Debate contribution: Emergency Food Parcels for Children

Debate contribution by Mr Maurice Bradley on 27 January 2025.

MLA

Mr Maurice Bradley

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 4759248

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I also rise to highlight the critical issue of child poverty and the growing reliance on emergency food provision in Northern Ireland. It is a matter of moral and social urgency that demands our immediate attention. Recent statistics underscore the stark reality: child poverty remains alarmingly high, with many families trapped in a cycle of financial insecurity, exacerbated by rising living costs and inadequate welfare support. That financial strain directly impacts on children's nutrition, education and overall well-being, perpetuating intergenerational poverty. Added to that, the impact on business and employees of the worst UK Government on record has exacerbated poverty for the least well-off in society. Emergency food banks have become a lifeline for many. However, the reliance on this support is a symptom of systemic failings. In the past year, a significant percentage of universal credit recipients reported running out of food in the previous month, reflecting insufficient benefit levels to meet basic needs. The last child poverty strategy failed — and failed miserably. Therefore, there cannot be another rush job. Any new strategy must have a time frame and a measurable outcome. In other words, let us not have a strategy for the sake of a strategy and then forget about it. When the new anti-poverty strategy is agreed, it must be revisited annually against set targets to make sure that it evolves as society evolves to ensure success and future-proofing. Measures that may help include raising universal credit rates to reflect actual living costs, ensuring that families have enough for basic needs; implementing comprehensive child poverty reduction plans, with measurable goals and timelines; looking at increased funding for local organisations addressing poverty, such as food banks, housing assistance and employment training programmes; and expanding eligibility and streamlining application processes to avoid barriers. Vineyard Compassion, Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church, Building Ballysally Together, Millburn community cafe and other faith-based and community organisations in my constituency work with supermarkets tirelessly in their community. I am sure that the rest of Northern Ireland has similar community-based work programmes. Some Members raised very important issues. Colm Gildernew stated that food insecurity was unacceptable in 2025. He also talked about the 143% rise in the use of food banks. Andy Allen highlighted the grim reality of the past five years and called for more to help families in need to support their rights. He praised the many organisations that are helping to address the growing need. Mark Durkan said that 190,000 children in Northern Ireland are in child poverty. He also highlighted the despicable rise in loan shark activity, which further exacerbates poverty. Ciara Ferguson talked about some of the harsh choices that people have to make and how they are trapped in poverty by making decisions that can border on the illegal. She also called for a review of housing and for a multi-agency response across the Executive. Kate Nicholl gave a comprehensive review of the timeline that led to the current situation and reminded us that it is children who are suffering most. Danny Baker highlighted the cost of living, which affects thousands across Northern Ireland. Timothy Gaston asked for councils, when increasing rates, to take note of the effect that the rate burden has on the cost of living for their constituents. I have highlighted some of the salient issues that have been raised here today. Although I support the motion, I recommend the DUP amendment to the House.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:51 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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