Sioned Williams MS calls for action on poverty

“Dependency on food parcels has become the new norm” – Sioned Williams MS

Sioned Williams MS has called for action on poverty.

This comes following a report published today (Wednesday 21st May 2025) by Trussell, which revealed that reliance on food banks in Wales remains much higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Trussell’s report titled ‘Emergency food parcel distribution in Wales’ revealed that emergency food provision in Wales has almost doubled over the last decade, and has increased by 31% since the start of this Senedd term.

With stubbornly high and increasing levels of child poverty in Wales, nearly two-thirds of emergency food parcels go to families with children.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Social Justice, Sioned Williams MS said:

“Too many people and families in Wales are having to rely on parcels from food banks. The latest data shows dependency levels remain much higher than pre-pandemic levels, meaning dependency on food parcels has become the new norm.

“Make no mistake, there are actions government could take to reduce the need for food banks in Wales.

“With almost two-thirds of parcels going to families with children, tackling the blight of child poverty on our communities must be a priority.

“I have long called on the UK Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap, one of the main drivers in pushing more and more families into poverty and keeping them in poverty. The proposed cuts to disability benefits will also significantly increase the number of people living in poverty in Wales.”