Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
SNP politicians call for a wages boost
Monklands’ SNP parliamentarians are calling for “meaningful action to boost incomes” following news of a record increase in the use of foodbanks.
The Advertiser told last week how the number of emergency supply parcels distributed by Airdrie foodbank more than doubled in the past 12 months – rising to 3535 in 2017-2018 compared to 1617 in the preceding 12 months.
Now figures from Coatbridge community foodbank show that the organisation “distributed food to more than 1400 adults and 1000 children living in crisis” during the past year, with more than half of referrals being attributed to benefit-related issues.
It comes as foodbank organisation the Trussell Trust revealed that the number of food parcels distributed in Scotland had gone up by 17 per cent in a year. UK-wide, the increase was 13 per cent as a total of 1.3 million food parcels were given out – nearly a third of them to children.
Airdrie& Shotts representatives Alex Neil MSP and Neil Gray MP said: “Tory welfare policy [remains] the main driver,” with the former saying the UK government is “driving families to foodbanks” as benefit delays, sanctions and the universal credit rollout were all cited as reasons for the increase in referrals.
They said: “It’s a disgrace that 3535 families in Airdrie & Shotts 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 – families cannot afford another year of Tory cuts.
“It’s 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.”
Neighbouring constituency MSP Fulton MacGregor, of Coatbridge & Chryston, agreed: “It’s a disgrace that families in my constituency and across Scotland are having to rely on emergency parcels just to get by.
“Over 50 per cent of referrals to Coatbridge community foodbank over the past 12 months have been due to benefit-related issues, [and] these statistics are unlikely to change with the rollout of Universal Credit further punishing the already vulnerable in our communities.”
He added: “I must recognise the good work of organisations within the constituency who provide for families in need – Coatbridge foodbank, the ‘ Cool School Uniform’ initiative, and Drumpellier Christian Fellowship, who work locally to help those suffering as a result of Tory austerity cuts, distributing food donations from Tesco Fairshare and other agencies.”
Families across the UK are suffering from a Tory pay cut