What specific support has been given to minority groups like refugees, gypsy Roma communities and others who have been impacted by food insecurity?

We know that in most cases food insecurity is directly related to financial hardship. The main cause of food insecurity is insufficient household income, which means people have limited or uncertain access to adequate food. This is sadly affecting many Londoners, but we know that certain groups can be more likely to be under strain in these difficult circumstances.

For some minoritised groups, there will be specific factors pushing people into financial hardship.

That's why our approach to tackling financial hardship and food insecurity has included targeted support for groups who we know are more affected by cost-of-living increases, or who may otherwise need extra help.

As part of my approach to ensure that all Londoners are aware of their rights and how to assert them, I am investing £2.3 million this year and next in strengthening the provision of social welfare legal advice in London, and to embed this advice in the community settings and locations where people can most easily access it.

I’ve also taken steps to address some of the specific barriers faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities that drive financial hardship – particularly around housing. For example, I have ensured that funding is available through my Affordable Homes Programme to support the development of new sites for GRT communities, as well as improvements to existing sites.

I have also made it clear to boroughs in my London Plan that they should be actively planning to protect pitch and plot capacity for these communities, that they should undertake audits of existing sites, and that they should meet identified need. I have commissioned a London-wide assessment, which is currently underway, to assist with this.