NI’s soaring food parcel increase shows people faring worse here than GB

Independent County Derry MLA Claire Sugden has said the increase in food parcels being delivered to people in Northern Ireland is yet more evidence that people here are suffering worse from the cost of living crisis than the rest of the UK.

Nearly 40,000 emergency parcels were distributed by Northern Ireland’s food bank network between April and September, which is a rise of 23 per cent – higher than England, Scotland or Wales. Ms Sugden said people here were suffering from a range of extra pressures.

“People in Northern Ireland are clearly finding themselves worse off than those in Great Britain, and this report from the Trussell Trust seems to confirm it,” said the East Derry MLA.

“Our government budget has been slashed, with many of the social safety nets and support systems either being slashed or scrapped completely.

“The Holiday Hunger Scheme, for instance, is just one example of a programme that would have helped households with school-age children receiving free school meals ensure they had food to eat over the holidays. But this is just one of the many schemes that have been scrapped.

“The vast majority of our public service workers have also not received the same pay rises as those in the rest of the UK. It is common for these workers – and others in work – to have to rely on foodbanks.

“No-one should have to rely on food-banks in Northern Ireland in 2023, but the fact that those who work are unable to even put food on the table is a damning indictment of the situation here at the moment.

“We need a government and we need a budget that reflects the needs of the country.”