Perthshire politicians have panned rivals responsible for the roll-out of a new benefit system they blame for yet another rise in the number of people being referred to food banks for emergency rations.
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said he was “sadly not surprised” to learn an average of over a dozen people had to ask a food bank in Perth and Kinross for a parcel every single day in 2018/19.
He revealed his office had seen a “huge rise” in the number of people complaining about how long it was taking to receive benefit payments.
And Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Roseanna Cunningham laid the blame for this firmly at the door of the UK Government, claiming Universal Credit - which has replaced six separate benefits with a single monthly payment - has been a “disaster” for people dependent on benefits and forced them to wait weeks for their claims to come through.
The criticism comes after it emerged at least 5190 people - including 1431 children - had been referred to food banks in Perth and Kinross to pick up a three-day supply in 2018/19.
The figures were published the same week it emerged around 4100 people are now receiving Universal Credit locally and a UK Government minister claimed the new benefit system was “a force for good”.
Mr Wishart told the PA: “I am saddened to hear of a further rise in the number of food bank referrals across the country but I am sadly not surprised.
“My office has been dealing with a huge rise in complaints about Universal Credit and for some people there has been a significant delay in receiving payment.
“In some instances my office has had to refer people to the food bank because of the Department of Work and Pension’s intransigence over how they are implementing Universal Credit.
“If anyone is experiencing difficulties with their Universal Credit application, my office is more than happy to do what we can to assist.”
Ms Cunningham added: “The botched roll-out of Universal Credit has been a disaster, driving people into poverty and forcing families to rely on food banks.
“In a country as wealthy as ours, it is absolutely unacceptable that emergency parcels and food banks have become so commonplace – and we know, beyond any doubt, that Tory policies are to blame.
“Those who give so freely of their time and energy to run local food banks, and all those who donate, do a great deal of good. The great shame is that they are needed - and increasingly so.
“The disastrous Tory record on welfare shows why Scotland should have the power to take our own approach – rather than leaving these powers at Westminster.”
However the UK Government’s minister for welfare delivery Will Quince said the same week: “Universal Credit is a force for good, providing vital support across the length and breadth of Scotland and helping people into work.
“Universal Credit provides a vital safety net to millions, preventing families from falling through the cracks.
“We continue to make improvements – in the last month alone we have increased childcare support, announced new funding to help veterans and their families, and brought in new measures to crack down on fraudsters.”
