Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comparative cost of living between Scotland and England.

The Government recognises that the pressure households are facing on their finances is being felt across the whole of the UK.

The government is providing support worth around £12 billion this financial year and next to help families with the cost of living. Much of the support in place that will help ease these pressures is UK-wide, for example the increase to the National Living Wage, the change to the Universal Credit taper rate and increase to the Work Allowance, as well as freezes to alcohol duty and fuel duty.

Many powers relevant to addressing the increases in the cost of living are devolved; the devolved administrations receive funding and have revenue raising powers and make their own spending decisions.