Plaid Cymru has called on the UK Government to confirm whether Wales' proposed Cynnal child payment will be disregarded for benefit purposes, after the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions failed to answer a direct question from Caerfyrddin MP Ann Davies in the House of Commons.

Plaid’s DWP spokesperson asked whether the Welsh Government's planned pilot for a £10-a-week payment for children in households receiving Universal Credit would be protected from benefit deductions, ensuring families receive the full value of the support.

The exchange comes as the Welsh Government continues to press for the DWP and HMRC assurances needed to deliver the Cynnal pilot in full, with Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams warning recently that there is "no time to waste" in tackling child poverty.

The lack of clarity comes despite comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham last month indicating he was open to the Welsh Government's proposal. On September 25, the Prime Minister said: "I'll certainly ensure that there's a proper discussion about the issue.”

Ms Davies said the Welsh Government's efforts to develop "practical solutions to child poverty" risk being “undermined unless Labour ministers in Westminster play their part”.

Ann Davies MP asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: "If we want to support young people into employment, we must address the barriers they face long before they enter the workplace.

“One of these is child poverty, which is why the Plaid Cymru Government will pilot the Cynnal payment.

“Will the Secretary of State confirm that the £10-a-week payment for children in households receiving Universal Credit will be disregarded for benefit purposes?"

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden MP, responded: "Well, Mr Speaker, we made a major change on this front last year, when we abolished the two-child limit, that together with other elements in the child poverty strategy is estimated to bring down child poverty by half a million by the end of this Parliament, and that is an important step towards children being able to live the fullest lives possible, because children who are poor can often suffer from worse educational results, worse mental health later in life too, so this is not just an anti-poverty measure, it's a pro-opportunity measure too."

Speaking after the session, Ms Davies remarked: "The Welsh Government is developing practical solutions to child poverty, but those efforts risk being undermined unless Labour ministers in Westminster play their part.

"The Deputy First Minister has made clear that urgent assurances are needed. Today's exchange showed that, despite warm words, UK ministers still cannot give a straight answer on whether Cynnal payments will be protected.

"The Secretary of State pointed to Labour's record on child poverty, but it took his government two years, and a lot of kicking and screaming, to scrap the Tory two-child cap. Welsh families cannot afford a repeat of that delay.

"Wales is ready to deliver Cynnal. The UK Government must give it the green light,” she added.