Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of the cost of living crisis on charities and community groups that support people with the cost of living in Newcastle.

As households and communities face rising energy prices over the winter, charities are seeing higher demand for their services while contending with the same price increases themselves.

That is why the government announced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, supporting all charities, public sector organisations and businesses with their energy costs this winter by offering an energy price guarantee for six months. This scheme will benefit charities and community groups across the country, including those operating in Newcastle.

My Department will keep engaging constructively with the civil society sector up and down the country and across government to monitor the impact of rising costs, and ensure DCMS is engaged on policy which impacts charities and civil society.