Food Banks (Wales)
Debate between Lord Brennan of Canton and Guto Bebb(12 years, 5 months ago)
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Kevin Brennan
Yes, I suspect my hon. Friend is right. I am sure the Minister has visited a food bank and will say what impression it made on him. What were his feelings on visiting the food bank?
Government policies such as the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill, the VAT hike and the bedroom tax are making the crisis worse. I hope the Minister will distance himself from the comments we have heard from Downing street and acknowledge that Government policies are making things worse, not better, for hundreds of thousands of families across Wales.
Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) (Con)
There is no VAT on food, so the VAT change did not affect the price of food, which is important to remember.
Kevin Brennan
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, and I am aware of that fact, but he will find that families spend their money on things that do attract VAT, which has a direct impact on their disposable income and, therefore, on their ability to buy food.