Thank you for contacting me about foodbanks.
Foodbanks are independent, charitable organisations and the Department for Work and Pensions does not have any role in their operation. There is no consistent and accurate measure of foodbank usage at a constituency or national level.
The Government introduced a set of questions into the Family Resources Survey (FRS) to measure and track foodbank usage. The first results of these questions are due to be published in March 2023 subject to usual quality assurance.
The Government has put in place a set of measures to help people deal with the rising cost of living. Through the Energy Price Guarantee, the Government will limit a typical household's energy bill to £2,500 per year until April 2023, as well as further targeted support such as the £650 cost of living payment to those on means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit, and the non-repayable £400 Energy Bill Rebate. Additionally, local authorities have access to the £1.5 billion Household Support Fund to provide further support.
On a more personal level, I have been working in Derby to ensure that all my constituents are able to access appropriate services as required, for example by working with volunteers to deliver regular community meals and by communicating with local people and service providers to see how the government can support them.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.