The York Research Database

This Brief draws on the work of Hannah Lambie-Mumford (SPERI) and Carolyn
Snell (Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of York) which
examines the themes of food, fuel and austerity and considers the dilemma faced
by many people on low incomes about whether to ‘heat or eat’. In the current era
of austerity this dilemma has received a lot of political and media attention and
the research assesses to what extent it represents real-life experiences. The Brief
contributes to ongoing debates about the impact of the Coalition and Conservative
majority government’s welfare reform agendas and public sector spending cuts.
It identifies policy responses at a national level, and for rural communities, that
address food poverty and fuel poverty.