A CONCERNED Assembly Member has visited Dwyfor and Meirionnydd to dispense financial advice following the roll-out of the controversial Universal Credit initiative.

Eluned Morgan, who as well as being a regional Assembly Member for mid and west Wales is also the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning, spent time in both Pwllheli and Barmouth.

Her visit was part of a programme of events in this region on her money advice and well-being roadshow.

St Peter’s Church, Pwllheli, hosted the pop-up event aimed at helping local residents to access advice and support. Information was available about a wide range of topics from benefit changes to energy savings and how to stay fit and healthy ahead of the roll out of Universal Credit in Gwynedd.

More than a dozen local and national groups were present to support the event.

Baroness Morgan said: “Many are finding that their household budgets are squeezed as bills continue to rise. For many people, especially on lower incomes, the changing benefits system and the increasing cost of living is making life much more stressful.

“In preparation for the roll out of Universal Credit, I’ve been speaking to local organisations to put together an event that made it easy for people to get the information they need, all under one roof.

“Universal Credit will also have an impact on self-employed people or those considering self-employment, which is why I also asked the Department of Work and Pensions to come along to explain how the changes will work.”

The politician is also the only woman known to be waiting to take over as Welsh Labour Leader when Carwyn Jones stands down and so could possibly be the first woman to become First Minister of Wales.

The Minister then met with Dwyfor Meirionnydd Labour Party members at a meeting in Barmouth where she set out some of her concerns about poor wages in the region and especially the impact that the introduction of Universal Credit will have on many local people.