SENIOR Welsh Government ministers have called on the UK Government to reconsider its tax and welfare policies following a report into the impact on poverty in Wales.

Among the findings of the report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into the impact of recent tax and welfare policy changes, such as the introduction of Universal Credit, are that homes in Wales with three or more children will be £900 a year less well off by 2022, and disabled people and single parents are disproportionately affected.

But it also found child poverty in Wales will increase by eight per cent – lower than in England, when it is predicted to rise by 11 per cent.

And now the Welsh Government’s leader of the house and chief whip Julie James and minister for housing and regeneration Rebecca Evans, along with children and social care minister Huw Irranca-Davies, have written to work and pensions secretary Esther McVey calling on her to review tax and welfare policies.

Ms James said: “It cannot be right for the incomes of protected groups to be impacted in such a disproportionate way.

“We have demanded urgent action in relation to these harmful changes.

“It is essential that considerable work is now carried out to ensure that equality considerations are fully incorporated into all decision-making by HM Treasury, and more broadly across the UK Government.

“It is completely unacceptable for the UK Government to continue to ignore the impacts of these reforms on equality of opportunity.”

And Ms Evans said: “These reforms will result in profound hardship for many of our most vulnerable citizens”.

Newport East AM John Griffiths has also raised concerned over the report’s findings.

“This report just confirms what we all see around us, the huge growth in the number of foodbanks and families struggling every day,” he said.

“Speaking to local headteachers, I am well aware of the long-term damage UK Government policies are doing to the life chances of young people in Newport.

“It is now time for the UK Government to reflect and listen.”

And Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies said efforts to tackle child poverty by the Welsh Government were being “undermined” by UK Government policies.