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Justin Welby: More should be done to help hungry UK Justin Welby: More should be done to help hungry UK
(35 minutes later)
More help is needed to prevent families in the UK going hungry, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.More help is needed to prevent families in the UK going hungry, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby has backed a parliamentary report, to be published on Monday, which aims to eliminate hunger in the UK by 2020.The Most Reverend Justin Welby has backed a parliamentary report, to be published on Monday, which aims to eliminate hunger in the UK by 2020.
It is expected to call for a new publicly-funded body, known as Feeding Britain, to make this happen.It is expected to call for a new publicly-funded body, known as Feeding Britain, to make this happen.
Food is wasted at "astonishing" levels, but hunger "stalks large parts" of the country, the archbishop said.Food is wasted at "astonishing" levels, but hunger "stalks large parts" of the country, the archbishop said.
'Ashamed to be hungry''Ashamed to be hungry'
Writing in the Mail on Sunday he added that he was left more shocked by the plight of UK's hunger-stricken poor people, than by those suffering in African refugee camps, because it was so unexpected.Writing in the Mail on Sunday he added that he was left more shocked by the plight of UK's hunger-stricken poor people, than by those suffering in African refugee camps, because it was so unexpected.
After describing scenes of a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo he wrote: "... a few weeks later in England, I was talking to some people - a mum, dad and one child - in a food bank.After describing scenes of a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo he wrote: "... a few weeks later in England, I was talking to some people - a mum, dad and one child - in a food bank.
"They were ashamed to be there. The dad talked miserably. He said they had each been skipping a day's meals once a week in order to have more for the child, but then they needed new tyres for the car so they could get to work at night, and just could not make ends meet."They were ashamed to be there. The dad talked miserably. He said they had each been skipping a day's meals once a week in order to have more for the child, but then they needed new tyres for the car so they could get to work at night, and just could not make ends meet.
"So they had to come to a food bank. They were treated with respect, love even, by the volunteers from local churches. But they were hungry, and ashamed to be hungry."So they had to come to a food bank. They were treated with respect, love even, by the volunteers from local churches. But they were hungry, and ashamed to be hungry.
"I found their plight more shocking. It was less serious, but it was here.""I found their plight more shocking. It was less serious, but it was here."
'Intense political debate''Intense political debate'
The parliamentary report is also expected to call for bigger food banks to distribute more free food and advise people on how to claim benefits, a rise in the minimum wage, and the provision of free school meals during school holidays for children from poor families.The parliamentary report is also expected to call for bigger food banks to distribute more free food and advise people on how to claim benefits, a rise in the minimum wage, and the provision of free school meals during school holidays for children from poor families.
It is the work of an all-party parliamentary inquiry into hunger and food poverty, led by the Labour MP Frank Field and the Bishop of Truro, Tim Thornton.It is the work of an all-party parliamentary inquiry into hunger and food poverty, led by the Labour MP Frank Field and the Bishop of Truro, Tim Thornton.
The archbishop said the report makes practical recommendations that should be seized on by politicians and charities alike, seeking to bring people together from churches, food banks, and the food industry as well as government.The archbishop said the report makes practical recommendations that should be seized on by politicians and charities alike, seeking to bring people together from churches, food banks, and the food industry as well as government.
He called for reforms that would allow food companies to pass on goods they could no longer sell.He called for reforms that would allow food companies to pass on goods they could no longer sell.
The Mail on Sunday estimated that the cost of carrying out the report's reforms would be about £150m, if not more.The Mail on Sunday estimated that the cost of carrying out the report's reforms would be about £150m, if not more.
The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the archbishop's comments were "likely to add fuel to the already intense political debate over welfare and poverty".The BBC's religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the archbishop's comments were "likely to add fuel to the already intense political debate over welfare and poverty".
Earlier this year charities that operate food banks blamed the government's economic policies for the rapid spread of food banks in the UK.Earlier this year charities that operate food banks blamed the government's economic policies for the rapid spread of food banks in the UK.
And in February ministers were accused of "taking food from the mouths of children" by Labour MEP Richard Howitt, after the government blocked millions of pounds of EU funding which had been ascribed for UK food bank use.And in February ministers were accused of "taking food from the mouths of children" by Labour MEP Richard Howitt, after the government blocked millions of pounds of EU funding which had been ascribed for UK food bank use.
The Department of Work and Pensions said at the time that the UK was not losing any funding, and the money would be put into other projects.The Department of Work and Pensions said at the time that the UK was not losing any funding, and the money would be put into other projects.
Do you work for a food bank or have you made use of one? Do you agree with the Archbishop of Canterbury? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number.
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