FOODBANK use has continued to rise, with campaigners blaming the controversial rollout of Universal Credit.

New figures released by the Trussell Trust show the number of three-day emergency food parcels handed out to local people between April 2018 and March 2019 has rocketed compared to the previous year.

In Renfrewshire, a total of 10,221 parcels were handed out during that period, with 2,824 of these going to children.

That represents an increase of 18 per cent compared to the previous year, when 8,681 parcels were handed out.

In East Renfrewshire, there were 4,228 three-day emergency parcels distributed between April 2018 and March 2019, including 1,526 that went to children.

This was a year-on-year rise of 662, which is equivalent to 15 per cent.

The worrying increase has led to calls from politicians and campaigners for changes to be made to the benefits system in order to protect people from poverty.

The Gazette: Elizabeth Alexander Elizabeth Alexander

Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur, whose constituency includes towns such as Johnstone, Linwood, Barrhead and Neilston, where a growing number of families have had to turn to a foodbank for support, said the rollout of Universal Credit (UC) has been “a disaster.”

He added: “It has driven people into poverty and forced families to rely on foodbanks.

“In a country as wealthy as ours, it’s unacceptable that emergency parcels and foodbanks have become so commonplace.”

Elizabeth Alexander, manager of Renfrewshire Foodbank, wants to see an end to local people needing emergency food.

She said: “No-one should need a foodbank’s help. It doesn’t have to be this way – our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty.

“Universal Credit should be part of the solution but, currently, the five-week wait is leaving many without enough money to cover the basics. This isn’t right.

“Until we reach a future where foodbanks are no longer needed, we’ll continue to provide vital support when it matters most.”

Universal Credit came into effect in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire in September last year.

Stan Esson, warehouse manager at East Renfrewshire Foodbank, said: “We had no idea that, when we started the foodbank six years ago, our busiest year was still to come.

“We are getting new clients now who have been moved onto Universal Credit and anyone with a modicum of common sense knows the system isn’t working.

“Unfortunately, we don’t see it getting better anytime soon.”

However, a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it is “not true” that people need to wait five weeks for their first payment.

He added: “Universal Credit is available to claimants on day one. It also cannot be claimed that Universal Credit is driving the overall use of foodbanks or that benefit changes and delays are driving growth.

The Gazette: Stan Esson Stan Esson

“The Trust’s own analysis shows a substantial fall in the share of parcels being issued due to benefit payment delays.

“The best route out of poverty is to help people into sustainable employment which, with record employment, we are doing.

“For those who need a safety net, we have invested £10billion into Universal Credit since 2016 alone, confirmed the benefits freeze will end next year and made changes to make Universal Credit fairer for women and families.”