Question reference: S5W-31702
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 25 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has offered to food banks and hubs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to assist with the distribution of items to vulnerable people.
Answer
We have gone beyond our original £70 million Food Fund commitment and have now committed over £120 million to tackle food insecurity caused by the pandemic.
£57.6 million of funding was provided to local authorities to provide coordinated cross-sectoral help with food and other essentials for at risk groups from April-Sept inclusive; We have provided guidance to local authorities, who were given flexibility in how to use these funds, and shared good practice around community support.
£4.9 million has been invested to support 50 third-sector partners through direct grants. These strategic investments, focused on delivering critical national or community-based responses and include £2.1 million for FareShare to purchase and distribute food to groups and hubs (as referenced in response to S5W-31701 on 24 September 2020. A further £7.8 million has been invested in projects focused on tackling food insecurity through our Wellbeing and Supporting Communities funds
These investments are in addition to us increasing the Scottish Welfare Fund, which is placing money directly into the pockets of those who need it and continue to provide support for a range of needs including for those experiencing financial or physical barriers to food.
The Tackling Food Insecurity Team are providing regular email updates to community groups, sharing information on funding and providing guidance to organisations on any specific issues they raise.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .