Universal Credit: Food Banks
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the APPG on Ending the Need for Food Banks' call for evidence into how the level of support offered by Universal Credit is decided, what consideration his Department has given to the role of independent (a) advice and (b) processes.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The rates of Universal Credit and the process for determining these are set out in legislation. For 2026/27, most rates of Universal Credit were increased by 3.8% in line with the Consumer Prices Index for the year to September. In addition, the standard allowance rate was increased by a further 2.3%, and will continue to be increased above inflation for the remainder of this Parliament.
We engage with a range of organisations, and will continue to consider evidence and insights including the findings of the APPG on Ending the Need for Food Banks' inquiry, to ensure the social security system provides for people’s needs.
More broadly, this Government has a clear commitment to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels and has already taken many steps to bring us closer to this goal including raising the national minimum wage, tripling our investment in breakfast clubs and confirming over £600 million for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme for the next three financial years.
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