Debate contribution: Emergency Food Parcels for Children

Debate contribution by Mr Brian Kingston on 27 January 2025.

MLA

Mr Brian Kingston

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

27 January 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Emergency Food Parcels for Children

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4758835

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Alliance Party for tabling the motion on this important matter, and I hope that the Assembly will accept our amendment, which captures current progress on the updated anti-poverty strategy. The Democratic Unionist Party continues to stand by families across Northern Ireland, many of whom are feeling the financial squeeze, with soaring costs for basic goods such as food and utilities. That is evidenced by the stark statistics provided by the Trussell Trust. There has been a 143% increase in emergency parcels distributed over the past five years. In 2023-24, almost 61,000 parcels were distributed for children. Those of us who interact with the public in our constituency offices see all too often, sadly, the daily struggles that people face. In many cases, that need for support is being met by community, voluntary and faith-based groups, which do amazing work in our communities. Childcare is one example of a financial burden for working families. The DUP designed a subsidy scheme and slashed childcare bills by 15%, saving working parents up to £160 per month. That is DUP delivery. In under four months, £4 million has been issued in support of families with young children. We have seen the successful roll-out of the social supermarket scheme. That was co-designed with councils to assist those facing food poverty. The social supermarket provides wrap-around services to help address the underlying issues contributing to a household's financial position. The models evolve and develop in recognition of level of need and the geographic area. DUP elected representatives got involved in politics because they care about this place. We care about its people, and we want to see Northern Ireland thriving. We have a strong record of delivery for working people, and we are committed to ensuring that each child gets the best start in life. Since taking up the role of Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons and his officials have been working with other Departments to learn from the actions and the failings of previous leadership in this area. The Public Accounts Committee report on child poverty in Northern Ireland reported that the delivery of the last child poverty strategy was characterised by failure. The report found that there was a failure to take ownership, to implement effective monitoring arrangements and to engage with children and the community and voluntary sector and that the strategy failed to turn the curve and reduce child poverty. The DUP is ready to lead a step change in approach. Tackling poverty, including child poverty, is a cross-cutting issue and, therefore, an Executive-wide responsibility. However, that should be a catalyst for good and for real change, not for paralysis and inaction, as has often been the case. We all know the importance of getting a new anti-poverty strategy right. The challenge that poverty presents to households across Northern Ireland is huge. There is a heavy burden on many hard-working people who are struggling to make ends meet. Almost one in four children now lives in relative poverty. Around 9% of children in Northern Ireland live in low-income households that cannot afford basic goods and essential activities. There is a clear challenge ahead. The economic uncertainty coming from the Labour Budget is unsettling for many, especially those on lower incomes, with fear of job losses to come due to the impact of National Insurance changes on business. There are many aspects to poverty, including housing, health and education. It is really important to help people to get into work. That is one of the greatest barriers that people face to getting out of poverty. The Labour Party's policies will not help to grow the economy or alleviate poverty. The Communities Minister has been working alongside a range of stakeholders, experts and service providers on the development of an overarching anti-poverty strategy to address the risks and impacts of poverty, including child poverty. Given the criticism that:

"the Department appeared to be too far removed from children and families experiencing poverty",

it is vital that the new strategy go out for public consultation and people have their say. That is the purpose of our amendment. A strategy could be quickly developed and published, but what would the outcome be, if we did not take the time to learn from the past? How would that serve the people whom we are here to represent? The report laid bare the fact that we must focus on tangible delivery. We, as an Assembly, cannot have strategies and schemes that are simply words on a page; real progress must be made. I commend the amendment to the Assembly.

769 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:46 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification