Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the UK's departure from the EU on the cost of living; and if he will publish the (a) economic and (b) equality impact assessments conducted by the Government on the UK leaving the EU.

The government understands how the rising cost of living is making life harder for people. These are global challenges however, as set out in the Spring Statement, and the government is providing support worth over £22 billion in 2022-23 to help families across the UK with these pressures.

It remains challenging to separate out the effects of Brexit and COVID on the UK economy, with recent events and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine adding further pressures to trade, prices and the wider economy. The Bank of England has noted that the majority of the increase in inflation since the pandemic is likely due to global factors.