Written questions by Ryan.

Whether funding provided through the Crisis and Resilience Fund from 1 April 2026 may be used by local authorities to provide holiday food vouchers for children eligible for free school meals; and what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the provision of such vouchers further to the closure of the Household Support Fund.

Yes, local authorities have discretion to design their own schemes within the published Crisis and Resilience Fund guidance and this can include supporting families eligible for free school meals during school holidays through Crisis Payments. This may or may not be through the blanket provision of vouchers to those on free school meals, as the Department for Work and Pensions recognise that some families eligible for free school meals may not routinely need crisis support during every school holiday. By focusing on those most in need, local authorities can provide more targeted, holistic support that builds longer-term financial resilience, not just crisis intervention. The guidance for local authorities is published on GOV.UK: Crisis and Resilience Fund: Guidance for local authorities in England (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029).

What steps she is taking to reduce the time taken for Access to Work benefit applications to be approved.

The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to reducing waiting times for new applications for Access to Work, as well as renewals. We are considering the best way to deliver that for customers. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims and have prioritised applications from customers who are about to start a job, and renewals.