I agree that every human has a right to nutritious and adequate food supply. This is a serious issue and it is vital everything possible is done to help people with the cost of living. Ministers are working hard to improve competition to help producers and retailers offer the best prices for food and regularly discuss all aspects of food security, including accessibility.
I know that the Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures, including by increasing the living wage, and by spending over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22. Further, throughout the pandemic, Ministers delivered an unprecedented package of support to protect jobs and businesses and, for those in most need, injected billions into the welfare system.
As the economy recovers, it is my ambition to help people move into and progress in work as quickly as possible, based on clear evidence around the importance of employment, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risks of poverty. Through the Plan for Jobs, Ministers are investing over £33bn in measures to create, support and protect jobs. This includes over £2bn investment in the Kickstart programme and an additional 13,500 Work Coaches in our Jobcentres, as well as other measures focused on boosting work search, skills and apprenticeships.
DS.