Church Action on Poverty and Oxfam have called for a parliamentary inquiry into the rise of food poverty in the UK. The two charities say that more than half a million people in the UK are hungry and reliant on food aid, with many turning to food banks. Changes to welfare and delays, errors or sanctions regarding the payment of benefits are two areas they want the inquiry to look into. In a joint report, Walking the Breadline, the two charities say the most common reason for people approaching food banks is the changes to crisis loan eligibility rules, delays in payments, Jobseeker's Allowance sanctions, and sickness benefit reassessments. Other contributing factors identified in the report are unemployment, the rising cost of food and fuel, and low and falling incomes. Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring said: "The shocking reality is that hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are also now reliant on food aid.

Pray: for all those who face food poverty and for the organisations that support them. Pray also for the government to agree to a parliamentary inquiry. (1Jn.3:17)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/charities.want.parliamentary.inquiry.into.uk.food.poverty/32616.htm