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UK government 'in denial' over food bank use, says Holyrood committee UK government 'in denial' over food bank use, says Holyrood committee
(about 9 hours later)
The UK government's Department for Work and Pensions is "in denial" about the causes of an increase in food bank use, according to a Holyrood committee.The UK government's Department for Work and Pensions is "in denial" about the causes of an increase in food bank use, according to a Holyrood committee.
In a new report, MSPs argued welfare changes were a "significant cause" of the rise in demand.In a new report, MSPs argued welfare changes were a "significant cause" of the rise in demand.
The committee claimed evidence pointed to a 400% rise in people using food banks in 2013/14 compared to 2012/13.The committee claimed evidence pointed to a 400% rise in people using food banks in 2013/14 compared to 2012/13.
Last month, a UK minister said there was "no robust evidence linking food bank usage to welfare reform".Last month, a UK minister said there was "no robust evidence linking food bank usage to welfare reform".
The Scottish Parliament's Welfare Reform Committee took evidence from food bank providers including the Trussell Trust and aid charities including Oxfam Scotland and the British Red Cross.The Scottish Parliament's Welfare Reform Committee took evidence from food bank providers including the Trussell Trust and aid charities including Oxfam Scotland and the British Red Cross.
The committee also heard evidence from Heriot Watt University, who had been commissioned to conduct research on food bank use for the Scottish government.The committee also heard evidence from Heriot Watt University, who had been commissioned to conduct research on food bank use for the Scottish government.
Benefit sanctionsBenefit sanctions
The committee said it was particularly concerned about benefit sanctions and called on the UK government to "recognise that people are struggling to meet their basic need for food due to its direct action".The committee said it was particularly concerned about benefit sanctions and called on the UK government to "recognise that people are struggling to meet their basic need for food due to its direct action".
Labour MSP Michael McMahon, the convener of the committee, said: "The UK government can no longer ignore the evidence that their welfare reforms are having a real impact on people's ability to feed themselves. Labour MSP Michael McMahon, the convener of the committee, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "This impression that somehow it's a lifestyle choice that people are choosing 'should I go to McDonalds or go to a food bank?' is just a ridiculous argument for anyone to make.
"There can be no place for this in a modern, prosperous nation, just as there should be no need for food banks. "There's no doubt that the increase can be connected directly to benefit sanctions and other issues.
"Our evidence showed some low paid workers need to access food banks. "And it's not just those who are without income completely who are dependent on food banks, it's also low paid workers."
"This makes it even more insulting for them to insist that people using food banks are anything other than in desperate need of help."
MSPs also argued food bank provision should not be allowed to become a substitute for welfare state provision.MSPs also argued food bank provision should not be allowed to become a substitute for welfare state provision.
Deputy convener and SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn, said: "All our committee members visited food banks across Scotland.Deputy convener and SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn, said: "All our committee members visited food banks across Scotland.
"We were impressed by the professional and respectful way that the volunteers dealt with people who came to them, often in their hour of greatest need.""We were impressed by the professional and respectful way that the volunteers dealt with people who came to them, often in their hour of greatest need."
He added: "The UK government needs to ensure it does not start to weld them into the welfare system.He added: "The UK government needs to ensure it does not start to weld them into the welfare system.
"It needs to own up to the role it is playing in causing the increase in demand and stop pretending this is simply all about people looking for something for nothing.""It needs to own up to the role it is playing in causing the increase in demand and stop pretending this is simply all about people looking for something for nothing."
Welfare reformsWelfare reforms
Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone dissented from some parts of the report, the committee said.Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone dissented from some parts of the report, the committee said.
The UK government has claimed there was no evidence of a link between its welfare reforms and the use of food banks.The UK government has claimed there was no evidence of a link between its welfare reforms and the use of food banks.
In May, employment minister Esther McVey wrote to the Scottish government, saying food bank use was increasing across a number of different countries.In May, employment minister Esther McVey wrote to the Scottish government, saying food bank use was increasing across a number of different countries.
She wrote: "The rise in food banks predates most of the welfare reforms this government has put in place."She wrote: "The rise in food banks predates most of the welfare reforms this government has put in place."
Ms McVey has turned down a request for a public meeting with the welfare committee, but said she would meet them informally.Ms McVey has turned down a request for a public meeting with the welfare committee, but said she would meet them informally.