Uprating benefits

This House welcomes the call of over 50 major charities and organisations for benefits to be increased by at least 7 per cent in April to help households cope with rising costs of living; notes that prices are rising at the fastest rate in 30 years, and energy bills alone are expected to rise by 54 per cent in April; is concerned that the value of universal credit for families will fall by £570 per year on average and that 400,000 people could be pulled into poverty by the upcoming real-terms cut to benefits; further notes that families with children in poverty face paying £35 per month in extra energy costs through spring and summer, as well as £26 per month in additional food costs; recognises that the erosion of the value of benefits through policies such as the benefit cap, the benefit freeze and other deductions has resulted in a profound mismatch between what those on low incomes have, and what they need to get by; and calls on the Government to tackle this gap, beginning with a uprating of at least 7 per cent to benefits in April.