SIR – It’s not surprising that the issue of food banks and their use seems to be becoming part of a political argument.

Clearly the Government and it’s supporters feel sensitive to accusations that Government-instigated welfare reforms have contributed towards squeezing those on meagre incomes, increasing poverty seen through food bank use.

In one of the world’s richest countries it is unacceptable or should be. Poverty shouldn’t be a problem here but, then again, Britain is one of the most unequal societies in Western Europe. As the poor have got poorer, the rich have increased their wealth.

In 2012/13 there was a 170 per cent rise in numbers turning to Trussell Trust food banks compared to the previous year, with approximately half of these people doing so because of problems with the social security system – the very system meant to make food banks a thing of the past.

Sadly, whether it’s politically embarrassing or inconvenient to any particular political party should be irrelevant. It can easily be verified or proven to be false if the Government chose to set up an independent investigation, after all. And they show no sign of doing that. What’s most important surely, is that something needs to be done about the present situation, to change it for those suffering most.

David Hornsby, West VIew Avenue, Wrose