Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 5.12 of the Autumn Statement, published on 17 November 2022, when he plans to issue the (a) allocations to local authorities from and (b) guidance on the Household Support Fund; and if he will issue guidance on the use of these allocations by local authorities to support victims of domestic abuse and violence.

As outlined in the Autumn Statement, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year.

This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion.

In England, this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which will help those most in need with the cost of essentials.

The guidance, details and individual Local Authority allocations for this forthcoming extension will be announced in due course before the scheme begins on 1 April 2023.