Food Banks - The rising popularity

2010 – 2011

61,468

2013 – 2014

913,138

You’re looking at these figures and thinking what on earth is he on about, these are the number of people who received three days’ emergency food from Trussell Trust foodbanks – Figures compare 2010-2011/2013-2014.

Wow. That’s an increase of about 850 thousand people, of those 330 thousand are children.

One question you have to ask yourself is what has caused these people to require food hand outs in order to feed themselves and their children when so many of us do not.

47% of these people relied on foodbanks because of benefit delays or changes, that’s almost 430 thousand people. This figure is quite interesting and says something about the current government, here are some of the things from the welfare budget that the current conservative led government have cut, which has led to this:

·         Child Trust Fund abolished – Families made £675 worse off per year.

·         Education Maintenance Allowance abolished – Each 16-19 year old £28 per week worse off.

·         Bedroom Tax introduced – Each claimant worse off by £14 per week - affecting 400,000 vulnerable people.

·         Child tax credit for new parents with babies under 2 abolished – Making each claimant £545 worse off per year.

These are only a few things, you can check the exhaustive list of things here: 

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/apr/01/every-welfare-cut-listed

21% of people relied on food banks because of low pay. In my previous post I wrote about the national minimum wage and how this government should be doing more to increase it. Since the conservatives came into power in 2010 the NMW has increased by 57 pence – not enough if you ask me, that’s only an extra £14 in your pocket per week after tax, now if you have been hit by the bedroom tax then you may as well forget that the NMW went up because you’re basically back in 2010 pay levels! But in all seriousness, just the rise in gas, electricity, rent and council tax completely outstrip the increase in the NMW (can you tell I’ve got an issue with low pay?) Low pay is an issue that needs to be addressed with the most importance, if low pay was completely eradicated - which it will not be under the leadership of this conservative led government - there would be less 182,627 people relying on food banks.  

Almost 70% of people are relying on food banks because of low pay or benefit delays and changes. How can this be avoided? The current government can increase the NMW and should stop making cuts to the welfare budget – it needs to be progressive, not lead people into deeper poverty. The government needs to find a balance between cutting the deficit and strengthening the welfare system.

I suggest three options to reduce reliance on food banks and thus reduce poverty

1. Increase taxes on the rich to pay for the poor.
2. Increase the National Minimum Wage to £8 per hour.
3. Grow your own food?

     I wonder which option will make the manifesto?