Address food and fuel poverty before winter - government urged

I have written to the Chief Minister and COMIN members asking them to take action to address issues of food and fuel poverty before the winter bites.

Text set out below:

“The Chief Minister (Mr Howard Quayle MHK)
and Council of Ministers of the Isle of Man
Government Offices
Douglas

By email

18th September 2018

Dear Chief Minister,

I note your response in a written answer from the Member for Garff Mrs Caine on the issue of Syrian refugees.

I see that the Isle of Man government is continued its policy of supplying aid at source to refugees i.e. in the countries neighbouring Syria in which they have sought refuge.

I personally believe that aid targeted in this way is most effective and indeed I applaud government's efforts not just in this but in other global crisis areas. I do however believe that what was sought i.e. the accomodation of a small number of refugee families was also a pertinent and attainable objective. However you (COMIN) are the government and it is for you to be the final arbiters.

I also note that one of the major arguments of those opposed to overseas aid or directly assisting refugees is that we have folk at home who endure suffering and deprivation - albeit not on the scale of those who unfortunately find themselves in global crisis zones. Would you not agree that given the Isle of Man by your own figures enjoys record growth and has been an exceedingly prosperous place now for many decades that food and fuel poverty being factors here is not acceptable.

Poverty particularly child poverty in Mann was highlighted over five years ago and periodically since then charitable bodies have cited difficulty over housing and food and fuel poverty,

These days a fixture at the exit of some supermarkets is a trolley collecting food for those without what signal does that send about our worth as a community?

Manx people are noted for their charity and generosity but in all honesty should their need to be charity for such basics as food and fuel in a prosperous community.

We stand at the start of another winter which could be a hard one for some people I note government comments occasionally on these issues but surely now is the time for action.

I applaud the Manx government's overseas aid efforts but please can we have some of that generosity extended to people suffering at home. We need a winter help programme this winter so as to ensure our ethos as a community which cares is upheld.

I hope you and COMIN colleagues will not be found wanting.

Yours sincerely

J B Moffatt (Mr)”

Any reply received will be published but to be honest I would welcome action as much as words and I trust that Tynwald members will focus on this issue as sharply as they have focused on more anodyne subjects off late.

Bernard Moffatt