Labour councillors call for Devon 'food justice'

County councillors to consider it

Calls have been made for a food strategy in Devon to be put in place to stop the reliance many families have on food banks.

At a Devon County Council meeting, Cllr Su Aves (Labour) put forward a motion that would see the council nominate an existing cabinet member to take responsibility for 'food justice' and commit to work with partners on a food action plan.

The motion would see the council re-double its efforts to increase free school meal sign-ups to ensure that all those who are entitled receive them and encourage the scrutiny committee to look at the extent of food poverty in the county.

Protection of workers’ jobs so that food supplies are sustained throughout the coronavirus pandemic and any shortages or delays experienced during the Brexit, are also called for in the motion, as is increasing universal credit so people can buy enough food.

It follows research from the Trussell Trust which shows three million children in the UK are at risk of hunger during the school holidays, and that they anticipate ending furlough in October will trigger a rise in foodbank use of at least 61 per cent.

Cllr Aves, the Labour member for St Sidwells and St James, said: “Devon County Council needs to have a food action plan to be proactive and provide, with partners, support for all those without enough food. Everyone needs nutritious and good quality food. It is not acceptable that parents are having to go without food so they can feed their children.

“Universal credit is not high enough to cope with the current situation and for government to consider removing the £20 extra per week that has been a lifeline for many since April is not acceptable. Our government should be protecting residents from the food poverty fall out of covid-19 and the increasing unemployment.”

Cllr Hilary Ackland (Labour), councillor for Pinhoe and Mincinglake, added: “Reliance on food banks to alleviate hunger is unacceptable. The implications of food hunger need to be mitigated by policies like introducing a healthy food subsidy scheme. In Devon County Council we need to support and encourage the building of a food infrastructure in which healthy nutritious food locally produced at affordable prices pre-dominates.”

The motion was referred to the council’s cabinet for consideration, before returning with a recommendation to be determined by the full council at a later date.