Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will issue guidance to local authorities to prioritise families who rely on non-price capped fuel for the Household Support Fund.

The Household Support Fund extension is part of £22 billion we are providing in 2022-23 to help ease cost of living pressures. The additional £500 million we are providing from April to help households with the cost of essentials brings the total funding for this support to

£1 billion. In England, £421 million will be provided to extend the existing Household Support Fund from 1 April to 30 September inclusive and will continue to help people who are struggling to afford energy and water bills, food, and other essentials.

Local Authorities have been issued with the fund guidance and the accompanying grant determination for the extended funding. We know energy bills may be of particular concern to low income households and so the guidance encourages Local Authorities to focus on supporting households with the cost of energy, and to focus all support on those in most need. Within the parameters set by the guidance, it is for Local Authorities, using their local ties and knowledge, to design local schemes that best meet the needs of local people.