While I appreciate that the rising cost of living has presented challenges to older people, I am confident that the Government is providing substantial support to the most vulnerable.

To support households, over 2022-23 to 2024-25 the Government will provide cost of living support worth over £104 billion. As you note, the Government is providing targeted support to the most vulnerable through Cost of Living Payments, which will be paid to 8 million households on eligible means-tested-benefits, 8 million pensioner households and 6 million people on eligible disability benefits.

Additionally, in April 2023, the Government supported pensioners with the biggest State Pension uprating in history, with increases of 10.1 per cent for the basic State Pension, the new State Pension and additional State Pensions. Indeed, in April 2024, the basic State Pension, new State Pension and additional State Pension will be uprated in line with average earnings growth of 8.5 per cent.

Moreover, the Government has also provided an additional £1 billion of funding to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund, bringing the total funding to £2.5 billion. This extension allows local authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to vulnerable older people

Alongside this, in response to the rise in wholesale gas and electricity prices, the Government is maintaining the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG), which limits the amount consumers can be charged per unit of gas or electricity. The current price guarantee, set at £3,000, will support households until April 2024. Alongside this, the Government will continue to provide Winter Fuel Payments to those who have reached State Pension age. This stands alongside the many other benefits provided to pensioners, including free bus passes and free prescriptions.

I hope that this response reassures you that older people in the UK are being adequately supported.