To ask the Minister for Communities to detail her long-term plan to support more lower-income households who are facing price increases for food, goods and services.

The fact we still have no functioning Executive or an agreed Executive budget means Departments are facing serious challenges.

Despite this, I am committed to doing all within my power to put money into peoples’ pockets. I have tasked my officials to fully explore and expedite all options to address both the immediate needs of, and medium to longer term solutions to, the cost of living crisis.

I have also reconvened the Emergencies Leadership Group as part of a strategic response to the cost of living crisis. The group brings together leaders from the voluntary and community sector who are on the frontline, assisting workers, families and communities who are enduring real hardship as the crisis deepens. The group will advise, inform and shape the emerging policy and operational response to the cost of living crisis.