Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding the Government provided to the Grenfell Tower residents discretionary fund; and how much has been provided in assistance to each family.

The Government’s highest priority is making sure that survivors and communities receive all the support they need. To date, the Government has committed over £20 million in support of those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire including:

• Help for survivors through the £5 million Grenfell Tower Residents’ Discretionary Fund.

• A commitment to funding hotel bills for up to the first year for households who lost their homes in Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk, and towards funding rent, service charges and core utility bills for those households for the rent free period.

• The Government has additionally allocated just over £2.3 million to support local voluntary organisations: the Community Core Cost Fund supported charities and other groups helping those affected by the fire and went towards things such as extra equipment, food, supplies and extra staff; the Community Anchor Fund supported those organisations that support volunteers and smaller groups; facilitate the development of community voices; and advocate on behalf of the community and the Children and Young People’s Fund which provides services to young people and families.

At the November Budget the Government announced further £28 million to enable the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to enable them to help support the victims and communities. This will go towards providing ongoing mental and emotional support, community spaces for those affected and investment in the Lancaster West estate.

Additionally, a total of over £21 million has been raised in charitable donations by the public of which £13.2 million has been distributed so far, the rest of these donations are being managed by the Charity Commission which is working with various charities.