Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to assess the adequacy of the supply of food for people in poverty in summer 2024; and whether she has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential implications for the Government's policies of trends in the level of supply of emergency food for people dependant on that provision.

We are committed to tackling poverty and ending mass dependence on emergency food parcels. We are introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school to ensure children are fed a nutritious breakfast and are ready to learn and have created a new Ministerial Taskforce to drive cross-government action on child poverty.

We are also supporting people with the cost of essentials such as food and energy through the Household Support Fund. This scheme is run by Upper Tier Local Authorities in England to provide discretionary support to those most in need. Currently, £500m is being provided to enable the extension of the Fund, including funding for the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. Local Authorities in England are receiving £421m to support those in need locally. As a new government, we are keeping all policies under review, including the Household Support Fund.