Thank you for contacting me about the cost of living and food security.
The number one thing we can do to support families with the cost of living is to bring down inflation, so people’s money goes further.
Thanks to our clear plan and bold action, inflation is at normal levels from its peak of 11.1 per cent, taxes have been cut by £900 for the average worker and wages are growing faster than prices. Strengthening the economy also means we have been able to afford more support for the most vulnerable in society.
We have uprated benefits by 6.7 per cent this year, increased Local Housing Allowance for 1.6millionhouseholds by an average of around £800 this year and increased the National Living Wage to £11.44 an hour to deliver a £1,800 annual boost for the lowest paid. We have also paid more than £11 billion of Cost of Living Payments for households on means tested benefits and extended the Household Support Fund to £3 billion.
We are providing substantial support through the welfare system, spending around £276 billion through social security in 2024-25. In 2022-23, there were 1.1 million fewer people in absolute low income after housing costs than in 2009-10; including 100,000 fewer children, 700,000 fewer working age adults and 200,000 fewer pensioners.
According to the latest statistics, 90 per cent of households had high or marginal food security in 2022-23,meaning that they had sufficient access to food to facilitate an active and healthy lifestyle. Alongside this, we are continuing to support the delivery of free school meals for infants, as well as benefits-related free school meals, which are helping two million children.
We are also investing over £200 million a year through the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which supports disadvantaged children and their families, including by providing them with healthy food.