Welsh Secretary challenged over ‘vicious cycle’ of food poverty in Wales
Welsh Secretary David TC Davis has been challenged over the ‘vicious cycle’ of food poverty in Wales during a debate in Westminster.
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts urged the Secretary of State to “stake his support for the Union on its ability to eradicate food poverty.”
According to recent figures from the Trussell Trust, 20% of all adults in Wales (or their households) have experienced food insecurity in the 12 months to mid-2022. This equates to an estimated 753,000 people in Wales.
This means that at some point over this period, they have run out of food and been unable to afford more, and/or reduced meal size, eaten less, gone hungry or lost weight due to lack of money.
This is higher than the proportion of people experiencing food insecurity across the UK which stands at 14%.
In addition, there is a significant evidence base describing the complex and cyclical relationship between poverty and disability and ill health.
Long-term health conditions are more prevalent amongst households with lower levels of income.
Hunger
“One in five people in Wales are facing hunger. On the NHS’ 75th birthday – we must break the vicious cycle where poverty fuels hunger, and consequently, poor health,” Ms Saville Roberts said.
“As he’s a staunch believer in the power of the Union, I would like to pose a challenge:
“Would he be willing to stake his support for this Union on its ability to eradicate food poverty in Wales by the end of the Tories’ time in office?”
In response, David TC Davies said that his support for the Union is “absolute” and criticised the Welsh Government’s plan to “ban” meal deals, referring to planned clampdowns on unhealthy meal deals and supermarket temporary price reductions for foods high in fat, sugar or salt.
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They can’t do it can they, just be nice for a whole sentence…
The position of Welsh Secretary should be scrapped once and for all., and his powers should go to the First Minister. It is not a democratic position when he is accountable to London and not the people of Wales.
The only way we are going to claw our way out of poverty is through independence. Granted it won’t be easy but if we stay in the Union – ending poverty in Cymru will not happen at all.
We have the situation where Englishman David TC Davies as Welsh Secretary is actively undermining not only our Senedd Cymru but Wales itself with his malicious intent. The post of Welsh Secretary & Welsh Office should be abolished, and the once cost of this Westminster white elephant be added to our Welsh block so we can spend the money on much worthier causes. Wales under unionism have endured perpetual austerity. And it didn’t help when over £125 million of our vital block funding was sent back to the English treasury because he & they deemed the money had not been… Read more »
Poverty is Poverty, Food, Fuel, Homelessness! it’s time to stop pidgin holing Poverty!
Feed the people and you Feed them for Life! Give the people the tools and they’ll feed themselves! £3M given by WAG to City and County of Swansea to change the ’30 mph to 20 mph sign posts’. Where’s the priority? Tories, Labour joined at the hip by Plaid Cymru, same old, same old, spiralling down the poverty shute! Time for change.