MP highlights scandal of East Lancashire 'hungry children’

10:00am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News

AN MP has raised concerns over the increasing numbers of children facing hunger as they head off to school.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones, says he fears the issue particularly affects families forced to deal with bad landlords.

Mr Jones said: “At a primary school in Hyndburn last week, a head teacher told me of the shocking rise at her school. The situation in Hyndburn is shocking and the fact that we allow the next generation – toddlers in many cases – to go hungry is scandal.

“It affects privately rented homes where landlords rip off tenants with sky high greedy rents and poor conditions.” Mr Jones is also supporting Save the Children’s highlight of the issue through their latest report Child Poverty in 2012.

In response to the issue of child poverty nationally Save the Children is launching its first ever fundraising appeal for UK work. The appeal, backed by Mr Jones also highlights the physical and emotional strain poverty has on children and parents.

Comments(10)

midas says...
11:37am Wed 12 Sep 12

So he is not including all the families that get their rent paid by Housing Benefit?

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mavrick says...
1:03pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Yes he is, in case you hadn't realised the Housing benefit has been cut and does not cover the cost of the rent in the private sector. The private landlords have not reduced their rents. It will get worse next year when council tax benefit is also cut, along with benefit cuts. It seems that this coalition seem to think that starving people into the lowest paid jobs is the way forward. I look forward to the riots.

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midas says...
1:26pm Wed 12 Sep 12

and what proportion of tenants in East Lancashire (that are eligible) don't have their rent covered by Housing Benefit and what is the average shortfall per week?

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Izanears says...
2:00pm Wed 12 Sep 12

I have said it before and no doubt I will say it again. THERE ARE NO STARVING CHILDREN IN LANCASHIRE. Africa yes, but Lancashire NO.

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sen c ble says...
2:48pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Izanears wrote:
I have said it before and no doubt I will say it again. THERE ARE NO STARVING CHILDREN IN LANCASHIRE. Africa yes, but Lancashire NO.
I agree. There are are no starving children in Lancashire and in England. It has always been a case where children attending schools without having had a proper early breakfast due to parents unable to rise up early and prepare the necessities and care towards their children as a result of lazyness and lack of responsibility in parenting skills. This results in children unable to focus on school work and underachievment in school tasks.

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Chris P Bacon says...
5:01pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Izanears wrote:
I have said it before and no doubt I will say it again. THERE ARE NO STARVING CHILDREN IN LANCASHIRE. Africa yes, but Lancashire NO.
No, you are wrong as the headline and following story doesn't ever use the word 'starving'. It does use the word 'hungry' and as my professional partner could easily prove to you as this has become a significant element of her work, there are an increasing number of children going to school hungry in E. Lancs.

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Fire Fly says...
10:27am Thu 13 Sep 12

The problem here isn't the rent...its the parents. Being a parent means you have to give to your child a hell of a lot more than you will ever receive back, it means making sure your child is loved & cared for & happy. Those things that can't be bought...you have to give them.

I wonder how many of these households have parents that smoke, drink or both, have mobile phone contracts, sky tv packages & regular take away's? A lot i'd say! If you can afford any of these items which incidentally are luxuries...not necessities then you can afford to go to the supermarket & buy food to put on the table. Its called being a responsible adult/parent!

The cost of rent/mortgages is expensive but in equal measure so are the luxury items...anyone eligible for housing benefit are also eligible for a number of other benefits too...working or not.

As a parent...you're responsibility is to cut your cloth to suit the decisions & choices YOU made. A child didn't ask to be born, you made that choice & therefore you have to provide what they need. If you're that bloody idle...a banana only needs peeling, a yoghurt only needs the lid peeling back (oh you have to open the drawer & get a spoon out)...top that off with a glass of milk (you do have to get a glass & pour) & you have a healthy breakfast for your little ones. No cooking & provided in less that 1minute. If you can't do that for your children then they'd be better off in care.

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lwg76 says...
3:24pm Thu 13 Sep 12

But, we are in the middle of a serious epidemic of Childhood Obesity!!!!!!!!

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Marsdogs says...
7:15pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Izanears wrote:
I have said it before and no doubt I will say it again. THERE ARE NO STARVING CHILDREN IN LANCASHIRE. Africa yes, but Lancashire NO.
Correct!

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sen c ble says...
7:31pm Fri 14 Sep 12

CAN WE HAVE MORE IDIOTS TO GIVE US THE THUMBS DOWN, THANKS

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