Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional support she will provide to local authorities to ensure that people do not go without food, heating and accommodation in the event that local authorities exhaust the Housing Support Fund through demand.

The government is taking action to help ease cost of living pressures, worth over £22 billion in 2022-23 which includes £9.1bn to help with fuel costs, the Holiday Activities and Food programme and the extension to the Household Support Fund. Separately, we have increased the value of Healthy Start Food Vouchers to £4.25, helping eligible low-income households buy basic foods like milk, fruit and vitamins.

Additionally, Discretionary Housing Payments are available for those in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit Housing Element who require further financial assistance with housing costs. Discretionary Housing Payments funding for 2022-23 is a total of £100m for local authorities in England and Wales. Since 2011, the government has provided almost £1.5 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities.

The government is continuing to monitor developments and the consequences for the cost of living and will be ready to take further steps if needed to support households.