Government report which described the detention and hospitalisation of people with learning disabilities and autistic people as a “human rights scandal”.

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru, said too many people in Wales still face barriers that breach basic rights.

“It’s not enough to say that human rights are already regarded in Wales, when they’re not enforceable,” she said. “For too many people with learning disabilities and autistic people, their rights are being breached, right here in Wales.”

She said the problems extend across society, including gender‑based violence, poverty, structural racism, and the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers.

“A Human Rights Bill for Wales would ensure ministers and public bodies are bound by law to uphold the human rights of civilians,” she said. “It would improve accountability and make rights clearer and more accessible.”

What the Bill would do

The proposal calls for Wales to write key international human rights treaties directly into Welsh law. That would allow people to challenge public bodies in court if their rights are breached.

Ms Williams said the move was promised in the Welsh Labour Programme for Government but has not been delivered.

Her proposal is a Members’ Legislative Proposal, meaning it is non‑binding but will show the level of support a full Bill might receive.

Opposing voices

Reform UK has repeatedly argued for the UK to scrap or scale back human rights legislation, saying current laws are too broad and restrict government powers. The party has called for the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights and replace existing protections with a new domestic framework.

A Reform UK spokesperson has previously said the current system “puts the rights of criminals and illegal migrants above the rights of the British public”, and that the UK needs “a simpler, tougher approach”.

The Welsh Government has not yet responded to Ms Williams’ proposal.

#asylumSeekers #genderBasedViolence #HumanRights #HumanRightsAct #humanRightsLaw #HumanRightsWalesAct #ICE #ICEProtest #MembersLegislativeProposal #PlaidCymru #poverty #refugees #Senedd #SionedWilliamsMS #structuralRacism

Ospreys ‘at risk’ as Plaid Cymru demands Welsh Government step in over WRU cuts

The warning came after South Wales West MS Sioned Williams raised the issue in the Senedd, calling for ministers to intervene and force the WRU to publish the full social, economic and community impact of any decision to scrap a team.

Williams, who represents Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, said the Ospreys were “widely understood to be at particular risk” as the WRU looks to reduce the number of regions from four to three.

She told the chamber that the consequences would stretch far beyond elite rugby, affecting schools, community clubs, local businesses and regeneration projects across the region.

“Over the last two weeks there has been growing frustration and anger at proposals by the WRU which would put the Ospreys at risk,” she said.

“This is not just a debate about elite sport. From schools to cafés, from community rugby clubs to local councils, there is deep concern about the wider impact of removing a professional rugby team that underpins participation pathways, local pride and regional identity.”

Williams said the threat also cast doubt over the future of the planned redevelopment of St Helen’s in Swansea, warning that losing the Ospreys would “damage both local economic ecosystems that rely on sport‑related activity and the city’s sporting profile”.

She asked ministers to confirm what discussions they had held with the WRU, what steps they would take to protect communities in South Wales West, and whether they would require the WRU to publish a full impact assessment before any decision is made.

Wide view of the Senedd chamber during plenary session, where Sioned Williams MS raised concerns about the future of the Ospreys rugby region.
(Image: Senedd TV)

In response, Welsh Government minister Jane Hutt said the matter was “for the WRU”:

“This is, of course, the Ospreys, in terms of impact, particularly on Swansea and the surrounding area region and Wales. This is a matter for the WRU, of course, but it is important that elected representatives, indeed at local and national level, can raise these issues.”

This prompted an angry reaction from Williams afterwards:

“It’s disappointing that the Welsh Government has failed to recognise its role in the matter,” she said. “Welsh rugby as we know it, and all that it signifies for my region, is being eroded on their watch, and it’s not good enough for them to wash their hands of the matter.”

Plaid Cymru says the Welsh Government cannot distance itself from the issue, pointing out that ministers have invested almost £5 million in the WRU since 2020 and still hold a £12.4 million loan to the governing body.

Williams said that level of public investment meant the Government had a responsibility to ensure decisions were based on evidence, transparency and the interests of communities.

