Other nations have foodbanks as well

Sir, – Your correspondent Stewart Falconer (November 23) calls for “Foodbanks no more” in a way which implies he thinks these are a product of Westminster Tories. May I disabuse him? I don’t have up-to-date figures but when foodbanks were first coming to prominence in the UK, there were more foodbanks in Germany than in the UK. And today, German foodbanks are failing to meet their people’s needs.

In France 10% of the population are dependent on foodbanks. In the US there is a huge underclass dependent on “food stamps”.

Foodbanks are an expression of globalised transnational capitalism – not “Tory Westminster”.

Should we become independent and rejoin the EU, we should expect the

number of foodbanks to rise at least to German levels.

If we chose true independence, transnational corporations would have their hands even more tightly round Scotland’s throat and the need for foodbanks would be even higher still.

There is no doubt that the need for foodbanks is humiliating to those who make use of them and a blight on Western society.

But the idea that an independent Scotland – even a People’s Republic of Scotland – could mitigate, never mind obviate, the need for foodbanks is utterly naive and irresponsible. Adrian Grant. Alturlie,

Freuchie.