Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what long-term support he plans to provide to local welfare assistance schemes in England for which demand has increased as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Councils have the flexibility to prioritise the funding they receive from the annual Local Government Finance Settlement for local welfare assistance schemes.

In 2021-22, the Government will provide an additional £1.55 billion of unringfenced grant funding to local authorities in England to meet additional expenditure pressures as a result of Covid-19. Local authorities can use this funding to meet local needs, including prioritising local welfare assistance schemes.

Additionally, the Government will provide £670 million to local authorities in England in recognition of the increased costs of providing local council tax support and other help to economically vulnerable people and households following the pandemic. The funding is unringfenced and can be used to provide other support to vulnerable households, including through local welfare schemes.

Addressing future local authority resourcing and stability is a matter for future Spending Reviews and Local Government Finance Settlements.