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<p>This Government is committed to supporting the most vulnerable in society. The
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions engages regularly with her counterparts,
including the Secretary of State for Education.</p><p> </p><p>Secretaries of State
will continue to talk across government to ensure all the levers available are used
to tackle poverty, including for the most disadvantaged children and families. The
Department for Environment and Rural Affairs also established a cross-government Task
Force on Food and Other Essential Supplies for Vulnerable People.</p><p> </p><p>We
have taken unprecedented action to support and protect jobs, with over 9.5 million
people having been supported through the furlough scheme. The Department for Work
and Pensions quickly introduced a package of support, including welfare changes worth
£9.3bn this year to help people with the financial consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government established a £500m local authority hardship fund to protect
people, by banning evictions, securing mortgage holidays and helping with energy bills.
It has provided a further £63m to local authorities in England for their Welfare Assistance
schemes to help those families struggling to afford food and other essentials.</p>
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