Families might be pushed into poverty if Jeremy Hunt cancels a fund to assist them purchase meals, fuel and electrical energy, MPs and friends have warned.
Conservatives have joined a listing of 90 parliamentarians in making a final ditch attraction to the Chancellor forward of the Budget subsequent week. The Household Support Fund has seen £2.5billion handed to native councils to assist these most in want of their areas since October 2021.
But the cash is because of cease on the finish of subsequent month. In a letter to the Chancellor, organised by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, the parliamentarians warn that the fund has been a “lifeline” to households.
“We believe that removing the Household Support Fund will push more people into poverty and destitution at this time and worsen their health and their children’s,” they wrote. “We are asking that as part of the Budget you commit to keeping it.”
Signatories embody Tory MP Rehman Chishti and former Cabinet minister Lord Young, in addition to Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrat and Green Party politicians. The Bishops of Manchester and Leicester have additionally added their names to the letter.
Local councils have been in a position to make use of the cash how they see match, with some providing meals and power vouchers, others cut-price fruit and vegetable packing containers and one energy-saving merchandise similar to heated blankets and draft excluders. “Its flexibility has provided local authorities with the resources they need to target funds to those who need it most at this challenging time,” the letter says.
Mr Chishti stated: “We all know from our constituencies how important this fund has been and it is vital that it carries on in the future.”
Ms Abrahams stated: “The depth of the cross-party support for the letter reflects the support and strength of feeling of many Parliamentarians that during this cost of living crisis, the Chancellor needs to retain the Household Support Fund and allow Councils to continue providing this local support to people. These signatories know that many people are continuing to struggle. That’s why we have come together in a final push to the Chancellor to urge him not to withdraw this support from people across the country.”
The letter comes after a number of Tory MPs have raised issues in regards to the fund coming to an finish. In a debate final month, ex-Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey stated: “I do think the Government should extend the Household Support Fund – whatever they may choose to call it in the future.”
Will Quince, one other former DWP minister, stated: “I urge the Minister and the Treasury to ensure that the scheme is continued, so that it can go on to support millions more.”