Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Poverty Reduction

Monday 16 December 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • David Taylor provided statistics showing a 1,000% increase in food bank usage in Hemel Hempstead over the past decade.
  • The government is committed to tripling investment in breakfast clubs to over 30 million.
  • Ellie Chowns raised concerns about delays in processing pension credit and disability living allowance applications, with some constituents waiting over 16 weeks.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Taylor Lab Hemel Hempstead
Economy Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The MP highlighted a significant increase in food bank usage and long waiting times for community fridge access, indicating severe poverty levels. The Trussell Trust reported 61,000 emergency food parcels distributed in 2010 compared to 3.1 million in the last year.

Question

In my constituency of Hemel Hempstead, according to figures given by DENS, there has been a 1,000% increase in people needing food banks over the past decade. Meanwhile, queues form an hour before opening for the community fridge. Does the Minister agree this is a shameful example of the previous Government's record on poverty? Will they outline steps to reduce the need for food banks?

Answer from Alison McGovern

The statistics provided by my hon. Friend align with those of the Trussell Trust, showing an increase from 61,000 emergency food parcels in 2010 to 3.1 million last year. We are committed to tripling investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million and introducing a fair repayment rate for deductions from universal credit. The national living wage will be increased to £12.21 an hour from next April, benefiting 3 million workers. The child poverty taskforce is working extensively on this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific actions or timelines for reducing food bank usage were provided.

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Q2 David Taylor Lab Hemel Hempstead
Economy Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The MP reported a significant increase in food bank usage and long waiting times for community fridge access, indicating severe poverty levels. The Trussell Trust data shows an increase from 61,000 emergency food parcels distributed in 2010 to 3.1 million last year.

Question

In my constituency of Hemel Hempstead, according to figures given by DENS, there has been a 1,000% increase in people needing food banks over the past decade. Meanwhile, queues form an hour before opening for the community fridge. Does the Minister agree this is a shameful example of the previous Government's record on poverty? Will they outline steps to reduce the need for food banks?

Answer from Alison McGovern

The statistics provided by my hon. Friend align with those of the Trussell Trust, showing an increase from 61,000 emergency food parcels in 2010 to 3.1 million last year. We are committed to tripling investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million and introducing a fair repayment rate for deductions from universal credit. The national living wage will be increased to £12.21 an hour from next April, benefiting 3 million workers. The child poverty taskforce is working extensively on this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific actions or timelines for reducing food bank usage were provided.

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Q3 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Benefits & Welfare
Context

A constituent has waited over 16 weeks for a pension credit application to be processed, while another is waiting more than 25 weeks overall for a mandatory reconsideration of disability living allowance. These delays are pushing people into poverty.

Question

Delays in processing applications for benefits such as pension credit and disability living allowance push people into poverty. An 82-year-old constituent has waited over 16 weeks, while another is waiting more than 25 weeks overall. What steps will be taken to reduce delays in these processes?

Answer from Alison McGovern

We have increased staff numbers handling pension credit applications by over 500 and are working to deal with backlogs. We need to get through these backlogs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific details on timelines or mechanisms for reducing delays were provided.

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