Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the level of Government support for single parent families.

The Government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to tackling poverty and supporting people on lower incomes.  As seen in the measures announced by the Chancellor in the Spring Statement, the Government is focused on ensuring more people are supported into the workforce so that they can seize the opportunities and positive benefits of work, including changes to the Universal Credit childcare element which will provide generous additional financial support to parents moving into work and/or increasing their working hours. From April, State Pensions and benefits including Universal Credit will increase by 10.1% in line with the Consumer Prices Index for the year to September 2022. The benefit cap levels will also be increased from April by 10.1%, ensuring capped households will see an increase in their benefit following Up-rating.

The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, which is why, in addition to the £37 billion of support we have provided for cost-of-living pressures in 2022/23, we are acting now to ensure support continues throughout 2023/24.