THE need for emergency foodbank handouts in the Borders has increased four-fold in the space of a year.

According to figures just released by the Trussell Trust, foodbank use in the Borders has risen by 329 percent in 12 months - the highest percentage rise of any local authority area in Scotland.

The Trussell Trust, which support a network of 428 foodbanks operating out of more than 1200 centres across the UK, have reported that between April and September 2018, a total of 240 emergency food parcels were issued in the Scottish Borders; 182 to adults and 58 to children.

And many other locally-organised foodbank services aren't even included in the figures.

In comparison, the same period in 2017 saw just 56 being issued.

Despite the percentage increase, the number of parcels issued this year in the Borders remain the lowest in Scotland over the same period.

The figures also report a UK-wide increase of 13 percent in providing emergency supplies to people in crisis.

The charity claims the rise in reliance on foodbanks coincides with the UK Government’s Universal Credit rollout, which was introduced in the Borders during the summer.

The charity says the inability of benefit levels to cover essential living costs and issues with payments remains the most common reasons for referral to a foodbank.

They said: “Universal Credit is not the only benefit people at foodbanks are experiencing problems with, but the new system is increasingly driving referrals due to benefit delays, which include waiting for a first payment or having problems with a new claim.”

The charity is calling for the five week minimum wait for a first Universal Credit payment to be reduced.

Emma Revie, Chief Executive of The Trussell Trust explained: “We’re seeing soaring levels of need at foodbanks. The time to act is now. If the five week wait isn’t reduced, the only way to stop even more people being forced to foodbanks this winter will be to pause all new claims to Universal Credit, until funding is in place to reduce the five week wait. Foodbanks cannot continue to pick up the pieces – we have to make sure our benefits system can protect people from hunger.”

Commenting on the figures, Tweeddale MSP Christine Grahame said: “These are truly heart-breaking figures for the Borders, which bring into sharp focus the devastating impact the Tory government is having on our local community.

“The fact that people cannot afford to eat is a disgrace in any circumstances, but we can see from the statistics that in the previous year there have been 58 incidences where emergency food has been given to children specifically – this is an abomination in a developed country such as ours.

“While sustained Tory cuts have created this problem, we can see that where Universal Credit has rolled out, which is the case in the Borders, it has made things worse.

“Michelle Ballantyne MSP who is the Tory’s Social Security spokesperson, represents the South of Scotland which covers the Borders – despite her ardent defence of Universal Credit in parliament recently, she must see now how devastating this roll out has been.

"I call on her to review her position and urgently press her colleagues at Westminster to halt the roll out of UC, so the fundamental flaws can be addressed.”

In response Michelle Ballantyne MSP said: “While Ms Grahame might be correct that foodbank usage has risen across the UK, she might want to look closer before placing all the blame with the UK Government.

"We should also remember that, despite this increase, foodbank usage in the Borders is still at the lowest number in Scotland.

“I would consider it narrow-minded to attribute the entire increase with Universal Credit; there are many other factors contributing to foodbank usage across the country.

"Aberdeen City Council and Perth and Kinross have also implemented Universal Credit around the same time as the Borders and the same report notes that foodbank usage has actually decreased in these areas.

“Her assertion that Universal Credit is the sole reason that foodbank usage is rising in the Borders just doesn’t add up.

“I appreciate there are issues with Universal Credit and the UK Government has said they will address them. An example of this is the announcement that there will be increased work allowances which will give a boost to hundreds of thousands of people including a £630 boost for couples with children.

“I suggest that Ms. Grahame spend less time scaremongering and instead focus on how we can address the drivers of poverty instead.”