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<p>No assessment has been made. 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 food bank usage at a constituency or
national level. We understand the data limitations in this area, and thus from April
2021 we introduced a set of questions into the Family Resources Survey (FRS) to measure
and track food bank usage. The first results of these questions are due to be published
in March 2023 subject to usual quality assurance. These questions will allow us to
gauge where people in food security are seeking help and over time will allow is to
build a time series on the scale of food bank usage.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that
some people may require extra support over the winter as we enter the final stages
of recovery, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able
to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household
Support Fund will provide £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the
cost of food, utilities and wider essentials. The Barnett Formula will apply in the
usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for
the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive),
for a total of £500 million.</p><p> </p>
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