Baroness Sherlock (Lab)

I will come on in a moment to try to answer the specific question. If the noble Baroness will give me one second, I move to that point, because I want to explain how it will work. I thank her for nudging me. I will look at a number of the questions that were asked. The noble Baroness mentioned the Crisis report saying that only 2.7% of properties were affordable. For clarity and for the record, the Crisis report looked at newly advertised rents, which are typically higher than those for continued tenancies. Although the report highlights the cost challenge of moving to a new tenancy, we do not think it accurately represents the whole picture. LHA rates are based on confirmed rents for sitting tenants rather than the advertised rents. I am not challenging the broader issue; I just wanted to make that clear for the record. The noble Baroness also mentioned the impact on homelessness. As we all know, the causes of homelessness are multifaceted and are driven by a range of factors, both personal and structural, but the relationship with social security is clearly one of those factors. The DWP has worked closely with the MHCLG on the national plan to end homelessness, which is driving sustainable change and addressing the root causes of homelessness. We explicitly considered LHA rates against homelessness goals. We are committed to working together with the MHCLG and the Treasury to keep LHA rates under review—I hope that gives the noble Baroness some reassurance. However, we also know that too many people are living in temporary accommodation and that local authorities are under pressure, so we want to prevent homelessness in the first place. We are investing £3.6 billion in homelessness prevention and rough-sleeping services over the next three years, as well as the removal of the two-child benefit cap, increases in universal credit, and other measures. We are delivering the increase in supply of social and affordable housing. On food poverty, which was mentioned by the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, we have announced action to transform our food system to ensure that it delivers access to affordable, healthy food. However, we are engaging routinely and regularly with stakeholders to understand the key priorities. We have also taken the step of expanding free school meals to all those on universal credit, which will in itself lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament. Briefly, before I come on to the crisis and resilience point, the Government have committed to building 1.5 million new homes. That is a stretching target, which is what we intended it to be. We are backing that up with a record £39 billion of investment to kick-start social and affordable housebuilding at scale across the country.