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<p>This Government is committed to providing a strong safety-net for those who need
it. We continue to spend over £95 billion a year on working age welfare benefits.
We have a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting
loans for those who need extra support, and Jobcentre managers work closely with external
partners to help vulnerable claimants. Our local government finance settlement means
that over this year and next, councils will get over £10 billion in direct grants
from central government to continue to offer a range of vital services to their local
communities. We have no plans to re-establish a national assistance board.</p>
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