Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will increase funding to all local authorities to provide financial support for people who struggle to meet increased food costs as a result of the effect of Covid-19; and if he will make statement.

The Government has announced £1.6 billion of additional funding to support local authorities in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. This funding is un-ringfenced and is intended to help local authorities address any pressures they are facing in response the Covid-19 pandemic, across all service areas. We will continue to monitor the impact of Covid-19 on local government and are taking steps to address and support individuals and local authorities.

We have also confirmed £500 million of funding to provide additional council tax relief, and other support, for vulnerable households.

Additionally, the Government is working with the food industry and local authorities to deliver free basic food parcels to those defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from Covid-19 and who do not have a network of friends and family to support them, while they self-isolate in their homes over the next 12 weeks.

Further details on people covered by this definition can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19