Food poverty must be addressed

Scottish Labour has revealed that the number of food parcels delivered in Edinburgh has risen by 89% since 2018, with an even higher rise in the number of parcels given to children.

Between 1 April and 30 September 2023 16,038 parcels were distributed in Edinburgh and 4,250 in West Lothian.

Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, has raised concerns about this level of foodbank use and says that more urgency is needed to tackle food poverty in Edinburgh, Lothian and the rest of Scotland.

Mr Choudhury, alongside Scottish Labour, have raised concerns that the Scottish Government recently delayed the implementation of the Good Food Nations Act by half a year. Scottish Labour also says the Scottish Government has repeatedly failed to set out a timeline for enshrining a legal Right to Food in Scots law – something Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is pursuing in a Member’s Bill. 

Mr Choudhury said: “The levels of food poverty in Scotland are scandalous and The Scottish Government must act urgently.

“We should not have people in Scotland going hungry, cutting back, choosing between heating and eating or relying on foodbanks.

“I have met with so many brilliant organisations who work tirelessly to support those in food poverty-organisations like Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts and The Larder.

“However, they shouldn’t have to fill the gap where legislation and political leadership should be.

“We need real leadership from both of our governments – but the Tories and the SNP are both missing in action.

“The Lothian region deserves better than these two failing and out-of-touch governments – we need action at every level to tackle this shameful food poverty crisis and enshrine in law a legal Right to Food.”