More than 8,000 emergency food parcels were given to local people in the last year, the Hamilton District Foodbank has revealed.

Between April 2018 and March 2019, 8,013 emergency food parcels were provided to local people with over 2,700 going to children.

The local foodbank’s figures feed into a larger national picture with a record increase in foodbank use across the UK reported today by the Trussell Trust.

The charity believes the local increase is due to people struggling with continued issues with benefit payments; issues with Universal Credit such as the five-week wait and insecure work.

Commenting on the shocking figures, Angela Crawley MP said:

“The UK is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, yet more and more people are joining the queue at the foodbank door.

“That is the stark reality of Tory Government – thousands of children relying on charity to feed themselves.

“What is more is they have shown that they are not willing to change and Universal Credit – with all its problems – is here to stay.

“It is time Scotland had the chance to pursue a different path and build a social security system with fairness at its heart.”