Food poverty ‘disgrace’

Oldham Council Cabinet

MORE than one in 10 Oldhamers are in food poverty, according to the Welfare Reform Dashboard.

Councillors at last night’s cabinet meeting said the disgraceful situation was one of the major challenges facing the borough. Over 24,500 Oldhamers are in food poverty - 10.7 per cent of the population. Around 4,600 people, almost a third of them children, relied on handouts from Oldham food bank last year.

Council leader Jim McMahon said: “I don’t know what the answer is today, never mind next year as we face further cuts imposed by the Conservative Government.

“Some of these people who are forced to use food banks are in work, struggling to make ends meet. It is shocking, something we shouldn’t be discussing in the 21st century.”

The Cabinet encouraged people to get in touch with welfare advisers at the council who can ensure people are claiming the benefits they are entitled to.