Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the £63 million announced for local authority welfare assistance schemes will be ring-fenced; and what guidance they plan to publish as to how it should be spent including with regard to cash versus in-kind help.

The £63 million announced for local authority welfare assistance schemes will not be ring-fenced. It will be administered by local authorities, who will retain discretion on the type of support that best meets local conditions and needs.

The strategic objective of the grant is to support individuals and families who are unable to afford food and other essential items during the Covid-19 pandemic. Central guidance will be issued to reinforce the stated outcomes of the scheme.