Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Dyke and Laura Trott

Tuesday 19th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Laura Trott)]

I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

[Sarah Dyke (Somerton and Frome) (LD)]

T6. Mr Speaker, I wish you, those across the House and my constituents a very merry Christmas. People in rural areas suffer more than their urban counterparts because of the rural premium they encounter in their daily lives. With food inflation at around 10%, people in Somerton and Frome are once again facing a choice between heating and eating. What recent assessment has the Department made of the effect of inflation on food prices?

[Laura Trott]

I know that the hon. Lady will have welcomed the most important change to cost of living pressures, which is inflation coming down. In addition, we have had the cost of living payments this year, and also benefits going up by 10.1% this year and by more than the expected level of inflation next year. We as a Government have done all we can to support people and will continue to do so.