Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to (a) provide a multi-year funding settlement for the Household Support Fund beyond March 2024 and (b) publish a long-term strategy for local crisis support in England; and if he will make a statement.

The Household Support Fund currently runs to March 2024. As with all policies, this is kept under continuous review and any extension will be a matter for the Treasury.

DWP has no current plans to publish a long-term strategy for local welfare assistance. Local authorities in England are funded through the local government finance settlement, from the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, to deliver local welfare provision using their existing powers.