How could the Ipsos survey findings on food insecurity affect the Scottish Government?
The Scottish Government faces pressure to increase aid following poverty survey The Ipsos survey, conducted for Trussell, found that 550,000 people across Scotland are at risk of needing a food bank in the coming year, an increase of 25,000 since 2024/25. This scale of hunger has prompted Trussell to call on the Scottish Government to redouble efforts and take strong action in the Scottish Budget. Specifically, the charity is demanding that the Scottish child payment be increased to at least £40 a week immediately, and committed to a longer-term increase to £55 a week. While the Scottish Government has committed around £3.5 billion to policies tackling poverty and the cost of living in 2026-27, it is also consulting on legislation to establish legal price ceilings on some essential food items.
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How it reaches Scottish Government
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A survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Trussell found that 550,000 people across Scotland are at risk of needing a food bank over the coming year, an increase of 25,000 since 2024/25. The report also found that one in ten Scots had to cut back on food in the previous three months to afford essentials like heating or transport. Furthermore, 17% of people in Scotland reported that their household had run out of food and could not afford to buy more in the previous year.
The full event1independent outlet -
The scale of the crisis, reported by Trussell, has led the charity to call on the Scottish Government to reaffirm its commitment to ending the need for food banks and to take strong action in the Scottish Budget. Trussell specifically demands an increase in the Scottish child payment to at least £40 a week, with a longer-term goal of £55 a week.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
- heraldscotland.com Wednesday
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devolved government of Scotland
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- 550,000 people across Scotland are at risk of needing to use a food bank in the coming year.heraldscotland.com
- The number of people at risk of needing a food bank includes an increase of 25,000 people since 2024/25.heraldscotland.com
- Trussell is calling on Holyrood to increase the Scottish child payment to at least £40 a week with immediate effect.heraldscotland.com
- The Scottish Government is committing around £3.5 billion to policies that tackle poverty and the cost of living in 2026-27.heraldscotland.com
Why it matters
The findings expose a critical failure in the current economic safety net, placing the Scottish Government under immediate political pressure ahead of its Budget. The scale of the crisis—with over half a million people facing food insecurity—is significant, and the demands from Trussell represent a direct challenge to the government's current poverty mitigation strategies.
This situation reflects a broader national concern regarding the cost of living, which is impacting vulnerable groups disproportionately. The Scottish Government's response, including commitments to welfare funds and price ceiling consultations, will be judged against the severity of the crisis revealed by the Ipsos survey and the specific demands made by anti-poverty charities.
What we don't know yet
- How will the Scottish Government respond to the specific demands for increased child payments?
- Will the government's consultation on legal price ceilings on essential food items move forward quickly?
What would change this answer
Who else could feel it
Other possible ripples from the same event.
- John SwinneyLikelyJohn Swinney faces political pressure to address severe food insecurity in Scotland
- parliamentLikelyParliament may face increased legislative focus on tackling poverty and food insecurity.
- Maree ToddPossibleMaree Todd may face increased demands for policy adjustments due to rising poverty in Scotland
- Department for Work and PensionsPossibleThe Department for Work and Pensions may face increased pressure due to rising poverty in Scotland
Reporting
- heraldscotland.comWednesday
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