Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had recent discussions with local councils on the provision of warm spaces; and whether his Department plans to provide financial support to local councils to provide warm spaces in winter 2022.

We have taken decisive action through our Energy Bill Guarantee Scheme and Energy Bill Relief Scheme, to ensure that domestic and non-domestic energy users across the United Kingdom are protected from excessively high energy bills. The Local Government Financial Settlement for 2022/ 2023 makes available an extra £3.7 billion to councils in England, the majority of which is un-ringfenced allowing council to determine local priorities. We have also made available £1.4 billion through the household support fund. Decisions on provision of warms spaces are taken at a local level. My department continues to engage regularly with partners in local government.