Luton Foodbank 'running dangerously low' on items as MP blasts 46% child poverty in town

The charity, based in York Street in High Town, stated: "We're running dangerously low on UHT milk, tinned fruit, rice pudding, custard, cereal, and sauce for pasta."

Their plea comes as Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins took Boris Johnson to task over Luton's child poverty rate at Prime Minister's Questions today.

Miss Hopkins said: "The week before Christmas, Luton Foodbank issued 339 food parcels of which 124 were specifically for children.

"Child poverty in Luton has risen to a shameful 46%, so while Luton's unemployment rate may be going down, people are in low-paid, insecure jobs.

"Will the Prime Minister agree with me that it is wholly unacceptable that families are in work but children are growing up in poverty, and will he commit to ending poverty pay?"

Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded: "Not only are we cutting National Insurance contributions for everybody whatever their pay but we're also living up the national living wage by the biggest ever increase which will benefit people across this country to the tune of £4,000 a year.

"This is a one-nation government looking first at the needs of the poorest in this country."

Find your nearest drop-off point for Luton Foodbank at http://lutonfoodbank.org.uk/drop.