Is this just the cost of the food - or does it also cover the cost of electric/gas and all the other things needed to avoid cold/raw veg (and tuna)?

Didn't some Tory MP try to live on some small amount in a council flat about 20 years ago - and got loads of TV and newspaper publicity for trying to prove the state was generous - only to be caught out cheating (food from family and nipping home for a delux sleep)?

£15 p.w. may be possible (if you can get to a low cost supermarket without blowing half your budget on bus fares) but miserable!