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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ryan O'Neill

Newport MP calls for financial support schemes to be extended during lockdown

Newport MP Jessica Morden has led calls for UK government financial support schemes to be extended to more people during lockdown.

Ms Morden was speaking in the UK parliament on Tuesday, where she called on the government to "do more to help the three million people in the UK who have been excluded from UK government support schemes.

"Many will soon be a year without support, constituents like the woman whose employer chose not to take part in the furlough scheme, the newly self-employed beautician, the company director of a small business who is paid via dividends," she said in her address.

Newport East MP Jessica Morden (Jessica Morden)

Ms Morden also said more help was needed for those who relied on the social security system, saying the government's plans to cut universal credit in April would impact thousands of families in Newport.

"We are in the worst recession for 300 years and family incomes are under huge strain. Why are the government looking to cut universal credit by £1,000 for six million families?"

"8,812 families in Newport East will take a hit if the cut goes ahead in April. Minister must rule that out now."

Finally, Ms Morden also called for an update on talks with Tata, which operates the Llanwern steelworks in Newport.

The company's future in Wales has been under threat in recent months after it announced in November that it would no longer subsidise its loss-making UK business.

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