Oral Answers to Questions

Dennis Skinner Excerpts
Thursday 10th October 2013

(10 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Tony Baldry Portrait Sir Tony Baldry
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The benefits system exists to ensure that those who are entitled to benefits receive benefits. In respect of food banks, the question really is one of concern, which has been raised earlier in the House today, about the increase in the use of food banks. I would like to report to the House that the Church of England’s mission and public affairs team, together with Oxfam and the Child Poverty Action Group, are examining the underlying reasons for the rapid growth in the use of food banks, and will recommend changes in policy and practice that would help to reduce the use of food banks in the longer term.

Dennis Skinner Portrait Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab)
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Isn’t he a food bank himself? [Laughter.]

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I will not repeat what the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr Skinner) has just said from a sedentary position. The Second Church Estates Commissioner is an extremely distinguished Member, but he is not what was said of him from a sedentary position.