Just under two weeks ago, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a string of financial packages in a bid to help the most vulnerable people in the UK as the cost of living keeps rising.
We launched a survey to ask Daily Record readers their thoughts on the efforts being made by Mr Sunak and the Government in the form of a survey. The survey received more than 1,500 responses.
Of those surveyed, 71% (1,074) felt that Mr Sunak's measures did not go far enough to help people, while 29% (432) said they would be a great help. An example of these measures is a one-off payment to low income households of £650 - Eight million low-income households will receive this.
A temporary one-off tax of 25 percent will be applied to extraordinary profits of oil and gas giants. Mr Sunak said this “energy profits levy” will raise around £5 billion in a year to assist with the surging cost of living. Of our survey respondents, 67% (1,006 people) agreed that this was the right move to make, while 19% (292) disagreed and 14% (207) were unsure.
Of the few who disagreed, one reader gave their reason for disagreeing with the levy as follows: "It will impact the transition to greener alternatives due to lack of investment."
We asked our readers if they thought the additional support for low income households, pensioners and people on disability benefits went far enough. 1,485 people responded overall, with 76% saying they did not feel the additional support went far enough while 24% thought it did.
One reader said: "It's a welcomed support but will still not be enough! It's not just fuel bills that require support."
Another said: "A lot of people on disability benefits were effectively penalised during covid while isolating (extra fuel costs, getting food shopping delivered, having to pay for deliveries etc).
"We missed out on bargains in store and not being able to shop around cost more money. We didn't get the same financial help as other people did.
"People on universal credit are only now trying to catch up on bills etc. To have bills now being much higher will take longer for us to catch up and be on an even keel as everyone else."
Every household is to receive a £400 grant to replace the £200 repayable loan announced earlier in the year. We asked our readers if the one off energy bill discount of £400 goes far enough. 1478 people responded, with 77% agreeing that the discount is not enough, and 23% feeling that it is adequate.
How would you tackle cost of living crisis? You can still take part in our survey here or have your say in the comments.
We asked those surveyed what they felt needs to be done to tackle the cost of living crisis.
One reader said: "Utilities should be capped and not permitted to raise costs. They make unacceptable profits as it is!"
Another stated: "Hydro power wind power and solar power roofs etc. Cheaper fuel for delivery drivers. And better trade deals."
One pensioner wrote: "From a pensioners perspective put the triple lock back we already have one of the worst pensions in real terms in Europe. Bring essential services back into public ownership. Stop the profiteering on the poor."
More than one despondent reader felt there was no real answer. One response from a person surveyed said: "I have no idea, and as far as I'm concerned the government has no idea either."
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