The Rising Cost of Living

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:41 pm on 16 November 2021.

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Photo of Mark Isherwood Mark Isherwood Conservative 1:41, 16 November 2021

In addition to continued cold weather payments and winter fuel payments across the UK, and to the £0.5 billion to support people into jobs announced by the UK Government last month, with £25 million of this going to the Welsh Government, the UK Government announced a new £0.5 billion household support fund for vulnerable households over the winter to be distributed by councils in England, with the Welsh Government also receiving £25 million of this. Last month, I asked your social justice Minister how the Welsh Government will ensure that its share of this money ends up helping those most in need in Wales. I, therefore, welcome the Welsh Government's announcement of a £51 million package to support people this winter, presumably match funded from the extra £2.5 billion annually for the Welsh Government announced in the recent UK budget. How will you, therefore, spend the £11.9 million of your £51 million household support fund not yet announced? And how will you work in real partnership with and empower councils, the voluntary sector, community groups and other social entrepreneurs to help deliver the solutions to the long-term problems of our most deprived communities?