Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living Support

Wednesday 5 July 2023 · 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government supports households in Wales with energy bill payments of up to half the cost between October 2022 and June 2023.
  • Cabinet colleagues are committed to aiding the least well off through increases in pensions, benefits, and the minimum wage, along with extra payments of 900 to those on benefits.
  • Secretary of State emphasizes commitment to resolving cost of living issues caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, prioritizing halving inflation, economic growth, and reducing debt.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patrick Grady SNP
Economy Wales
Context

No specific event is mentioned, but the question addresses the adequacy of cost of living support for households in Wales.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of cost of living support for households in Wales?

Answer from David Davies

This Government are supporting households across Wales with the cost of living. Between October 2022 and the end of June 2023, a typical household would have seen half their energy bills paid for by the Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide recent assessments or specific evaluations on the adequacy of cost of living support in Wales.

How: Changing Subject

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Q2 Kirsten Oswald SNP
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

A study indicates that around 753,000 Welsh people faced hunger in mid-2022, with an 85% increase in emergency food parcel distributions by Trussell Trust foodbanks compared to five years ago.

Question

What specific conversations has the Secretary of State had with Cabinet colleagues and the retail sector on the high costs of food in supermarkets?

Answer from David Davies

Obviously, all Cabinet colleagues are absolutely committed to making sure that we put our resources towards the least well off. That is why pensions, benefits and the minimum wage have all gone up in line with inflation, and it is why there have been extra payments of £900 to people on benefits, £300 to pensioners, and £150 to households with disabilities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not address conversations about high food costs in supermarkets; instead, it outlines general measures for supporting the least well-off.

How: Changing Subject, Broad Statements

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Q3 Patrick Grady SNP
Economy Taxation Wales
Context

The MP mentions the £25 weekly Scottish child payment and asks about similar measures for Wales.

Question

When will the Secretary of State devolve powers over social security to Senedd Cymru, so that it can also make decisions like that to protect the people of Wales from the Tories' cost of living crisis?

Answer from David Davies

I can assure the hon. Member that all members of the Cabinet are committed to resolving the cost of living problems that have come about as a result of the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine. That is why our first priority is to halve inflation, as well as growing the economy, reducing debt, stopping illegal immigration into this country and—we are responsible for this in England—reducing hospital waiting lists.

Not addressed: The answer does not address devolving social security powers or provide a timeline; it instead discusses various other government priorities.

How: Changing Subject, Broad Statements

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