ANY QUOTES USED MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO MURNAGHAN, SKY NEWS

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: Now then, food poverty has become a term we are very used to nowadays, just as food banks have become a necessity for thousands of people.  What does this say about British society today?  Is it part of the big society that David Cameron promised at the last election?  Well I’m joined now by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, a very good morning to you Lord Carey.  Where do you stand on this?  Is it as the current Archbishop of Canterbury seems to be saying a stain on our society, these food banks, or are they a necessary safety net for those who are struggling?  

GEORGE CAREY: Yes, well I think the report that’s come out called Feeding Britain is a very timely report. Of course it is possible to exaggerate this and to think that people are talking about people starving to death in Britain, that’s not the case.  The reality is that people are dropping out of sight, there is a great deal of poverty about and I think this is an issue that we have to address so I think actually the all-parliamentary inquiry is a very timely one.  

DM: But the argument is and the proliferation of food banks, the increase in their numbers and the usage of them, is that this is, some say it could be symptomatic of a benefits system which a humane society should have and which should operate and function properly, the benefits system is failing these people.  

GEORGE CAREY: I think you know we have to put it into two contexts.  One context is an international one and I’ve already said that people are not starving to death here so it would be an exaggeration to compare this with Africa but nevertheless in the Western world, America, Canada, France, elsewhere, we’re finding this increasing gulf between the rich and the poor so people are feeling the struggle these days.  It’s a cost of living problem more than anything else.

DM: But would you go so far as to say, and plenty politicians have said this mainly on the right it must be said, that it’s a bit like motorways, a bit like roads, that the more food banks there are, the more people tend to use them.

GEORGE CAREY: Well you could say that, I wouldn’t say that.  I would say the increase in food banks across Europe indicates that people really are struggling and balancing the priorities of food and housing and utilities, something has to give.  I’ll tell you what particularly concerns me is I’m old enough to remember, I was 12 when the National Health Service began, I knew poverty then.  Now we are seeing a return to those days when people, parents are giving up food in order to allow their own children to go without starvation, without food.  I think that’s a terrible thing for our country to fall into this kind of trap so we have to I think do something and Christmas is a really timely point of the year to reflect on our priorities.

DM: Well you say have to do something, are food banks the answer or part of the answer or isn’t the answer having another look at the cuts that are taking place to welfare and to benefits and making sure that these people are not falling through the net?

GEORGE CAREY: Yes, we have to but don’t forget actually the problem with the welfare system, some people when they claim welfare sometimes the payments are coming so late that people do have to go to food banks because of desperation.  All kind of reasons but we mustn’t simply say well it’s their fault, they can do something about it – some people can’t and we have to help them.  

DM: Lord Carey, while you’re with us I just want to get your thoughts, you mentioned obviously we are in the run up to Christmas and we’ll say those words out loud, I’ve been to a couple of parties in this season which are called holiday parties.  Do you feel that Christianity and Christians are becoming something of an endangered species in Britain?

GEORGE CAREY: Could you repeat that last point, Christianity could be in danger of what?  

DM: An endangered species, that somehow we are denying our Christian heritage?  

GEORGE CAREY: Well I don’t think.  Look, Christmas is a time to rejoice and celebrate, to share food together.  The thing that I’m saying is that we ought to share food with the more vulnerable, the needy people, help them out of their distress.  This is an opportunity for us to be more neighbourly, to give food to others, why not make a contribution to your local food bank for example, all kind of things we can do to bring out the spirit of Christmas and to care for one another and hopefully go into the new year with a sense of optimism for our country, that we are a great country and to put the greatness back into Britain once more.

DM: Well Lord Carey, it’s great to talk to you, thank you very much indeed for those thoughts.  Lord Carey there from Newbury in Berkshire, the former Archbishop of Canterbury of course.