Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Crisis and Resilience Fund is fully operational by April 2026.

My Department has worked closely with local authorities and other stakeholders on the detailed design of the Fund. We published scheme guidance in January, and final allocations have been confirmed to enable local authorities to prepare for delivery.

We are collaborating with local authorities through ongoing implementation activity to support readiness and effective delivery ahead of the Fund going live in April 2026.