Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living

Tuesday 6 February 2024 · 4 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 stands by households with a support package worth on average 3,700 per UK household.
  • Poverty has decreased by 1.7 million people since 2010, including 400,000 children and 200,000 pensioners.
  • Council tax is a matter for local councils, but the Government placed a limit on increases, which they claim did not exist under the previous Labour Government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patricia Gibson SNP
Economy
Context

The MP inquired about the steps taken by the Department to assist households facing financial difficulties.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to support households with the cost of living.

Answer from Laura Trott

The Government stand by households, with one of Europe's largest support packages, worth on average £3,700 per UK household. The key to reducing cost of living pressures is to bring down inflation, which we have more than halved, delivering on the Prime Minister's promise.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify concrete steps or funding measures beyond general support package and inflation reduction efforts.

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Q2 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Economy Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The MP challenged the government's record, citing increased household costs despite promises to address inflation.

Question

Families in Luton and Bedfordshire, and indeed the rest of the country, are worse off because of 14 years of economic chaos and incompetence under the Conservatives. Does the Minister concede that, even if the Government's inflation target is met, families will still be paying £300 a month more for their household bills than they were just 18 months ago?

Answer from Laura Trott

Fourteen years of the Conservatives has halved unemployment and increased employment by 4 million. Crucially, poverty is down: we have 1.7 million fewer people in poverty now than in 2010, including 400,000 children and 200,000 pensioners.

Not addressed: Did not address the increased financial burden on families mentioned by the questioner.

How: Changed Subject To Economic Improvements

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Q3 Patricia Gibson SNP
Economy Children & Families
Context

The MP referenced a report on child poverty rates and asked for the government's commitment to tackle this issue.

Question

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's report on poverty in the UK in 2024 reiterates that, consistently, the demographic with the highest poverty rates is children. Although 29% of the children in my constituency live in poverty, the Scottish Government are doing what they can with their limited powers via the Scottish child payment. Will the Chancellor and his team use their powers to make a concerted and determined effort to tackle the scourge of poverty, which is so damaging to our children?

Answer from Laura Trott

I reiterate: we have 400,000 fewer children in poverty now than in 2010. In addition, the national insurance contributions cut that we have introduced has been shown to cut child poverty dramatically.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific commitment or timeline for further efforts beyond current measures.

How: Emphasized Past Achievements Without New Commitments

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Q4 Tulip Siddiq Lab Hampstead and Highgate
Taxation Housing Local Government
Context

The MP challenged the government's stance on council tax, referencing a Conservative MP who criticized recent increases.

Question

The British public are still struggling with the Conservative cost of living crisis, and the Government are now forcing up council tax. Last week, for the first time in my life, a Conservative MP spoke for me when he said: “There's almost no point chopping £100 off tax bills nationally if you're adding on to it with council tax.” Labour Members agree with the hon. Member for Mansfield (Ben Bradley). Does the Chief Secretary agree with her hon. Friend and colleague?

Answer from Laura Trott

Council tax is a matter for councils, but we put in place a limit, which I do not believe existed under the previous Labour Government. More than that, the most difficult thing for councils and consumers more broadly is the £28 billion-worth of tax rises that Labour is planning in government.

Not addressed: Did not address whether increasing council tax contradicts efforts to alleviate cost of living pressures.

How: Changed Subject To Planned Labour Tax Increases

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