CLWYD South's MS Ken Skates has slammed the UK Government response to the cost-of-living, calling it 'insulting' during First Minister's Questions this week.

Ken Skates, former Economy Minister, believes the measures announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak do not go far enough.

Following the £1,000 a year Universal Credit cut in his constituency, and claims that the UK Government has 'wasted' billions of pounds of public money on pornography and funding terrorism, the MS did not hold back.

He asked First Minister Mark Drakeford: "Would you agree that the Chancellor's offer to households facing the cost-of-living crisis is simply not enough and, indeed, insulting given it's to be paid from the cut to Universal Credit last year?

"So much more could have been offered to hard-pressed households had the Chancellor not lost £11bn in failing to insure against interest rate rises, or by losing £6bn in fraudulent loans."

The First Minister responded: "The Chancellor was warned, time after time, that rising interest rates would have an impact upon his ability to service the £900bn of reserves created by quantitative easing.

"He failed to take out those insurance measures and, as a result, he is spending £11bn more than he would have otherwise have needed to.

Mr Drakeford also added: "There are court cases going through at the moment that show that those bounce-back loans, those fraudulent loans, were being used to pay for the purchase of private cars, for flying lessons, for pornography websites and, in a case which is to be in front of the courts next month, a case where someone who obtained a bounce-back loan is alleged to have used it to fund terrorist activity by Islamic State terrorists in Syria."

Mr Skates has always criticised the cut to Universal Credit as, after it was pushed through, more than 6,000 houses were left £1,040 a year worse off.

Welsh Government Ministers set out a £380m package of support in the spring which included £150 council tax rebates and a new £200 Winter Fuel Support Scheme to be launched in autumn.

While also the 4,583 unpaid carers in Wrexham and Denbighshire will receive a £500 support payment from the Welsh Government.

Mr Skates said: "The Welsh Government is doing what it can, but the UK Government must step up.

"They should be helping people – not simply replacing what they’ve already taken away from those struggling the most and then telling them they should be grateful."