Rhoda Grant MSP Reacts To New Figures On Food Bank Use

16th May 2024

Newly published statistics have shown that in the past year, 262,400 emergency food parcels were given out by food banks in Scotland through the Trussell Trust network.

From April of last year until March 2024, 86,000 food parcels were distributed to families with children, and overall food bank use remains close to record levels from the previous year. 52,700 people in Scotland used a Trussell Trust food bank for the first time.

The number of parcels for pension age households compared to the previous year has seen a 22% increase.

Highland and Islands Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant stated: "The number of people having to use foodbanks remains almost as high as record levels from last year. Over 50,000 people used a foodbank for the first time, this is higher than the population of Inverness. This shows the desperate need for intervention.

I have written to the Government to demand what action they will take on these damning figures."

Rhoda Grant MSP, currently has a Private Member's Bill working its way through Parliament that will tackle the growing use of food banks. The proposed Right to Food (Scotland) Bill will give every person in Scotland the legal right to access a suitable quality and quantity of food.

Mrs Grant stated "I am committed to enshrining a legal right to food in Scots law. People should not have to rely upon food banks in 2024. Scotland needs change, more of the same is unacceptable."

Reacting to the Trussell Trust publication, Scottish Labour Social Justice spokesperson Paul O'Kane said "These heart-breaking figures lay bare the true cost of our two governments' failure. It is a disgrace that so many Scots are struggling to put food on the table, as Scotland struggles to meet its child poverty reduction targets after years of SNP inaction.

John Swinney has pledged to make tackling child poverty a priority - but as Finance Secretary he slashed funding for Councils doing vital work to prevent food poverty."

www.trusselltrust.org

Trussell Trust Fact Sheet on Scotland