Midlothian food banks

That this House commends the work of food banks across Midlothian to keep people fed and support communities through this difficult time; applauds the volunteers who run food banks, as well as those who donate to them; notes that the spike in food bank usage across the country signals that the Government has been unable to keep to its word in leaving nobody behind; condemns the Government’s reliance on universal credit to support citizens through the ongoing crisis; notes that the immense strain put on the universal credit system, as well as its inefficiency and long waiting times, has exacerbated the problem of food insecurity during this crisis; and calls for a universal basic income to alleviate these problems by replacing existing means-tested benefits with a flat rate income.