The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Foodbank referrals soar by 34% across Angus
DWP says it is ‘misleading’ to blame rise on introduction of Universal Credit
Angus foodbank referrals rocketed by 34% in the last year, the second highest increase in Scotland.
Stewart Hosie MP called it a “damning indictment” of Government failure, after a leading foodbank charity revealed foodbank use in Scotland increased for the sixth consecutive year.
An increase of 9% in foodbank referrals was seen across Scotland, and an additional 917 people were handed emergency food packages in Angus between April 2016-17.
Foodbank use increased across all of Courier Country, with almost 10,000 referrals in Dundee being recorded, more than a third of which were for children.
The Trussell Trust, which released the figures, has identified for the first time that low income caused by a combination of ever-increasing inflation and the roll-out of Universal Credit was to blame for the increase in foodbank use.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said it is “misleading” to blame the increase on Universal Credit alone.
There were almost 10,000 referrals for emergency food packages in Dundee last year, as the number of people requiring foodbanks in Scotland rose for the sixth year in a row.
Figures released by the Trussell Trust show a rise in foodbank use across Dundee, Perth, Angus and Fife.
In Angus, the number of supplies handed out between April 2016-17 increased by 34% – three times the national average and the second largest percentage increase in Scotland.
Food bank use in Perth and Kinross rose sharply also, with 864 more residents referred for emergency food supplies in the same time period – a rise of 25%.
Fife bucked the unwanted trend by being the only area in Courier Country not to have an increase greater than the national average, but foodbanks in the area still saw a 4% increase in the number of people using them.
More than a third of Dundee emergency food packages were referred to children.
More than 145,000 emergency food packages were handed out across Scotland between April 2016 and April 2017 – enough to feed the population of Dundee.
Emergency food supply referrals have dramatically increased every year in Scotland since 2011.
The Trussell Trust has said for the first time low income is the single biggest driver as to why more people are needing emergency food packages – with increasing inflation and benefit delays as a result of the roll-out of Universal Credit identified as the main contributing factors.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it was “misleading” to blame the rise in foodbank use on Universal Credit alone.
Ewan Gurr, Trussell Trust network manager, said: “The discovery that foodbanks in Scotland gave out enough emergency food to feed the entire population of Dundee for three days is deeply worrying and the reasons underpinning this are just as concerning.
“Despite nine Scottish local authorities showing a decrease in foodbank use six months ago, it is clear that a cold Christmas, the roll-out of Universal Credit and the ever-increasing pressure on the pockets of low-income individuals and families is yielding bitter outcomes.
“With both council elections and a general election on the horizon, it is absolutely critical for confirmed as well as prospective candidates to put tackling hunger and food poverty front and centre of the policy agenda.
“It is crucial to amplify the voices of people in poverty in the process, and ensure the delivery of a clear and coherent strategy on tackling hunger and food poverty that can be implemented both at local and national level.”
SNP MP for Dundee East, Stewart Hosie, said: “The Tories should be ashamed of these new figures.
“The fact is almost 10,000 Dundonians needed foodbanks last year and that is a damning indictment of the absolute failure of the UK Government’s austerity policies.
“The agenda of more cuts and more austerity continues to be damaging to families and communities across Scotland – and while the Trussell Trust and others are doing vital work providing support, such widespread use of foodbanks is still shocking.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “The reasons for foodbank use are complex, so it’s misleading to link them to any one issue.
“Employment is the best route out of poverty, and there are now near record numbers of people in work in Scotland.
“Under Universal Credit, people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the old system.
“Universal Credit is designed to mirror the world of work and give people control over their own finances.
“The majority of Universal Credit claimants are confident in managing their money and we work closely with local authorities to support those who need extra help.
“Budgeting support, benefit advances, and direct rent payments to landlords are available to those who need them.”
Sir, - The charity Age Scotland has reported that many people requiring care for the elderly are finding it is delayed by councils with insufficient budgets to fund it.
Age Scotland also points out that the number of people over 60 will grow by 10% in the next five years, so the pressure is increasing all the time.
Yet while the SNP Government likes to claim the credit for its various universal benefits such as free care for the elderly, it does not ensure that these council-funded services have sufficient money to do the job.
Rather, it has progressively squeezed hundreds of millions of pounds from local councils over the last 10 years as it has disproportionately pushed the costs of austerity on to our local authorities.
Cynically, the SNP has recently returned modest amounts of the money taken away to enable grand public gestures in areas such as education.
The SNP’s undermining of local authority funding is being felt by some of the most vulnerable people in society who depend upon support and care provided by our councils.
Nicola Sturgeon often
“While many may consider Ms Sturgeon a lacklustre managing director of Scotland, there’s little doubt she’s a fantastic campaigner for the SNP. She’s not used to struggling at times like these
claims the moral high ground on the basis of her progressive credentials, yet her government’s regressive approach to local government tells a very different story.
Keith Howell. White Moss, West Linton.