SNP MARK DAY FOUR OF CHALLENGE POVERTY WEEK WITH FOCUS ON FOOD
On day four of Challenge Poverty Week, SNP MSP Rona Mackay has highlighted the difference that the SNP Government’s Best Start Foods payment has made in alleviating food poverty in East Dunbartonshire, with £517,266 worth of payments being issued since 2019.
The payment is made to a pre-paid card every four weeks to eligible pregnant women, their partners or families, to help pay for healthy food until their child is 3 years old – ensuring that all children in Scotland can have the best start in life.
This cash-first approach, which puts money directly into the pockets of young families, has been commended by the Trussell Trust, the UK’s leading foodbank charity, who argue that direct cash payments are the most dignified and sustainable way to support people struggling to afford food.
Over £57 million worth of Best Start Foods payments have been issued across Scotland since 2019.
Commenting, SNP MSP Rona Mackay said: “The prevalence of foodbanks across Scotland is simply unacceptable – but for as long as people struggle to afford food in Scotland, largely due to further Westminster austerity, it is absolutely right that the Scottish Government should issue these payments.
“The Best Start Foods payment is making a substantial difference to the lives of young families here in East Dunbartonshire with worth of payments being made since 2019 - and ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, can have the best start in life with access to good quality, healthy food.
“It’s for this reason that the SNP Scottish Government’s cash-first approach has been commended by charities including the Trussell Trust as the best way to ensure dignity and sustainability to young families reliant on additional support to secure food is to give them the power to make their own spending decisions.”
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