Families are being driven to food banks because of “crisis" poverty levels, the Government’s own report has found.
A study – sneaked out while MPs are on holiday - said food banks were reporting an increase in demand due to benefit delays, rising debt levels and soaring food prices.
The report also blows apart claims by Welfare Minister Lord Freud that more people were turning to food banks because there were more of them.
It said: “We found no evidence to support the idea that increased food aid provision is driving demand.”
Instead it concluded there was a “consistent” increase in the numbers of people relying on help.
The report came after 27 Anglican bishops and 16 other clergy this week accused the Coalition of creating hardship and hunger with welfare reforms.
It added: “Increasing numbers of households are having to deal with changes in circumstances which are potentially having a negative impact on their food security in the immediate – and possibly longer – term.
“Those providing food aid, formally and informally, are consistently reporting an increase in demand, both in terms of new requests for help, and in terms of those who have been helped continuing to ask for food.
“Critical factors driving these actions are described [by many food aid providers] in terms of ‘crises’ in a range of circumstances, but particularly household income, and often underpinned by on-going problems of low income, rising food [and other] costs and increasing indebtedness."
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A study – sneaked out while MPs are on holiday - said food banks were reporting an increase in demand due to benefit delays, rising debt levels and soaring food prices.
The report also blows apart claims by Welfare Minister Lord Freud that more people were turning to food banks because there were more of them.
It said: “We found no evidence to support the idea that increased food aid provision is driving demand.”
Instead it concluded there was a “consistent” increase in the numbers of people relying on help.
The report came after 27 Anglican bishops and 16 other clergy this week accused the Coalition of creating hardship and hunger with welfare reforms.
It added: “Increasing numbers of households are having to deal with changes in circumstances which are potentially having a negative impact on their food security in the immediate – and possibly longer – term.
“Those providing food aid, formally and informally, are consistently reporting an increase in demand, both in terms of new requests for help, and in terms of those who have been helped continuing to ask for food.
“Critical factors driving these actions are described [by many food aid providers] in terms of ‘crises’ in a range of circumstances, but particularly household income, and often underpinned by on-going problems of low income, rising food [and other] costs and increasing indebtedness."
Read more...
