A response from Sir Peter Bottomley MP:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the issue of the cost of living. Your concerns are understandable, and I assure you that I am committed to working towards finding solutions to help ease the burden on families and individuals.
I have been working with my colleagues in government to review policies and programs to better address this issue for some time. For example, the government has implemented policies to increase the minimum wage, provide tax relief for low-income earners, and increase support for those on benefits.
In the week prior to the Autumn Statement, I met with the Chancellor and highlighted the difficulties that some constituents have been under regarding the cost of living.
The Government has taken steps to help households with the cost of living, including the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which provides support to low-income and vulnerable households with their energy bills. An additional support measure is the Winter Fuel Payment, which provides financial assistance to help older people stay warm during the winter months.
I am pleased that the Government has extended the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) until 2024. The EPG provides a support rate discount to all households with a domestic gas and/or electricity contract, thereby limiting the amount that consumers can be charged per unit of gas or electricity. The continuation of the EPG throughout the winter period should help constituents feel assured that they will be protected from spikes in the price of energy. Further information on the EPG has been published by the Government and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support/energy-bills-support-factsheet-8-september-2022.
Furthermore, throughout 2023-2024 Cost of Living Payments will provide targeted support to the most vulnerable. These measures will see support provided to 8 million households on eligible means-tested benefits, 6 million people on eligible disability benefits, and 8 million pensioner households. Details of who will receive these measures can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment.
The Government has also provided the Household Support Fund (HSF) with £1 billion of additional funding, and £2.5 billion is now available to local authorities for the provision of discretionary support to vulnerable households, helping them meet daily needs such as food, clothing, and utilities.
Moreover, the 2023 Autumn Statement saw the Chancellor announce an uprating of the National Living Wage (NLW) by 9.8% to £11.44 per hour. This announcement was followed by an increase to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for young people and apprentices. These changes, enacted from 1st April 2024, serve as the largest ever increase to the National Living Wage. The Department for Business and Trade estimate that the NLW increase will benefit 2.7 million workers and will boost the annual income of a full-time worker on the NLW by £1,800.
The 2023 Autumn Statement also saw all working-age benefits increase 6.7%, from April 2024. This increase is in line with the Office for National Statistics Consumer Prices Index from September 2023.
I will continue to work with my colleagues in government to ensure that the policies and programs we put in place are effective in addressing the challenges faced by those in our community.
It is my view that positive routes forward in addressing further strains on the cost of living can be found without industrial action.
The Independent Pay Review Body recently recommended pay increases of 5-7% for public sector jobs, the Government has accepted this recommendation and made this offer to end industrial action. These are fiscally responsible measures in line with their private sector counterparts.
It is my hope that the unions, the workers which they represent, and the Government can come together in this time of financial difficulty for all.
I would be happy to discuss this matter with you further if you have specific concerns or ideas.
Thank you again for bringing this matter to my attention.