Members of the Armed Force are using food banks because of “personal decisions around how people are budgeting”, according to the UK veterans minister.
Sky News’ defence editor, Deborah Haynes, reported last month that some military personnel and their families had been forced to use the centres as high inflation and rising costs tipped them into crisis.
But on the day Johnny Mercer announced a new phoneline to give support to homeless ex-servicemen and women, the minister also cast doubt on whether those currently in the military required such services.
Politics live: Sunak to be grilled my MPs at Liaison Committee
Asked by Sky News’ Kay Burley if there was “any need” for military personnel to use food banks, he said: “These are personal decisions around, you know, how people are budgeting every month.
“I don’t want to see anyone using foodbanks, of course I don’t, but we’re you know, we’re in an extremely difficult time around cost of living.
“I’ll always advocate for service personnel to get paid more. I’d be mad not to. But it has to be, you know, within the constraints of a budget.”
When Burley suggested it was not a “choice” when people used food banks, Mr Mercer replied: “Well, in my experience, that’s not correct.
“I think there are some dire cases that we need to do more to wrap our arms around and make sure that there is a safety net for people.
“[But] I don’t think food bank use is an accurate portrayal of where levels of poverty, relative or absolute poverty, are in this country.”
The veterans minister added: “I don’t want to see anybody using foodbanks, but, you know, I think that being in the military still affords you a good wage and a good quality of life. And, you know, and that will continue to be the case.”