Yesterday's debate on Food Banks illustrated just how much the UK population cares about the increase in numbers of people going hungry in the UK. It is not often that a Commons Debate trends on Twitter.
We are disappointed that the gravity of the situation faced by those receiving emergency food across the UK and in West Cheshire was not uniformly respected by MPs. We recognise that there is still work to do in ensuring that all members of parliament recognise the human costs of hunger in the UK. We are particularly disappointed by the failure of some MPs in Cheshire West to attend the debate; by the notable lack of representation from the Minister for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Owen Paterson) and the lack of democratic accountability demonstrated by the Minister for the Department for Work and Pensions (Iain Duncan Smith).
We would however, like to extend our sincere thanks to Stephen Mosley MP and Andrew Miller MP for their attendance.
We are especially pleased that Stephen Mosley MP:
- recognised the work of West Cheshire Foodbank.
"At the end of last month, I was privileged to visit the West Cheshire food bank in my constituency. Like all food banks, it is run by a group of hard-working volunteers and supported by generous donations from across Cheshire."
- understands that changes to benefits and benefit sanctions are a primary driver of Foodbank use.
"My visit to the food bank was an opportunity not just to see the fantastic volunteers who make it happen but to hear first hand the reasons people are using food banks. The results were striking. Figures from my local food bank show that 59% of those who have used the food bank since April have visited because of changes to benefits and a growing number of people are visiting because of sanctions."
- supports the Trussell Trust's call for a Public Inquiry into Food Bank use.
"[W]e need to find out more about food banks and I back the call from the Trussell Trust and my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Laura Sandys) for an inquiry into their use."
- shares our concern over the suppression of the DEFRA commissioned report
"We need a clear picture of the role and extent of the banks and we need to know who uses them and why. Then we can have a debate based on the facts. Otherwise, this important debate will always run the risk of being hijacked by politicians hoping to score cheap political points, which does absolutely nothing to help those in need. The university of Warwick has produced a report for DEFRA on household food security and the provision of food aid. I hope that it will be forthcoming."
A full transcript of the debate can be found here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131218/debtext/131218-0003.htm#13121855000003
You can find out what The Guardian thought of Mr Mosley's contribution here:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2013/dec/19/not-all-tories-in-denial-about-causes-of-rise-in-foodbanks
You can find out what The Guardian thought of Mr Mosley's contribution here:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2013/dec/19/not-all-tories-in-denial-about-causes-of-rise-in-foodbanks
