Politics latest news: Treasury minister refuses to commit to increase benefits in line with inflation

A Treasury minister has refused to give a commitment to increase benefits in line with inflation next year.

The Office for National Statistics today published figures which showed inflation in the 12 months to September was 6.7 per cent. The September inflation figure is normally used by the Government as the baseline for uprating benefits in the following April.

But Andrew Griffith, the economic secretary to the Treasury, would not be drawn this morning on whether today’s figure will be used, seemingly leaving the door open to a potential below-inflation increase.

He told Sky News: “We have just had I think five minutes ago the numbers so you are absolutely right, it is normally the case that following the September release of headline inflation that my colleagues in government, the Department for Work and Pensions Secretary, assesses and makes recommendations about what to do with public benefits. 

“That process is yet to happen. It wouldn’t be right to come out immediately after today’s figures. We should let that process run. Last year as you will remember we increased benefits by 10 per cent to protect people, one of the largest ever increases in that.” 

He added: “There is simply just a process to be followed. It is right that we let that process in the same way as every other year, we take that number, we put that into the process and in due course update with whatever the government’s plans are. We are always going to be responsible.”