Unite union calls for parliamentary debate on rocketing foodbank usage

[joe_bloggs*]

Unite, the country’s biggest union, is leading calls for a parliamentary debate into UK hunger, as foodbanks brace themselves to feed 60,000 people this Christmas.

In backing calls for an urgent parliamentary debate on the threefold growth in foodbank usage over the past year, the union accused the government of “turbocharging inequality in Britain”, by concentrating on the interests of bankers, over people forced to use foodbanks

.

The petition, which has been proposed by Jack Monroe, writer and former foodbank user, is calling for an urgent parliamentary debate into UK hunger and the growing use of foodbanks.  It has also been supported by The Mirror and The Trussell Trust.  The petition is hosted by Change.Org, which provided the platform for successful campaigns, including ‘Keep women on English banknotes’.

The union’s call follows the launch of Unite’s Christmas fundraising appeal to support The Trussell Trust foodbank network.  The union pledged to help the charity feed a record number of people over the festive period and has already received thousands of pounds in donations from members across the country.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “This government is turbocharging inequality in Britain.  It is a disgrace that in the world’s seventh richest country, foodbanks will have to feed 60,000 people this Christmas and fed over 345,000 people, between April and September this year. 

“Cabinet ministers have been turning their back on our cost of living crisis.  While hundreds of thousands of families go without food, they have been cozying up to bankers, who are set for another year of bumper bonuses. 

“It’s time that the government faced up to the crisis it is causing.  That’s why we are calling for a proper debate on the explosion in demand for foodbanks and followed up with real action. 

“We are proud that Unite members are coming together this year to raise money that will help feed kids in their communities, but we all know that this shouldn’t be the preserve of charity and goodwill.  The government is failing in its most basic duty to its citizens and must address food poverty without delay.”

ENDS

Petition:  http://www.change.org/petitions/parliament-debate-uk-hunger-and-rise-in-foodbank-use-jackspetition

[upthecreekyetagain]

Lola - you have some nerve to call my post patronising and then moan about the use of a red font - lol

Is that colour better?

"I did read what was written and I still think it was patronising and insensitive"

I think you are most likely in a group of one on that!

Mind you I can read Italian but that doesn't mean I understand it

[al**bear]

It's OK

Osborne is riding to the rescue today

No wait , he's cutting another £1bil off the welfare budget

=============

Also looks like He'll be forcing Working  People to work until they are 70

Don't talk about People living longer, because a large % of male workers still die before or just after the retirement age of 65, in the ex-Indusrial areas of the UK.

[bankhaunter]

What of the tons of fresh food that is ploughed back into the ground or the billions of pounds worth of food that is dumped because it is beyond its best before date - the fresh food that can't be sold by supermarkets because it is a funny shape or has blemishes - food in damaged packaging.

I know about ploughing food back into the ground and other food that's dumped, when young I saw the ploughing taking place whenever a crop could not be economically harvested, food waste is not a recent problem and I know of, for example, tons of mince pies being dumped for no other reason than the alcoholic content was too high.

However the answer is to reduce the waste rather than convert it into special food for the poor, the cost of doing so would probably render it pointless in many cases.

Tesco said that, where possible, if food could not be sold it was either donated to poverty charity FareShare, converted into animal feed for livestock, or was recycled into renewable fuel.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24603008

The figures are massive, yet when a tiny proportion of it is used for a good cause some decry this use as a disgrace!

The disgrace would be a devisive situation where there were special shops selling cheap food where only the low incomed could buy and that became generally acceptable.

[*.*..lola..*.*]

"WE DID IT!! Food Banks will be the Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons on 18th December."

https://www.facebook.com/agirlcalledjack

[lost.parrot]

A poster still around, used to say that although he claimed he never voted for the *** party lets call it, why would you not vote for that party, since if you didn't your daughter would end up sold into some terrible slavery rather than be safe and warm with the ***, and he went on for about 20 posts or so in the same manner.Thats whats called a loaded question. The idea that only the use of foodbanks or the like will release this supposed treasure trove of wasted food, is not that far removed from the above.You are conflating two issues to achieve one desire

Non perfect and damaged produce gets sold all the time often on markets and similar btw.
Food banks from my understanding, largely work with donated products, which are still of saleable quality.

A subsidy via the taxpayer?.....you could increase tax on landfill disposal or have food dumping quotas/ban imposed if you believe that was an issue,? supermarkets get quite a bit of subsidy via non means tested cheap labour as it is
The requirements being implemented currently are that food waste is not taken to landfill, but recycled by councils, some may have a  small food waste bin already.

Waste happens in all areas, sometimes as said, because it is economically not viable to recover.Im not convinced food production is some unique example of how the private sector- so often cited as uniquely efficient- is somehow now so vastly inefficient.

Some products like composite compressed meat are just small cuttings which would otherwise be waste recycled into products, others go to animal feed, even bones get sold as dog treats.

I don't think this has much to do with waste, meeting needs, or anything else other than some inate desire to have welfare delivered in non cash terms, to meet some almost religious-like compulsion, and everything else is subservient to that desire

No I doubt Dacre's Butler would be seen at either,I believe Dacre has his own estate for hunting, but then the issue was about humiliation and choice, that was merely an illustration.The choice such that it isnt in foodbanks, is either that, or starve. Saying it shouldn't be humiliating because you may or may not believe it ought to be the case, is not dealing with the issue. For now and for the foreseeable future it will be, and that was why the example was given. More importantly, what one sector may support albeit with good intentions sometimes, another in the form of government may sense an area to withdraw from when its looking to save money to give away at share issues.

I think foodbanks appeal to some the same way as the poor law and workhouses appealed to others.Long term they are more punishment than solution. Therein for some, is the appeal

14.13 05/12/13

[*.*..lola..*.*]

It seems your suggestion is already up and running, Creeky... partially at least:

Britain's first 'social supermarket' will open today. The Barnsley store will offer cut price groceries to those on the cusp of food poverty. The shop will be open to members who live in certain postcodes and are in receipt of welfare support.

http://www.itv.com/news/story/2013-12-09/britains-first-social-supermarket-to-open-its-doors-in-barn...