A YORKSHIRE Tory MP has called for a review of benefit sanctions which he says are driving people to foodbanks.
Andrew Percy - who represents Brigg and Goole - made the call in a Commons debate on foodbanks on Monday.
The University of York educated MP - who was first elected in 2010 - spoke of evidence from the Goole-based Mission Trinity foodbank.
He told the Commons: "All I know is that those at Mission Trinity, an excellent independent non-political food bank in Goole, tell me that benefits sanctions are driving people to use it.
"I support the benefit sanctions system, but one issue that seems to be a problem is the consistency with which sanctions are applied. May we have a review of this and ensure that the recipients of the sanctions properly understand the consequences?"
The debate saw Employment Minister Priti Patel challenged by Mr Percy and other backbenchers on benefit sanctions. He told MPs that sanctions had existed before the last Government, and said hardship funds existed to help people in "genuine need".
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