9,272 emergency food parcels distributed last year in Glasgow North West

 

– Tory welfare cuts forcing Glasgow North West families to rely on food banks –

Carol Monaghan, SNP MP for Glasgow North West, has warned that Tory welfare cuts have forced families in her constituency to rely on food banks and emergency aid – as new figures reveal over a million emergency food parcels were distributed by the Trussell Trust between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018.

The Trussell Trust’s annual foodbank statistics show 1,332,952 three day emergency food supplies were distributed to people across the UK in 2017/18, including 484,026 to children. These figures indicate a 13% increase on the previous year.

In Glasgow North West, figures show that 9,272 emergency food parcels were distributed in total, including 3,271 to children.

According to the Trust, the biggest single, and fastest growing, reason for people attending foodbanks is “Low income – benefits, not earning”. The SNP have called on the UK government to reverse the benefits freeze, introduce a real living wage, and end the public sector pay cap, to help ensure families have enough money to live on.

Commenting, Carol Monaghan MP said:

“It’s a disgrace that 9,272 emergency food parcels were distributed last year in Glasgow North West – including 3,271 to children – and that families in my constituency are having to rely on emergency food parcels just to get by.

“Millions of families across the UK are suffering from a Tory pay cut – as rising prices, stagnant wages, and cuts to social security continue to squeeze living standards and push households into poverty, debt and crisis.

“The figures from the Trussell Trust show that the problem is getting worse – with foodbank usage rising year on year. Tory policies are making it harder for families to cover even the basic costs of food, housing, and bills.

“Families cannot afford another year of Tory cuts. It is vital that the UK government finally takes meaningful action to boost incomes. This must include delivering a real living wage, ending the public sector pay cap, and reversing the benefits freeze to help ensure families have enough money to live on.”

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