Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP Seamus Logan has brought an important debate to Westminster to examine ways to reduce if not eliminate completely the need for the use of foodbanks.
Seamus Logan highlighted the necessity of a progressive and socially just policy approach to create more favourable circumstances to decrease usage of food banks and combat the terrible levels of hardship and hunger facing so many in our communities, particularly children.
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Mr Logan said:
“I was pleased to see the high number of members attending this Westminster debate and the passion they brought to their arguments to transform the system breakdown that has increased the need for foodbanks as communities struggle with rampant inflation, ongoing austerity and the cost-of-living and energy crises.
“In my constituency, foodbanks like Aberdeenshire North based in Peterhead and Fraserburgh are providing a vital service thanks to the work of their tireless volunteers that give their time and effort to distribute around 10,000 food parcels last year alone. Now, as the temperature drops to well below freezing across the UK, the need to address food insecurity becomes even more important as many households make difficult decisions between heating or eating.”
The Trussell Trust distributed a staggering 3.12 million emergency food parcels in 2023/24. When food poverty is defined as “household food insecurity”, 2022/23 figures show that the UK saw a startling 11% of its population, over 7.2 million individuals, grapple with food insecurity, a significant jump of 2.5 million from the previous year. Children bear a disproportionate burden, with 17% experiencing food insecurity, highlighting the vulnerability of this group.
Seamus Logan added:
“We need to change this terrible inequality. Fortunately, there are existing transformative solutions in place. I recommend that the UK Government takes a leaf out of the Scottish Government’s approach to tackling food poverty with their “game changing” Scottish Child Payment, free school meals and Best Start Grants for new families as an example of some of the effective policies brought in to mitigate the worst excesses of Westminster. Abolition of the cruel 2 Child Cap and changes to Winter Fuel Payments are another two obvious reforms that Labour could make if they are serious about bringing “change”.
“The Trussell Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation are also advocating for an ‘Essentials Guarantee’ to ensure that social security payments should never fall below the amount needed to afford essentials such as food and household bills. The upcoming review into Universal Credit is another golden opportunity to make good on Labour’s manifesto commitments. Implementing a statutory living wage and dismantling further catastrophic austerity measures brought in by the Tories should be another focus.
“In the 6th wealthiest nation in the world, we shouldn’t need foodbanks to combat hunger. After all, what does it say about UK Government choices when so many of our families can’t feed their children? Transformative change is needed now more than ever.”
