Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many families who have been affected by the two-child benefit policy are using, or have used, food banks; and what estimate they have made of the saving to the Exchequer from that policy since its introduction.

No estimate has been made of the use of food banks by families affected by the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children.

Estimates of the savings from the policy were published at the Spring Budget 2017 in table 2.2 (measures announced at Autumn Statement 2016 or earlier that take effect from April 2017 or later). The table shows annual savings of just under £2 billion by 2021-22.