A member of the new poverty committee said a small island with a population of 84,000 'should not need a food bank'.
Onchan MHK Rob Callister is one of five Tynwald members tasked with investigating causes of poverty on the island and what the government can do to tackle it.
He said the group will look at the urgent social issues raised by islanders in the run up to September's general election.
It comes after Tynwald voted unanimously to re-form the Poverty Committee.
The former committee published a report last July recommending that the island's minimum wage (£8.25) be brought in line with the living wage (£10.87) within the next five years.
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