Shocking new analysis by Scottish Labour has revealed that parcels delivered by food banks in the City of Edinburgh has soared by 89% since 2018, with a shocking 94% rise in the number of parcels issued for children in the City of Edinburgh. For West Lothian, there has been an increase in parcels of 81% since 2018, and a rise of 77% for parcels issued for children. 

In the six months from 1 April to 30 September 2023 alone, there was a shocking 16,038 parcels distributed in the City of Edinburgh Council and 4,250 in West Lothian.  Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, has raised concerns about this level of food bank use and says that more urgency is needed to tackle food poverty in Edinburgh, Lothian and the rest of Scotland. He said, “The levels of food poverty in Scotland are scandalous and the Scottish Government must act urgently. We should not have people in Scotland going hungry, cutting back, choosing between heating and eating or relying on food banks. I have met with so many brilliant organisations that work tirelessly to support those in food poverty-organisations like Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts and The Larder. However, they shouldn’t have to fill the gap where legislation and political leadership should be. The Lothian region deserves better than these two failing and out-of-touch governments and we need action at every level to tackle this shameful food poverty crisis and enshrine in law a legal Right to Food.”