The use of food bank parcels has risen three-fold over seven years, according to The Trussell Trust's figures. 

There are several Trussell Trust food banks in Glasgow, with 33 in total across the central belt of Scotland

The SNP warned the figures show urgent action needs to be taken on benefits by the UK Government. 

A total of 237,225 three-day emergency food packages were handed out in Scotland during the 12 months before March 2020.

Seven years ago that figures stood at  72,487.

SNP MSP Bob Doris said people were falling through the gaps of UK Government welfare schemes.

Mr Doris said: “Food banks are working incredibly hard to continue to provide emergency food safely to people who cannot afford to buy the essentials – but they cannot continue to pick up the pieces because of gaps in the UK Government’s support schemes.

“While the Scottish Government has done its best to tackle poverty here, we continue to have to spend money to protect the most vulnerable in our communities from Tory cuts.

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“The majority of welfare spending still remains firmly in the hands of the Tories – who dithered and delayed on extending free school meals through the holidays and had to be shamed into supporting low-income families through this pandemic.”

He added: “This UK Government must heed the warnings of front-line organisations all over the country, and act before more families and children and are pushed into poverty.

“Making the £20 uplift to Universal Credit permanent and extending it to legacy benefits would be a good place to start rebuilding the security system the Tories have spent years dismantling, and preventing the number of families relying on food banks from increasing further.”

A UK Government spokesman said that this year, spending on working-age welfare was at its higher ever level, while the economy would be assessed again in the new year.

The spokesman said: “We are committed to supporting the lowest-paid families across the UK through the pandemic and beyond and have provided more than £100 billion in welfare support this year.

“Meanwhile, Scotland has significant devolved welfare powers and can top-up existing benefits, pay discretionary payments and create entirely new benefits altogether.”