Anger at Tory claim food bank use has nothing to do with welfare reforms

Charities and politicians have reacted with anger to a claim by employment minister Esther McVey that the dramatic rise in the number of people using food banks has nothing to do with the governments welfare reforms.

In a letter to the Scottish government, Ms McVey said: The rise in food banks predates most of the welfare reforms this government has put in place."

• More: The government is wrong on food banks and benefits: Here's why

She added that there was no robust evidence linking food bank usage to welfare reform.

Figures from the Trussell Trust, Britains biggest food bank provider, show that demand has increased by more than 300 per cent in the past year.

• Read Chris Green's full report here

More reaction

The use of food banks went up tenfold under the last government. So before they try to use this as some political weapon, they should recognise this started under their own government.

Prime minister David Cameron

I think one of the reasons that there has been increased use of food banks is because people have been made aware of the food bank service.

Chancellor George Osborne

I think it is a positive thing for people to use food banks and I think if they need it, local authorities sometimes refer to them because they run the social funds, and instead of just paying money out, some of them refer across.

Ian Duncan Smith, work and pensions secretary

It is difficult to know which came first supply or demand. If you put more food banks in, that is the supply. Clearly food from a food bank is by definition a free good and theres almost infinite demand.

Lord Freud, minister for welfare reform