A “DESTITUTION by design” social security system is leaving people struggling to buy food and afford transport to foodbanks, the Right to Food Commission heard today.

For months, the commission has travelled throughout Britain to hear from people and organisations dealing with the realities and effects of soaring food poverty.

Its final session — chaired by Bakers and Allied Food Workers’ Union general secretary Sarah Wooley — was held in the STUC in Glasgow’s east end, taking evidence from academics and activists alike.

Opening the first session, Cara Hilton of the Trussell Trust said:“The main driver of the need for foodbanks in Scotland is the design and delivery of our social security system.

“Our focus is on fixing that system so that at a very minimum it always covers the cost of essentials.”

Pointing out that the situation was deteriorating and was now having a clear and measurable impact on health outcomes for children, Jill Murie of the Glasgow Centre for Population Health said: “We are hearing increasing issues around early years.

“We know that in those early years the consumption of fruit and vegetables is very, very low and is deteriorating.

“Over the last year, our P1 obesity data has been up quite dramatically.

“What we’re seeing is the impact of increasing food prices and the deteriorating quality of food consumption, and that obviously doesn’t highlight the long-term issues around nutrition quality and the impact on your social and physical health.”

For Community Link worker Colette Mason, it came down to economics, telling the panel: “People are reasonable. They do what is reasonable in their circumstances.

“But at the moment, healthy options, the right options, are just completely out of reach.

“Healthy calories now cost twice as much as unhealthy calories. The cost of fruit and veg has soared compared to unhealthy foods.”

She added: “People are struggling to navigate difficult systems. Payments that are delayed, digital exclusion.

“The barriers for people living in Deep End practices to accessing basic income are huge, and it has a massive impact on health and wellbeing.”

The commission, including former chief executive of the Aberlour children’s charity SallyAnn Kelly, Jen Clark of Amnesty International, and socialist MP Ian Byrne, is expected to publish its report in September.