Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of cost of living pressures on levels of (a) illness and (b) mortality in winter 2022-23.

No specific assessment has been made. We are working across Government and with external partners to identify those most vulnerable to the health impacts of the increased cost of living and the actions which can be taken to support them.

The Government recognises the need to support low-income and vulnerable households in the context of increasing cost-of-living. This winter we are spending £55 billion to help households and businesses with their energy bills, amongst the largest support plans in Europe. A typical household will save around £900 this winter through the price guarantee in addition to the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme.

We have also put in place the largest ever increase to the National Living Wage, for 2 million workers, taking it up to £10.42, which is worth over £1,600 a year to a full-time worker aged 23 and over.