Written question WQ85870

The continued surge in inflation combined with higher taxes and higher household bills will result in real living standards decreasing and put significant, further pressure on household budgets. Welsh Government is doing all it can, with the powers it has, to deliver support for our most vulnerable households in Wales.

Welsh Government officials monitor statistics, research and analysis, such as that published by Citizens Advice, in order to inform our work and produce evidence-based policy. During the worst cost-of-living crisis for decades, we know people are facing daily struggles to pay their essential living costs. This is why we have provided around £380 million since November to help people pay their bills and deal with the very real impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on their finances. This includes the Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme and the Welsh Government Fuel Voucher Scheme which target support for energy bills.

Welsh Government has also been monitoring the Council Tax collection position through the pandemic and provided additional funding to local authorities to replace part of their budgeted council tax income and to enable them to continue to deliver essential services.

Finally, the Welsh Government is continuing to support advice services. This year I have made available over £11m for Single Advice Fund services. The Single Advice Fund services are a lifeline for many people struggling to pay their bills; helping them to deal with their problem debts, maximising their income and addressing any other social welfare problems they have. This ensures people attain sustainable outcomes. Since January 2020, the Single Advice Fund services have helped 116,000 people to deal with over 532,000 social welfare problems of which 135,550 problems were specifically related to debt. Those helped were supported to claim additional income of over £67 million and had debts totalling £20 million written off.