The Welsh Government is calling for more control over welfare policy in Wales, arguing that decisions about financial support should be made closer to the communities affected.

Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams, who is also Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality, has set out plans for a Welsh welfare system, saying poverty levels remain high and that many of the powers needed to address financial hardship currently rest with the UK Government.

The Welsh Government wants Westminster to devolve additional welfare responsibilities, allowing it to develop support schemes designed specifically around the needs of people in Wales.

Some financial support is already devolved, and ministers say making existing Welsh benefits easier to access is helping more families.

These include the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, free school meals and the childcare offer, which is now providing 12-and-a-half hours of funded childcare a week for two-year-olds in 19 of Wales's 22 local authority areas.

A new Cynnal Child Payment pilot is also planned. It would provide direct weekly payments to eligible families with young children who receive Universal Credit in selected local authority areas.

However, the Welsh Government still needs assurances from the UK Government that receiving the payment would not reduce families' entitlement to other benefits or result in additional tax liabilities.

The debate comes against a backdrop of continuing financial pressures for households across Wales. Around a third of children are living in relative income poverty, with housing costs, food prices and the cost of everyday essentials contributing to the difficulties faced by lower-income families.

Under the current arrangements, major benefits including Universal Credit, state pensions and disability benefits remain the responsibility of the UK Government. The Welsh Government already has control over some areas of financial support, but does not have responsibility for the main UK welfare system.

There are examples elsewhere in the UK of what additional powers could allow. Scotland, for instance, has introduced the Scottish Child Payment, providing extra financial support to eligible low-income families with children.

However, greater control would not automatically mean a reduction in poverty in Wales. Any new system would need to be properly funded and administered, and its impact would depend on the payments offered, eligibility criteria and how they interacted with existing UK benefits.

The Welsh Government says further devolution would give it greater flexibility to respond to poverty and the particular circumstances of Welsh communities. The UK Government would need to agree to any additional transfer of powers.