What consideration is the Minister giving to the removal of barriers to accessing the DWP data of financially vulnerable customers in receipt of universal credit, where a recent Consumer Council for Water review recommended this would help water companies auto-enrol customers onto available assistance schemes, which are not reaching everyone?
Our Income Maximisation Plan published in November 2020, contained specific actions to deliver a system of passporting between different local authority benefits. Building on that, we want to take other opportunities to apply the principle of passporting or auto-enrolment to increase the incomes of individuals and families in Wales.
By working across Welsh Government and with stakeholders on the Welsh Government’s Debt Task and Finish Group we will be agreeing how to take forward the Consumer Council for Water recommendation.
We also continue to work with the Department for Work and Pensions to access appropriate data to inform Welsh Government policy on supporting the most financially vulnerable members of our communities.