Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Food Banks

Monday 5 February 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Food banks in Luton and other areas are experiencing high levels of need due to rising living costs.
  • The Government cites cost of living payments, the household support fund, and other measures to address the issue.
  • The Minister does not comment on potential Budget measures to support low-income workers and reduce food bank reliance.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Economy Housing Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question stems from concerns about the impact of rising living costs on food bank usage in the constituency. Local food banks are seeing an increase in demand.

Question

What recent assessment has his Department made regarding the relationship between cost of living increases and trends in food bank use? Food banks such as Luton Foodbank have been pushed to breaking point this winter due to Conservative policies. It is shameful that there are now more food banks than police stations in the UK.

Answer from Jo Churchill

Food banks operate independently, and data on trends is not available. Reasons for using food banks are complex. The Government offers support through cost of living payments and the household support fund, amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds. Additional measures include rising national living wage and reduced national insurance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment requested was not provided, focusing instead on general support mechanisms.

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Q2 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Economy Benefits & Welfare Environment
Context

The question addresses the high level of food bank usage in the constituency despite being one of the richest countries. Staff and volunteers at local food banks report an unprecedented demand.

Question

Staff and volunteers at Norwood and Brixton food banks are responding to the highest level of need ever seen. Despite this, why does the Minister think that food bank reliance is continuing to rise? What measures are being taken by the Government to end the need for food banks in the UK?

Answer from Jo Churchill

Reasons for using food banks are complex. The Government provides support through cost of living payments, household support fund running hundreds of millions of pounds, rising national living wage, reduced national insurance, and local housing allowance helping 1.6 million low-income households.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific actions to end food bank reliance were not detailed.

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Q3 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Economy Housing Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concerns are raised about the number of food banks increasing relative to police stations. Local food banks such as Luton Foodbank are struggling with demand.

Question

Food banks like Luton Foodbank have been pushed to breaking point due to rising living costs, resulting in more food banks than police stations. What conversations has the Minister had about introducing measures in next month's Budget to support low-income working people and reduce reliance on food banks?

Answer from Jo Churchill

Further cost of living payments are going out this week. We do not comment on future fiscal announcements regarding Budget measures.

Not addressed: The specific conversations and proposed budget measures were avoided, focusing instead on upcoming cost of living payments.

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