Who ?

Foodbanks.

Why?

Just asking.

One question I have about foodbanks is do they ask for any evidence that the person coming for food is unemployed or otherwise strapped for cash to the point of not being able to afford food at a supermarket? I ask only because I wondered whether it was possible for a well off person or indeed a person actually able to afford to pay for food to walk in and just get some food without cost.

You have to be referred by one of several people, CAB, docs, social workers even the police.

See above.

And you can't go back another day and in Oliver Twist style ask for more, not unless you've been referred again, none of which is apparent to IDS or indeed anyone else at the DWP because they won't talk to the foodbank charities.

I read that article and thought he's having a giraffe isn't he?

Days after being roundly slated for walking out of the food bank debate in The Commons he comes out with this stupidity.

I've referred people to food banks and I'd estimate that in the majority of cases the referer will have been round to the person's house and found the cupboards pretty much bare with little to nothing in the fridge. Accompaning this you'll usually find that the person is on card fed gas and electric that they don't have any money for.

I know people who work for a housing association, they've started collecting themselves between the team for food parcels by buying the odd extra tin or bag of pasta that they keep in the office, since the under occupancy charge came in it's fairly common for them to coome across people who are drastically in arrears with little to no food in the property.

But hey, it's a lifestyle choice, not a very pleasant one it would seem to me but it's their choice after all.

Is that how it works, not only do you have to be referred by someone, those people who refer have to do a check which involves going through peoples cupboards, checking their financial situation etc etc.

Yeah that's exactly how it works.
Often, as I'm mooching about and spy a particularly unkempt garden I kick the door in rifle through the occupants cupboards, check their bank statements before casualy tossing a food bank voucher over my shoulder and sauntering on my way.

Yes. You have. You were at the front of the queue here during the pensions dispute complaining about how overpaid public services – who you informed us didn't work in "The Real World" should be dragged down to the level of people like you, in "The Real World".

You reduce your outgoings – if/when your income declines.

Did Jesus do that before helping people?