Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Vulnerable Families: Winter Support

Monday 30 November 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The government announced a 170 million covid winter grant scheme to help disadvantaged people, particularly children, through the winter of 2020-21.
  • The grant funding aims to support food and essential utility bills for vulnerable families from Christmas to the end of March.
  • Councils are expected to report on the efficient use of the grant money to ensure it reaches the most disadvantaged people.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jack Lopresti Con
Economy Housing Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about the financial challenges faced by vulnerable families during the winter of 2020-21, particularly regarding food and utility bills.

Question

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help vulnerable families with the cost of food and bills in winter 2020-21. I am concerned about the financial strain on vulnerable families this winter, especially for essentials like food and heating.

Answer from Therese Coffey

Earlier this month, I announced the £170 million covid winter grant scheme to help disadvantaged people, particularly children, through the challenging winter months ahead, with food and essential utility bills over Christmas through to the end of March. The first half of funding for the scheme will reach local authorities in England this week. Nottinghamshire has been allocated £2.3 million and South Gloucestershire £569,000.

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Q2 Ben Bradley Con
Children & Families
Context

The MP is advocating for structured and face-to-face support during school holidays for vulnerable children, emphasizing the importance of such programs.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is hugely important for the most vulnerable children—those whose welfare we know is a source of worry for their teachers when they do not see them for weeks—that we can offer the best possible help in the holidays, with proper structured and face-to-face support for those children and their families such as that offered through our holiday activity clubs?

Answer from Therese Coffey

I agree with my hon. Friend and he looks ready and dressed to support a holiday activity fund when the opportunity comes along. Maintaining that important link over the longer holidays can be transformative for children's health and educational prospects, which is why I was proud to announce earlier this month the £220 million expansion of the programme for the longer school holidays right throughout 2021. This will offer enriching activities such as arts and sports, which will help them to perform better in school, as well as a free nutritious meal while they are there.

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Q3 Jack Lopresti Con
Housing Local Government
Context

The MP is concerned about the efficient allocation and spending of additional winter support funding allocated to local authorities.

Question

I welcome the announcement of the additional winter support funding across South Gloucestershire, which will benefit lots of my constituents, but can my right hon. Friend assure me that this additional funding will be spent efficiently by the councils and go to the people who need it?

Answer from Therese Coffey

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to stress that point. As I have already indicated, his council will receive just over half a million pounds. The grant has come with conditions to ensure that the money is targeted towards the most disadvantaged people, and councils will be expected to report on that. They have a wide range of information to help them, including access to who is on benefits and other elements, to ensure that they reach people who really are disadvantaged at this time of year.

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