Work and pensions secretary Thérèse Coffey has rejected the suggestion of a Universal Basic Income pilot for the UK, stating “the answer is no” in response to questions from an MP.
Mark Drakeford confirmed the devolved Welsh government will trial a UBI – a regular payment given to everyone unconditionally so no one goes without an income – after being re-elected as Welsh first minister earlier this month.
In the House of Commons on Monday, Swansea West MP Geraint Davies asked Coffey if the UK would consider running its own pilot as well as examining how much it would cost, citing rising food insecurity.
Here’s @theresecoffey responding to @GeraintDaviesMP in the Commons earlier today when asked about the incoming #UBI pilot in Wales.
Thanks for putting the question forward, Geraint. #UBIWales �ϴ�g�b�w�l�s� pic.twitter.com/N6DtVbfuHN
— UBI Lab Cymru 🏴 (@UBILabWales) May 17, 2021
But Coffey responded: “My favourite question on UBI. The answer is no. Of course if the Welsh Government wishes to use the extra money it receives through the Barnett formula for undertaking other aspects, that would be a matter of whether it’s in their legal powers.
“But I’m conscious that we all want to make sure food insecurity come to an end and that’s why we’re working across government to tackle that.”