Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the guidance issued to local authorities in England on 11 November 2021 on the use of the Household Support Fund emphasises that that funding should be used to provide in-kind donations of food or food vouchers instead of cash for people experiencing financial difficulties as a result of poverty and covid-19 outbreak.

Local Authorities have the flexibility to design local schemes under the Household Support Fund that best meet local needs within the parameters set out in the guidance.

Household Support Fund: final guidance for County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (paragraph 90).

The guidance does not prevent Councils from issuing cash to households in need of emergency support.