Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published 31 March 2022, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Covid Local Support Grant.

The £200million COVID Local Support Grant Scheme was made available from 17 April to 30 September 2021 to support those most in need across England with the cost of food, energy (heating, cooking, lighting), water bills (including sewerage) and other essentials.

The scheme was administered as a £40million grant covering the period 17 April to 20 June and a further grant of £160million covering the period 21 June to 30 September.

DWP required that Local Authorities provide Management Information (MI) returns to the Department which demonstrate that they have met our guidance in delivering the scheme. Local Authorities were paid in arrears on the satisfactory completion of these MI returns.

Management Information for the COVID Local Support Grant can be found here.