An Awful Stain on Our Society

Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh has said it would be an awful stain on the island if residents have to continue to rely on the Foodbank.

Mr Wannenburgh was speaking during a sitting of the Economic Policy Review Committee.

The MHK had asked the Chief Minister Alf Cannan about he called the ‘wolf at the door’ of people having to choose between heating and eating and whether his administration had plans to try and address these inequalities that would enable the food bank to close.

Mr Cannan said: ‘I think it is very difficult to quantify individual reasons for the Foodbank and eliminating poverty is a big ask. I think we are setting out to improve the lives of people on the island, particularly those who are classed as more vulnerable.

‘There are various mechanisms for us to do that, for example minimum wage increases, the availability of housing stock, the pricing of housing stock, shelter for individuals who are homeless. I think the Foodbank, as a charitable structure and organisation, yes it would be great to say that nobody should go to a food bank, but I’m not quite clear how realistic that is.

‘The commitment is that we must deal, as much as we possibly can, with the structures that we have got to improve everybody’s lives and to give everybody as much opportunity as possible to improve their lives and to protect those who in our society are most vulnerable and have the most limiting opportunities.’

Mr Wannenburgh said he recognised attempts by the gov to help those who need it most. But added: ‘It would be an awful stain on our society if we were to have, for eternity, a food bank. I think we need to keep that in mind. It would be a wonderful tribute to the Island Plan if that was gone in five years time and I know you don’t have that all in your power, but you can count on my support and I think everybody’s if you can try to address that.’