Staffordshire and Cheshire foodbanks call on the government to enshrine the "right to food" in law
They're seeing increasing numbers of people needing help and using their services
Food charities in Staffordshire and Cheshire are amongst those urging the government to provide greater help to families who have struggled to afford essentials during the pandemic.
It comes after a group of MP's released a report into what more can be done to help the 5.9 million adults and 1.7 million children who experienced food poverty or insecurity in the six months to February.
Efforts to tackle hunger by expanding the free school meals programme and boosting support to food banks should continue beyond the pandemic, the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said.
In a report released on Wednesday, committee chair and Conservative MP Neil Parish called on the government to "set a precedent" for the future.
The cross-party group of MPs wants the government to build on actions taken during the COVID outbreak by enshrining the "right to food" in law and appointing a food security minister.
Mr Parish said: "During the COVID crisis, different government departments pulled together to make sure that the most vulnerable in our society were fed. This should set a precedent."
"We have a duty to ensure that access to enough nutritious food is a fundamental right for everyone in the UK, which is why our committee urges the government to appoint a new minister specifically to address food security."
The Newcastle (Staffs) Foodbank in Staffordshire is part of The Trussell Trust and has provided thousands of meals to families and children across the borough this year.
In December 2020 alone, the Newcastle (Staffs) Foodbank delivered over six tonnes of food to more than five-hundred people in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
"It's not a question of being charitable. It's a question of justice."
Simon Boxall is the chair there, he says there's an immediate need that needs tackling, but also a long-term solution which all The Trussell Trust Foodbanks are trying to address with the government.
He said: "It's not a question of being charitable. It's a question of justice. It's what The Trussell Trust are arguing with government to make sure that the less well off are given a standard of living that is adequate, not just barely adequate, but reasonable.
"I've been looking at the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and it does say in Article 25, everyone has the right to a standard of living - including food, and really, it ought to be a guiding principle for our laws in this country.
Simon added: "It's very important that you get more than a money bag full of rice and so on, and it's fantastic that we have people like Marcus Rashford and others making a big noise and shaming the government, though that shouldn't be necessary. It's good that the government was, as it were, forced into a U turn.
"To make sure that nobody has to face food poverty should be as far as I'm concerned, enshrined in law. And that's going to cost. Those who are blessed to have a really good income or even a decent income will have to pay more. Everyone has the right to a standard of living including food, clothing, housing and medical care, as I see it, those who have a really good income have to pay a direct tax so that those who are facing food poverty will have enough for each day.
A government spokesman responded that "the pandemic has proven that the UK has a large, diverse and highly resilient food supply chain that has coped well in responding to unprecedented challenges - and we will review the recommendations set out within this report and respond accordingly".
He added: "Since March last year, we have spent more than ÂŁ280bn to deliver an impressive package of economic and welfare support to protect and support the incomes and needs of families and children - and we continue to work closely with the food industry to ensure people across the country have the food and supplies they need."
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