MP's Debate - Food Poverty Creating a 'Hidden Country'

Food poverty is creating 'hidden country' that is being ignored by the Government, MPs claim

Food poverty is creating a “hidden country” that is being ignored by the Coalition government, MPs have claimed, reporting shocking cases of fights breaking out over discount vegetables in Tesco and cancer patients forced to use food banks because of a lack of Government support.

Speaking as MPs debated the causes behind a huge increase in food bank use since the recession, Labour MP Fiona McTaggart reported that hungry people in her Slough constituency were now “fighting each other in Tesco” when discount fruit and vegetables are made available at the end of the day.

Ms McTaggart told The Independent that, according to a constituent, “a mad rush” for discounts in a town centre Tesco supermarket had become commonplace, and on three occasions had led to fights. She said that the store was now putting on extra security to avoid violence.

Tesco confirmed that its reduced to clear offers were “really popular” and said it made sure staff were on hand “to ensure all our customers can shop safely” during busy periods.

Labour MP for Copeland and shadow health minister Jamie Reed said that in his constituency, cancer patients were among those forced to use food banks. He said that the rise in the need for emergency food hand-outs was a consequence of complex set of factors that included government policy such as welfare cuts.

“I want to say these are isolated cases, but they are not,” he said. “The very poorest are paying the price for the government's policies…There is a hidden country unseen by this government, dismissed by this PM and it shames them both. Millions of people live in quiet crisis.”

However, employment minster Esther McVey claimed that more people were having to “balance household budgets” because Labour had “ruined the economy” while in office, and said that food banks were a positive sign of “the community coming together to support one another”.

Ms McVey left the chamber for part of the debate, along with the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, who did not speak. The Secertary of State for the Department Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Owen Paterson, did not attend the debate, despite Labour calls for his department to publish a report into the rise of food banks, which has been held back since June.

The number of people forced to use food banks has increased dramatically since the recession. More than 500,000 people received emergency food hand-outs in the past year, with charities blaming the rising cost of living, cuts to welfare, benefit delays and food price inflation.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/food-poverty-is-creating-hidden-country-that-is-being-ignored-by-the-government-mps-claim-9013917.html

That is disgraceful and shows their utter contempt for people they have put in this situation.

The Secertary of State for the Department Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Owen Paterson, did not attend the debate,

Says it all really.

NemsAgain wrote:The Secertary of State for the Department Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Owen Paterson, did not attend the debate,

Says it all really.

It does and so does McVey leaving for part of the debate and Duncan Smith saying nothing. He probably fell asleep through boredom at needing to show face.

What a bunch of chancers they are.

It's all been said, on Newsfix.

The real debate is by the people and Parliament has listened.

BigAndy9 wrote:It's all been said, on Newsfix.

The real debate is by the people and Parliament has listened.

This is the place Andy. The place where people have all the answers to the ills of the whole world.

  

Irn Bru wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:It's all been said, on Newsfix.

The real debate is by the people and Parliament has listened.

This is the place Andy. The place where people have all the answers to the ills of the whole world.

  

The right and wrong answers will come up in houses across the UK every day, the question is have we elected the people who will pick the right answers, are they brave enough to implement the right answers, are they corrupt and will they go for the answers that benefit themselves?

BigAndy9 wrote:

Irn Bru wrote:

This is the place Andy. The place where people have all the answers to the ills of the whole world.

  

The right and wrong answers will come up in houses across the UK every day, the question is have we elected the people who will pick the right answers, are they brave enough to implement the right answers, are they corrupt and will they go for the answers that benefit themselves?

That's a very good subject for a new thread Andy. Go for it buddy.