Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department took to monitor the involvement of schools and GPs in the distribution of the Household Support Fund.

The Department for Work and Pensions does not proactively gather data on the involvement of schools or GPs in the distribution of the Household Support Fund.

The Household Support Fund is a discretionary scheme allocated to Local Authorities to provide support those most in need towards the cost of essentials. It is for each local council to decide how to distribute their funding, within the parameters of the Fund’s terms and conditions.

Authorities have the flexibility to design and deliver the scheme through a variety of routes and are encouraged, but not required, where necessary and appropriate to work with third parties, which could include schools and GPs among other groups.