The Employment minister Priti Patel told the House of Commons that she did not accept claims that the increase in sanctions had anything to do with the rise in foodbanks.
The opposition MPs suggest that the Government has cracked down too hard on the welfare system and pushed people into hunger.
The Trussell Trust says that more than 1 million food parcels were handed out in 2014, an increase of 19% on to the previous year.
The Bishop of Truro and the Rt Revd Tim Thornton found that about of 1/3 of the referrals to foodbanks were prompted by delays and errors in benefits (News, 12/12/14). Their report recommends allowing Jobcentre Plus staff to use their discretion over whether to impose a sanction or not.
The latest wave of cuts will slash £12 billion a year from social-security spending with tax credits for working families to be cut significantly. The Gvt is considering altering the criteria by which child poverty is judged.
The Archbishop of York is in favour of the Living Wage, currently set at £2.35 more per hour than the minimum wage noting that many firms that use it notice improved productivity and staff loyalty.
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