Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to support vulnerable individuals and families facing financial strain due to the increased prices of essential items.

The Government recognises the challenges facing households due to elevated costs of living, so has taken action to protect struggling households: support provided from October 2022-June 2023 has paid for almost half of the typical family’s energy bill through the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) and Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). This is in addition to new cost of living payments, benefits uprating, and the extension of the Household Support Fund to help the most vulnerable with the cost of essentials in 2023-2024.

Taken together, support to households to help with higher bills is worth £94 billion, or £3,300 per household on average across this year and last – one of the largest household support packages in Europe.