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Courtesy Independent............
Benefit cuts sends number of food bank users soaring
New figures emerge a week after Lord Freud, the Welfare Reform Minister, questioned whether
there was a link between the two events
Soaring numbers of people have sought emergency help from food banks since a series of
benefit cuts came into effect three months ago, it was revealed last night.
The new figures emerged a week after Lord Freud, the Welfare Reform Minister, questioned
whether there was a link between food bank use and reductions to benefits.
The Trussell Trust, which operates 325 banks, said it had supplied three days' emergency
food to 152,200 people between 1 April and 30 June, more than three times as many as during
the same period in 2012.
Fifty-two per cent of recipients were referred by frontline professionals, such as health visitors
and schools liaison officers, because of problems with their benefit payments. They include
19 per cent who were sent to food banks because of changes to benefit entitlements.