“It’s important that Welsh Government demonstrate they are in full receipt of the facts about the impact to South Wales West before any decisions are made to reduce the number of regions,” she said.

The WRU has not yet confirmed which region is under threat, but speculation has centred on the Ospreys amid ongoing financial pressures and stalled talks over the future structure of the professional game.

#JaneHuttMS #Ospreys #PlaidCymru #Rugby #Senedd #SionedWilliamsMS #WRU

Concerns grow over ‘shoddy’ work as CES collapse leaves households in limbo

Nearly 300 jobs were lost when CES, which operated a major base in Llansamlet, ceased trading on 9 January following the UK Government’s decision to scrap the ECO4 funding scheme. The scheme had provided grants for home energy‑efficiency improvements, particularly for low‑income and vulnerable households.

Since the announcement, residents across Swansea and the wider region have contacted Sioned Williams MS, raising concerns about incomplete installations, unresolved faults and poor workmanship carried out by contractors working on behalf of CES.

Households left with no recourse

A BBC report cited a CES spokesperson confirming that the company would not be able to complete repairs or address existing complaints. Many of those affected are believed to be elderly or already living in fuel poverty.

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said:

“The recent news that Consumer Energy Services has ceased trading has sent shockwaves around the region I represent: initially in terms of the job losses at Llansamlet and the impact on the vital work to reduce fuel poverty in Wales, but now it’s becoming apparent that many have been left suffering from shoddy work at the hands of contractors operating on behalf of CES, with little clue as to how this will be resolved.”

She said constituents had reported homes left in a worse condition than before applying for ECO4 grants, with no clear route for repairs or compensation.

Questions over oversight and funding

Ms Williams said the collapse raised wider concerns about how the ECO4 scheme was overseen and the impact of its removal on efforts to tackle fuel poverty in Wales.

She highlighted reports that CES recorded significant profits in 2024, despite growing complaints from customers about workmanship and unresolved faults.

Sioned Williams MS said:

“Wales has some of the oldest, coldest and leakiest housing stock in Europe, and it’s concerning that this funding stream, which was greater than the Welsh Government’s own Warm Homes Scheme, has been scrapped with no replacement to date.”

She added that the loss of ECO4 funding would have a direct impact on the Welsh Government’s ability to support vulnerable households, particularly during winter.

Impact on Warm Homes programme

Ms Williams has previously questioned Welsh Government ministers about the reliance on ECO‑funded work to supplement the Warm Homes programme. She said the Chancellor’s decision to end ECO4 at the end of March would remove around £150 million a year from energy‑efficiency work in Wales.

Sioned Williams MS said:

“It is imperative that Welsh Government now review the effectiveness of their own Warm Homes programme, because the real fear is that this matter is a serious blow to ensuring warmer and more efficient homes in Wales, right in the middle of a very cold winter.”

Hundreds of workers still seeking answers

CES employed around 295 people across Swansea and Treorchy. Administrators have confirmed the company has ceased trading with immediate effect and will not complete any further work for customers.

The collapse has left both workers and households facing uncertainty, with local representatives calling for urgent clarity on how outstanding issues will be resolved.

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#administration #Business #CES #ECO4 #energyEfficiency #Llansamlet #PlaidCymru #redundancy #SionedWilliamsMS #Swansea

Report warns Welsh Government failing to deliver on human rights promises

The findings come from the Cross‑Party Group on Human Rights, chaired by South Wales West MS Sioned Williams, which has published its inquiry into the state of human rights in Wales. The report concludes that despite a decade of recommendations from the UN, Senedd committees and civil society organisations, key international treaties have not been incorporated into Welsh law.

The group is calling for a new Human Rights Wales Act to be introduced “at the earliest opportunity.”

Sioned Williams said the report revealed “a Wales where human rights are too often promises rather than protections — aspirations rather than guarantees.” She added that poverty, barriers to healthcare, housing and education, and ongoing discrimination against disabled people, women, racialised communities and children showed why stronger legal protections were needed.

The report was produced by Professor Simon Hoffman of Swansea University and Glenn Page of Amnesty Cymru. Glenn Page, Director of Amnesty International Cymru, said: “It is not enough to say we support human rights; the Welsh Government must protect human rights in law to ensure that now, and in the future, people’s everyday rights are protected and upheld.”

The report will be launched at the Senedd today (Wednesday 12 November), with a debate scheduled later in the evening on the importance of strengthening human rights for the people of Wales.

#amnesty #amnestyInternationalCymru #crossE28091partyGroupOnHumanRights #glennPage #humanRights #humanRightsLaw #humanRightsWalesAct #professorSimonHoffman #senedd #sionedWilliamsMs #swanseaUniversity #welshGovernment

Minister agrees to visit Godre’r Graig school after six years in portacabins

Pupils at the school have been taught in temporary portacabins miles from their community since the original building was closed and demolished in 2019. Despite a funding application for a replacement school being submitted by Neath Port Talbot Council, no decision has yet been made — and Welsh Government officials are reportedly assessing the proposal as if it were for a brand-new school.

“This isn’t a new school — it already exists”

Raising the issue in the Senedd this week, Sioned Williams MS, who represents South Wales West, urged the Cabinet Secretary to meet with school leaders and “understand the exceptional context” of the application.

“What is of concern to me is the impact on the many learners at Godre’r Graig School who have never been educated in a permanent school building in their own community,” she said. “This isn’t a ‘new school’ — the school already exists.”

Ms Neagle confirmed she was “very happy to visit the school,” and acknowledged the wider impact of the situation on Welsh suppliers and families.

Community frustration grows over delays

The funding application is being considered under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Nine-Year Rolling Programme, but concerns have been raised about the criteria being applied. A letter from Welsh Government officials reportedly referenced the impact a “new school” could have on pupil numbers at neighbouring schools — but not the disruption already affecting Godre’r Graig pupils.

David Chadwick MP, Liberal Democrat Member for the area, has also written to the Cabinet Secretary urging urgent action:

“Five years after its closure, pupils are still being taught in temporary offsite portacabins. These facilities are not suitable for long-term education, and parents continue to raise concerns about uncomfortable temperatures and extended daily travel.”

He called for clarity on the timeline for reviewing the application, the criteria being used, and whether any interim support would be offered to improve current learning conditions.

Rejected super school plan still casts a shadow

The original proposal to merge schools in the Swansea Valley into a single “super school” was overwhelmingly rejected by the local community in 2021. Campaigners argued that the plan would strip three communities of their local primary schools, including Godre’r Graig.

With the demolition of the original building now complete, campaigners say the lack of a permanent replacement risks undermining the future of a successful school — and leaving a generation of learners without a stable, community-based education.

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#DavidChadwickMP #education #GodreRgraig #GodreRGraigPrimarySchool #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #newSchool #Pontardawe #portacabin #SionedWilliamsMS #SwanseaValley #WelshGovernment

“Shameful” answer from First Minister on replacement for demolished Swansea Valley school

School closed over landslide risk

Godre’r Graig Primary was shut in July 2019 after a geotechnical report identified a medium risk of landslide from a quarry spoil tip above the playground. Pupils were moved into portable classrooms near Cwmtawe Community School in Pontardawe, more than three miles away. The original building has since been demolished.

Neath Port Talbot Council has submitted an application to Welsh Government for funding to build a replacement school. But uncertainty over the bid, and how it is being assessed, has raised concerns among staff and parents about the school’s long‑term future.

Clash in the Senedd

Raising the issue in the Senedd on Tuesday (30 September), South Wales West MS Sioned Williams said correspondence seen by the school suggested the application was being treated as if it were for a brand‑new school, rather than a replacement forced by “the scars of our industrial legacy.”

In response, the First Minister said:

“Well, my understanding is that the Plaid council blocked the new school proposal, and that is something that you may want to reflect on.”

The remark referred to the previous Labour administration’s controversial “super school” plan, which would have merged Godre’r Graig with Alltwen and Llangiwg primaries on a new site at Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe. That proposal was overturned by the council’s new rainbow coalition in 2022 following strong community opposition.

