Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure people living in deprivation in areas of affluence are effectively supported.

A strong welfare safety net is available to support those who need it wherever they live. This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, including by increasing the living wage, and by spending an estimated £112 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2020/21. This included around £7.4 billion of Covid-related welfare policy measures.

We also introduced the Covid Winter Grant and Covid Local Support Grant, together totalling £269m administered by local authorities in England to help the most vulnerable children and families stay warm and well fed. For the City of York Council this means funding of £659,658.66.

In April 2020 Local Housing Allowance rates were boosted by almost £1 billion providing 1.5 million people with an average increase of £600 over the year. In some areas the increase was higher for example in York the 2-bedroom rate rose by over £1300 for the year.