Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of (a) a reduction in public expenditure and (b) the cost of living crisis on children in food poverty.

The Chancellor makes regular assessments on the impact of public expenditure on services and policies in the UK.

At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor has taken a responsible and disciplined approach to spending whilst prioritising vital public services and the most vulnerable. Over the Spending Review period, overall departmental spending will continue to grow after inflation. This includes an additional [£2.3bn] of funding in 2023-24 and [£2.3bn] in 2024-25 for schools.

The Government also understands that people across the UK are worried about the rising cost of food, which is why we remain committed to supporting children including through:

• £1bn annually to deliver Free School Meals to pupils in schools;
• Over £200m a year on the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides healthy meals and holiday club places to children from low-income families; and
• £24m over two years for the national school breakfast programme which is benefiting over 2000 schools across the country.

This Government has also announced £37bn of support for cost of living this financial year, including a Cost of Living payment of £650 to households on means-tested benefits, with extra support for pensioners and those claiming disability benefits, and £500m to continue the Household Support Fund for a further 6 months, to allow Local Authorities to help the most in need.