“Children deserved a better response”

Speaking afterwards, Ms Williams said:

“The children, staff and community of Godre’rgraig deserved a better response to their situation than that given by the First Minister today.

This building was closed through no fault of the school, its staff or its pupils but rather the scars of our industrial legacy – that are continuing to impact our children to this day.

It was shameful to see the First Minister play politics with the future of Godre’r Graig Primary School without even trying to answer my question about the need to recognise the exceptional circumstances that led to the school requiring a new building.”

She confirmed she will be writing to the First Minister to demand a “substantive response more befitting of her office.”

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#coalTipSafety #CwmtaweCommunitySchool #ElunedMorganMS #FirstMinister #GodreRgraig #GodreRGraigPrimarySchool #landslide #landslideRisk #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #newSchool #PlaidCymru #Pontardawe #quarryTip #SionedWilliamsMS #superSchool #SwanseaValley #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour

Call to scrap VAT on sunscreen as skin cancer rates rise in Wales

The South Wales West politician pressed Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford in the Senedd this week after earlier calls to treat sunscreen as a health essential rather than a cosmetic product.

Mr Drakeford confirmed that Treasury officials had told Welsh Government there were “no plans” to change VAT rules. But he added he was prepared to raise the issue again with new ministers in London, following Ms Williams’ intervention.

“Not a luxury”

Ms Williams said sunscreen should be seen as a life‑saving product, not a luxury item:

“Skin cancer is almost entirely preventable, and yet it currently accounts for almost half of all cancers in Wales. The high cost is stopping some people from practising good skin safety – trying to make it go further by not applying enough, not regularly enough, or not at all.”

She added that removing VAT could encourage more people to use sunscreen properly and reduce pressure on the NHS.

Cancer rates and cost concerns

  • Wales has the highest rate of skin cancer of any UK nation, according to Public Health Wales.
  • Research by the charity Melanoma Focus found half of people in the UK think sunscreen is too expensive, while one in ten don’t use it at all because of the cost.

What happens next

Mr Drakeford told the Senedd he would be “willing to raise the point” again with the Treasury, given the arguments put forward and recent changes in personnel.

Campaigners say the move could make a practical difference to families struggling with the cost of living, while also helping to cut avoidable cancer cases.

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#HMTreasury #MarkDrakeford #MelanomaFocus #PublicHealthWales #SionedWilliamsMS #skinCancer #sunscreen #suntan #suntanLotion #tax #UKGovernment #VAT #WelshGovernment

Plaid MS challenges LINK over Pontardawe banking hub snub

Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales West, Sioned Williams, has written to LINK — the UK’s cash access coordinator — to dispute its assessment that Pontardawe does not require additional cash services after Lloyds Bank closes its branch this November. LINK is funded by the UK’s banks and building societies to assess community needs and ensure access to cash across the country.

The closure of Lloyds will leave the entire Swansea Valley without a physical bank, prompting widespread concern. LINK’s original review concluded that existing cash access in Pontardawe was sufficient, despite calls from residents and businesses for a dedicated banking hub.

In response, Ms Williams has compiled a detailed evidence pack including letters from local businesses, charities, councillors, residents and Pontardawe Town FC, challenging the practicality of LINK’s verdict. She argues that the assessment fails to reflect the “facts on the ground”, citing the town’s reliance on cash-based trade, limited public transport links to Neath, and the broader impact on surrounding communities such as Rhos, Clydach, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Cwmllynfell and Ystalyfera.

While Lloyds has pledged to provide a Community Banker in Pontardawe, this service will be limited to fortnightly visits and will not handle transactions — a move Ms Williams says falls short of meeting local needs.

Sioned Williams said:

“When LINK assessed Pontardawe in the wake of the news that Lloyds Bank will close – the last bank in the Swansea Valley – they concluded that there were sufficient banking services nearby. This is a decision that I am still disputing after hearing the feelings aired in the public meeting I held, in ongoing conversations with residents and local businesses, and because this is my town and my bank.”

