Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Kirsten Oswald Excerpts
Wednesday 5th July 2023

(9 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Davies Portrait Dr Davies
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The hon. Member will be aware that there are more police officers in all the forces in Wales than ever before. The Government and the Home Office have been investing in the uplift programme and ensuring that there is a strong police presence across Wales.

Kirsten Oswald Portrait Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire) (SNP)
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10. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of cost of living support for households in Wales.

Patrick Grady Portrait Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP)
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14. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of cost of living support for households in Wales.

David T C Davies Portrait The Secretary of State for Wales (David T. C. Davies)
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This Government are supporting households across Wales with the cost of living. Between October 2022 and the end of June 2023, a typical household would have seen half their energy bills paid for by the Government.

Kirsten Oswald Portrait Kirsten Oswald
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According to a study on hunger in Wales, around 753,000 Welsh people faced hunger in mid-2022—that is more than double the population of Cardiff—with Welsh Trussell Trust foodbanks experiencing an 85% increase in the number of emergency food parcels that they distributed compared with five years previously. What specific conversations has the Secretary of State had with Cabinet colleagues and the retail sector on the high costs of food in supermarkets?

David T C Davies Portrait David T. C. Davies
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Obviously, all Cabinet colleagues are absolutely committed to making sure that we put our resources towards the least well off. That is why pensions, benefits and the minimum wage have all gone up in line with inflation, and it is why there have been extra payments of £900 to people on benefits, £300 to pensioners, and £150 to households with disabilities. But at least the people of Wales are not in the same position as those of Scotland, where 1.4 million people are being hit with extra taxes.