The Senedd debates ways to tackle child poverty

Sioned Williams calls for a direct child payment to tackle child poverty

Today (1 October 2025) a debate was held in the Senedd on child poverty.

The debate was brought to the Senedd by Plaid Cymru and you can read the motion here.

32% of children in Wales are living in poverty – which is projected to reach its highest rate in 30 years at 34% by 2029 according to analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

In 2016, the Welsh Government scrapped its target to eradicate child poverty by 2020.

Meanwhile, Scotland is the only nation in the UK where child poverty is expected to fall after the Scottish Government take bold action through a Scottish Child Payment and have committed to effectively scrap the impact of the two-child limit from March 2026.

Sioned Williams has previously called for a direct child payment and take inspiration from Scotland to “support families” with “transformative” direct child payment to tackle increasing levels of child poverty in Wales.

Mrs Williams said that the Welsh Government’s decision to vote against the calls are “disappointing”.

Speaking after the vote, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for social justice, Sioned Williams MS said:

Child poverty is a political choice.

Welsh Government has made excuses for their lack of action instead of finding a way to deliver – meanwhile the Scottish government have just got on with the job and found a way to lift children out of poverty.

This debate was a chance for Welsh Government to heed our calls for a child payment and to re-commit to statutory measurable targets, for the sake of the increasing number of children going without basic necessities each day.

Their lack of ambition for Wales and our young people is disappointing.

You can read the Senedd record of the debate here.