Scotland's Trussell Trust hands out 130,000 food packages in six months
A record number of emergency parcels have been given out by food banks north of the border
A record number of emergency parcels have been given out by food banks in Scotland - with bosses at the Trussell Trust saying an "alarming" number of families with children are now relying on the handouts to survive.
The charity revealed it had given out 128,490 emergency food packages over the six months between April and September, the most parcels that the organisation has ever distributed at this point in the year.
The Trussell Trust added that almost three out of five of the parcels in that period went to families with children.
Polly Jones, head of the Trussell Trust in Scotland, commented: "It is alarming that an increasing number of children in Scotland are growing up in families facing hunger, forced to turn to food banks to survive.
"A generation is growing up believing that it's normal to see a food bank in every community. This is not right."
Ms Jones is calling for the UK Government to act to ensure benefits rise in line with inflation next April, and said there must also be steps taken "to reduce the burden of debt deductions which drive unacceptable levels of hardship".
"Dreading the winter"
As the figures were revealed, Fiona Dalgleish, manager at a Peeblesshire food bank, said: "We are dreading the winter, to be honest.
"Last year was bad enough, but people are now completely exhausted and demoralised on top of being cold and hungry.
"We are feeling pretty helpless - we can provide food, but we need some hope. There needs to be a light at the end of the tunnel for people."
She added: "People in work, as well as people who cannot work, are increasingly being pushed into debt and forced to turn to a food bank to survive."
Action from Westminster and Holyrood needed
Scottish Labour social justice spokesperson Paul O'Kane demanded action from both Holyrood and Westminster to tackle the growing demand for food banks.
He said: "These shameful figures show how many people across Scotland have reached breaking point.
"Soaring bills and food prices are causing misery for thousands of Scots, but both of our governments have been missing in action.
"We need urgent action at every level of government to tackle the scandal of food poverty in Scotland."
SNP social justice spokesperson David Linden MP said: "The Tory government has pushed millions of families into poverty by imposing deep welfare cuts and damaging policies like Brexit, which have sent the cost of living in the UK soaring.
"The SNP is doing what it can with limited devolved powers to help households, including measures like the council tax freeze and Scottish Child Payment - and it's high time the UK Government stepped up to the plate and did its bit to support struggling households."
A spokesperson for the UK Department of Work and Pensions said: "There are 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty than in 2010, but we know some families are struggling, which is why we are providing a record support package worth £3,300 per household.
"This includes the latest cost of living payments paid directly to over eight million households this year, our decision to raise benefits by over 10% earlier this year and our £2 billion Household Support Fund which is helping people to buy essentials.
"We also know that households are at least £6,000 a year better off in full-time work than out of work on benefits, and to help people out of poverty through work we are also increasing the National Living Wage again and investing £3.5 billion to help thousands into jobs, grow the economy and bear down on inflation."
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