Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they plan to introduce to financially support vulnerable and marginalised members of our communities in the UK.

The Government has taken steps to protect the most vulnerable in society.

At Autumn Statement 2022, the Government announced Cost of Living Payments in 2023-24, including up to £900 for households on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households and £150 for individuals on disability benefits.

In April 2023, working-age and disability benefits rose in line with September 2022 Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation – 10.1%. As a result, more than 10 million working age families will have seen their benefit payments rise by an average increase of around £600 a year for those on Universal Credit.

This year (2023/24), the Government has also increased the State Pension by 10.1 per cent, in line with inflation and the Triple Lock. This delivered the biggest ever cash increase in the State Pension.

The Government is working hard to ensure that all families with children have access to the resources and assistance they need to thrive. The Government is introducing 30 hours of free childcare per week for working parents with children aged 9 months up to 3 years in England, alongside a substantial uplift to the hourly rate paid to providers.