Britain's hunger crisis: One MILLION food parcels handed out despite UK having sixth richest economy

Andrew James/ South Wales Echo

Volunteer Lesley Payne stacking tins at the Coastland Family Church foodbank in Barry

Shock report reveals 330,000 food parcels handed out went to hungry children in this country yet we have more millionaires than ever

Campaigners last night demanded David Cameron scrap his savage welfare reforms after the number of emergency food parcels handed out soared to more than a million.
Furious anti-poverty groups and church leaders said it was beyond belief that people in 21st century Britain are going hungry and relying on charity.
The number of food parcels given out last year by the Trussell Trust alone nearly tripled from 346,992 to 913,138. And 330,205 of those went to children.
Another 182,000 are being donated each year by just 45 independent food banks, according to a recent survey.
Campaigners say the shocking ­statistics shatter the PM’s twisted boast that his welfare reforms are a “moral mission” giving hope to the poor.
Benefits cuts and delays, the rising cost of living and pay freezes are forcing more and more people into food banks, experts have long warned. One, on Merseyside, is handing out rations at the alarming rate of one every nine minutes.
Legal experts even claim Mr Cameron is breaching human rights laws by allowing people to go hungry.
And Trussell Trust chief Chris Mould said the growing queues at food banks is proof the economic recovery Chancellor George Osborne brags of is still not affecting those on the breadline.
He added: “It’s close to triple the numbers helped last year, shocking in 21st century Britain. But perhaps most worrying of all is this figure is just the tip of the iceberg of UK food poverty.
“It doesn’t include those helped by other emergency food providers, those in towns where there is no food bank, people too ashamed to seek help or the large number who are only just coping by eating less and buying cheap food.
“In the last year we’ve seen things get worse, rather than better, for many people on low incomes. It’s been extremely tough for a lot of people, with parents not eating properly in order to feed their children and more people than ever experiencing unfair and harsh benefits sanctions.
“Unless there is determined policy action to ensure the benefits of national economic recovery reach people on low incomes we won’t see life get better for the poorest anytime soon.”
More than four out of five food banks insist the rising queues are down to harsh, ideologically-driven welfare cuts.
Mr Mould added: “A more thoughtful approach to the benefits regime and sanctions in particular, increasing the minimum wage, introducing the living wage and looking at other measures such as social tariffs for energy would help to address the problem of UK hunger.”
The true total of emergency handouts could be much higher because the ­Trussell Trust runs less than half of the 1,000-plus food banks in the UK.
But last night the Department for Work and Pensions stubbornly refused to admit there was a problem. A spokesman said: “The OECD say there are fewer people struggling with food bills compared with a few years ago and benefits processing times are improving.”
But Shadow Environment Secretary Maria Eagle declared: “The increase in the number of households turning to food banks reveals the shocking truth of life under Cameron’s cost-of-living crisis.
“While those at the very top get a tax break everyone else is finding life is harder under the Tories. Instead of hiding behind the Tory myth, that says the increase in food banks is driving demand, it is time ministers got a grip and took this issue ­seriously.”
Legal advice produced for the Just Fair coalition of charities claims the food poverty scandal breaks the ­International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Article 11(2) ­guarantees the ­fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger.

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Questions to be asked: Prime Minister David Cameron

Just Fair said: “It is our opinion that the UK has violated the human right to food an breached international law.
“We call on the ­Government to take immediate action.” Merseyside, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Tyne and Wear have the highest numbers using food banks.
The depressing figures have reignited Mr Cameron’s war with the church after he claimed last week he was doing God’s work on earth. More than 40 bishops and 600 faith leaders have signed a second letter to the PM calling for action on poverty. It follows one 27 church chiefs recently sent to the Mirror condemning his welfare cuts.
Today’s letter to the PM and his deputy Nick Clegg from church chiefs demands an independent inquiry into the scandal of food banks. It is the biggest religious intervention of modern times.
The End Hunger Fast campaign is behind the call. The group’s Keith Hebden said: “The Government ignores this call at its peril. I have never seen religious leaders so united on an issue and I hope our words and prayers reach the ears of politicians who have the power to act.”
The Right Reverend John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford, added: “Being hungry is one of the most miserable experiences and being hungry day after day, month after month, with all its consequences of illness, must be desperate.”
People cannot just walk into food banks and get handouts. They have to be referred by a doctor, social worker or other professional.
The row threatens to overshadow new figures out today the Tories hope will show the squeeze on wages is easing.
Mirror readers triggered a food bank debate in the Commons last year after more than 140,000 signed our petition.