Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Torsten Bell and Ian Byrne

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby) (Lab)]

T8. The Chancellor rightly said last Wednesday that homelessness is a political choice. Does my right hon. Friend agree that hunger is a political choice as well? Earlier this month the Right to Food UK Commission published its final report, fully costed by Lord Prem Sikka, setting out credible reform to end food insecurity by 2035. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss its recommendations?

[The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Torsten Bell)]

My hon. Friend is right: nobody in our country should be relying on emergency food parcels. The Trussell Trust figures have shown falls over the last two years—for the first time since it has produced the data—but there is much more to do. I am happy to meet him.