She added that many businesses operate on a cash-only basis and would be forced to close temporarily to travel to Neath for banking — a journey complicated by the infrequent 256 bus service, which runs fewer than ten times daily.

Sioned Williams said:

“While the people of Pontardawe and the wider area are under no illusions that financial services are changing, all they – and I – ask is that their request for a banking hub be given proper and full consideration with appropriate attention paid to the facts on the ground.”

The campaign to retain banking services in Pontardawe has gained momentum in recent months. In July, local MP Christina Rees wrote to the CEO of Lloyds Banking Group urging the bank to reconsider its decision to close the branch, citing the impact on vulnerable residents and small businesses. Ms Williams also previously criticised Lloyds’ response to community concerns as “deeply disappointing” and lacking in meaningful engagement.

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#ATM #bankClosure #banking #cashpoint #Clydach #Cwmllynfell #GwaunCaeGurwen #Link #LloydsBank #Pontardawe #Rhos #SionedWilliamsMS #SwanseaValley #Ystalyfera

Disability groups say no vote on disability cuts until Wales has full consultation

The open letter has been signed by dozens of politicians, campaign groups and individuals after Wales’ only face-to-face consultation event due to take place in Cardiff on 3 June was cancelled at the last minute.

The letter from campaign group Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) Cymru is addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Welsh Government First Minister Eluned Morgan, Rachel Reeves, Liz Kendall, Stephen Timms, Alison McGovern and Jo Stevens and says: “The government are running a consultation on disability cuts called the “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper”.

“The DWP have cancelled the only in-person consultation event for the whole of Wales, and do not plan to run another.

“They did this after announcing an inaccessible venue at the last minute, in what we believe to be a clear example of disability discrimination.

“The consultation was always going to be unfair, given half the proposals – the most important half – were off the table for discussion on day one.

“There must be no vote in the House of Commons on disability cuts until a full and genuine public consultation has been carried out in Wales.

“Given the government’s complete failure to listen to disabled people, and the DWP’s demonstrated inability to arrange a genuine consultation, any consultation must be run independently by Welsh disabled people’s organisations, also inviting the views of carers. The DWP must attend as observers.”

Senedd Member, Sioned Williams MS joined DPAC Cymru at a protest in Cardiff on 3 June – the date of the cancelled consultation.

Sioned Williams at the Cardiff protest(Image: Swansea DPAC)

Ms Williams, who is Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Social Justice and Equalities, said: “With 190,000 – a staggering 6% of the people of Wales – set to lose out, Welsh communities will be the hardest hit by Labour’s cruel disability cuts, yet the Labour UK Government refuse to even hold a consultation event in Wales. If anybody needed further proof of Labour’s contempt towards Wales, here it is.

“While the Labour UK Government treats Wales as an unimportant consequence to their decisions, Labour in Wales simply watch on in disinterest, instead of calling out the UK Government’s austerity-driven agenda. Labour has no interest in doing what is right for our communities, only what is deemed suitable in their attempt to reverse their plummeting polling numbers.

“Welsh communities deserve a government that will put them first, they deserve a government that puts Wales and Welsh communities first. Labour have shown that their priorities lie with their party, not with our country. That is why Wales needs a Plaid Cymru Government in 2026 that will always fight for what is fair to Wales.”

Swansea Bay News asked the Department for Work and Pensions for their response to DPAC Cymru’s letter and to confirm if a consultation will be held in Wales.

UK Government Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms responded: “It is crucial that the views and voices of sick or disabled people across Wales are at the heart of our reforms, which is why we’ve rescheduled a consultation event in Cardiff after it was cancelled by the venue.

“Having listened to people’s calls for more consultation opportunities in Wales we have also arranged an additional virtual event, so even more people can take part.

“We will continue to look at the specific impacts for those living in Wales as we seek to support people back into work if they are able, while also protecting those who rely on our social security system.”

Swansea Bay News has asked the DWP for the details of the rescheduled Cardiff consultation, but the department has yet to confirm the date.

#benefits #DWP #SionedWilliamsMS #SirStephenTimms #SwanseaDPAC #UKGovernment