Stuart McMillan MSP has called on all levels of government to use all the powers at their disposal to tackle food insecurity after foodbanks in Scotland saw the highest levels of need ever last year.
According to the Trussell Trust’s end of year statistics for 2022-23, foodbanks in the Trussell Trust network in Scotland distributed 259,744 emergency food parcels between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, including 87,968 parcels for children. This is the most parcels that the network in Scotland has ever distributed in a financial year and represents a 30% increase from the same period in 2021/22.
In Inverclyde, the increase was even higher – as 5,386 parcels were distributed in 2021-22 compared to 7,331 in 2022-23, representing a 36% rise in parcels provided locally.
Commenting, Stuart said:
“Behind each parcel is an individual, a family and in some cases a child living in a household that is struggling to get by. We must always remember that when analysing these figures as too often they become are politicised when politicians should be coming together to try to find a long-term solution to food insecurity and poverty.
“The report shows that Scotland saw a smaller percentage increase (17%) in the number of parcels provided for children from November 2022 to March 2023 in comparison with the same period in 2021/22 than Northern Ireland (29%), Wales (46%) or England (42%).
“This suggests that the Scottish Child Payment has had an impact, which is positive, but sadly it hasn’t been significant enough to prevent families from having to rely upon foodbanks.
“We know the Scottish Government must balance the books and operates with limited borrowing powers. If we don’t have the money, we cannot borrow to make something happen – even if we’d really like to.
“However that shouldn’t mean that we just shrug our shoulders, which is why I’ll be writing to the Scottish Government to ask for their response to the Trussell Trust’s report and what more can be done to support local low-income families – including whether increasing the Scottish Child Payment is an option.
“I also note that the report shows that in July and November 2022 when the UK Government’s two Cost of Living Payments were distributed to people in receipt of means-tested benefits owing to low income, there was a short-term reduction in need at foodbanks in the Trussell Trust network.
“This shows that putting more money in people’s pockets can help alleviate the need for foodbanks – but is also a reminder that low wages coupled with a UK benefits system that is more concerned with punishing people rather than supporting them is hindering efforts to reduce poverty.
“One-off payments from the UK Government won’t make a lasting difference when people’s regular income, either from social security or work, is just too low to enable them to afford the essentials.”
Going back to the report’s findings, Stuart added:
“Over the last 12 months, more than 29,000 families have been forced to turn to foodbanks in the Trussell Trust network in Scotland for the first time. That is deeply worrying.
“What’s worse is that the reports states this is representative of the increasing numbers of people experiencing financial hardship due to the cost of living crisis and reflects wider sector research into the impact of the crisis on low-income families in Scotland. Polling by YouGov, on behalf of Christians Against Poverty Scotland, found almost a third of adults in Scotland had skipped meals and almost half had gone without heat at some point this winter.
“My office has seen an upsurge in cases since autumn last year as more households locally feel the pinch – never mind the impact rising costs is having on those who were already living in poverty.
“I also know that the local foodbank has found itself providing a critical service to support those who receive parcels and have had to adapt to meet the level and nature of need for emergency food in Inverclyde.
“They are signposting people to other services due to the deepening hardship and distress people in our community are facing. The volunteers and staff do an excellent job in challenging circumstances and I know our fantastic third sector is doing all it can to help people.
“Governments must step up though, and I support the Trussell Trust’s call for the UK Government to legislate to ensure that, at a minimum, Universal Credit should protect people from going without essentials.
“I’ll also be asking the Scottish Government for an update on its plans to publish and implement a national plan to end the need for foodbanks in Scotland – another of the Trussell Trust’s askes.
“We cannot rest and accept that foodbanks are commonplace and that some people just have to use them. All politicians must work to try to end food insecurity and tackle poverty.”
