THERESE COFFEY said today that there are no plans to offer further support to people struggling to cope with rising energy bills, despite being warned that the proposed package is insufficient. 

The Work and Pensions Secretary insisted that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s support package to help people through the cost-of-living crisis was substantial. 

Asked whether ministers are prepared to do more to help struggling families facing a £693 hike in their energy bills this spring, Ms Coffey said: “Well, there has already been a significant increase in the level of support.

“I’m not aware any more plans are there. That’s not my decision,” she told the work and pensions select committee. 

Ms Coffey also defended a below-inflation benefits and pension rise of just 3.1 per cent from this spring, claiming that it was a reasonable and sensible decision to base the uplift on data from last year. 

However, the Bank of England warned last week that inflation could hit 7.25 per cent by April and is unlikely to fall back to the level of recent times for two years. 

Ms Coffey said that struggling people will be able to access the Household Support Fund delivered by local authorities and that those not eligible for a £150 council tax rebate in April – one of the measures proposed by Mr Sunak – can obtain support from a £144 million fund. 

However, MPs heard earlier that the support packages mooted by the government are insufficient and reflect a failure to grasp the scale of the cost-of-living crisis. 

Citizens Advice head of policy Morgan Wild said the Household Support Fund was “like a plaster on a gaping wound.

“It helps for a few weeks but does little to address fundamental issues,” he warned, adding that unless further measures are proposed, struggling households will face significant difficulties as bills rise. 

Roy Wheal of foodbank charity the Trussell Trust stressed that the level of support from the government should match that provided during the first year of the pandemic. 

Foodbank referrals in December look to be the highest on record, he said, adding that demand is accelerating, rather than returning to pre-pandemic levels.

During the tense committee session, Ms Coffey denied that she was due to resign after Labour MP Neil Coyle asked whether she was unable to give answers to a series of questions because she “already had one foot out the door.”

She retorted: “No, don’t be ridiculous, Neil.”

Ms Coffey’s failure to answer key questions from MPs was criticised by committee chairman Stephen Timms following the session. 

He said: “The lack of detail that the Secretary of State was able to give us on what the government is doing to support the many people currently struggling to get by was hugely disappointing.”

Mr Timms added that the committee will write to the Department for Work and Pensions seeking urgent answers on what more ministers plan to do to help those in need.