Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Wythenshawe and Sale East

Tuesday 23 June 2026 · 2 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

  • Mike Kane asked the Minister about steps taken to support people with the cost of living in Wythenshawe and Sale East.
  • The Minister mentioned government measures such as freezing prescription charges and rail fares to ease cost of living pressures.
  • Mike Kane shared a constituent's story of hardship and thanked the Chancellor for ending the two-child benefit cap.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mike Kane Lab Wythenshawe and Sale East
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question addresses the cost of living crisis impacting constituents in Wythenshawe and Sale East, specifically mentioning measures to support local residents.

Question

What steps she has taken to help support people with the cost of living in Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The Government are committed to easing cost of living pressures for people in Wythenshawe and Sale East, and across the UK. Budget measures are already helping households; we are freezing prescription charges for the second year in a row, freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years, and taking £150 off energy bills, as well as protecting pensioners through the triple lock and lifting half a million children out of poverty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific steps or actions taken specifically for Wythenshawe and Sale East constituency.

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Q2 Mike Kane Lab Wythenshawe and Sale East
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question addresses the impact of the two-child benefit cap on families, using specific cases like Darren and Nicole to illustrate hardship. It seeks advice on how much universal credit needs to be adjusted for affordability.

Question

My constituents Darren and Nicole shared with me their story of hardship in raising five children on one income. Like me, they are grateful to this Chancellor for ending the two-child benefit cap. Will she consider an independent process for advising the Government on how much universal credit needs to be, if people are to afford everyday items?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

I thank my hon. Friend for bringing the story of Darren and Nicole to this House. I hope that they and their children will benefit from the change I made to the two-child limit for universal credit, as well as from the rolling out of free breakfast clubs to all primary schools, and the introduction of free school meals for all children whose parents are on universal credit, which will start in September and be available at primary, secondary, nursery and further education levels. As the Trussell Trust has said, the decisions I made in my Budget mean that the cruel two-child limit, which drove countless families into hardship and forced them to turn to food banks to survive, will end.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address the specific ask for an independent process on adjusting universal credit levels based on affordability.

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