Geraint Davies MP, the member for Swansea West visited the local Job Centre in Swansea to discuss how Universal Credit is affecting claimants.

Mr Davies said, ‘It was great to meet staff doing their best to make sure people have money in their pockets to put food on the table this Christmas. However, they are dealing with a complicated system designed to make overall reductions to the amount of money claimants get.’

‘staff in Swansea job centre are working hard to help claimants, but there are clear deficiencies in the new claim system. 95% of claimants surveyed in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot reported going into worse debt after moving onto Universal Credit.’

‘we’ve also seen an increase in the number of people using food banks. Between April and September 3258 three-day emergency food supplies were given to local people in crisis, with 1138 going to children.’

‘At my office in Swansea we’ve been accepting donations and toys for constituents in need and

we’re also making financial donations to two food banks this week. Like others I would encourage anyone in Swansea who feels able to give to local services and charities helping vulnerable people this Christmas’