Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to deliver cost of living support to families In Northern Ireland.

The government understands that people across the UK are worried about the rising cost of living and are seeing their disposable incomes decrease as they spend more on the essentials.

In May, we announced over £15 billion of additional cost of living support, targeted at those with the greatest need. As a result, millions of vulnerable households will receive at least £1,200 of support this financial year, with the vast majority of households receiving at least £550. This package builds on the over £22 billion previously announced, meaning government support for the cost of living now totals over £37 billion this year, equivalent to 1.5% of GDP.

As I have set out , the UK Government is urgently working to ensure the people of Northern Ireland receive the equivalent of the 26 May Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) expansion announcement as soon as possible.

The UK Government is working at pace to identify a route to deliver support and to set out the details linked to this commitment.

We are supporting the most vulnerable households, by giving direct UK-wide support through one-off cost of living payments of £650 for households on means-tested benefits (with the first payments of £326 delivered from 14 July), £300 for pensioners households and £150 for individuals in receipt non-means tested disability benefits.

The government is also providing £500m of further support through the Household Support Fund. The Barnett formula provides around £79m of this to the devolved administrations of which around £14m will go to Northern Ireland.