Free bus rides for children aged 15 and under will be offered during August as part of the Great British summer savings scheme. Fuel duty rises planned for September and December will be scrapped, with a freeze extended for the rest of the year. Lorry drivers will receive a 12-month vehicle tax holiday, and red diesel used by farmers will be cut by a third. Tariffs on some food imports will be cut to ease costs. The measures aim to protect households from rising costs linked to the Iran conflict and an expected rise in inflation later this year. Critics argue the support will disproportionately benefit higher-income households.
"My number one priority is protecting households from rising costs. This summer I want every family to be able to enjoy themselves, that's why we're launching the Great British summer savings scheme, and why we're helping kids with free bus travel throughout August."
"We are giving our hauliers a 12-month vehicle tax holiday, helping to keep prices down, and we are backing drivers by extending the freeze in fuel duty for the rest of the year. Duty on the red diesel used by farmers will also be cut by a third."
"Come the autumn, low-income families who are still 1,800 poorer than they were before the last energy price shock will be worst affected by another round of rising food prices and energy bills. And yet the support announced today will primarily benefit those who are better off, with the richest fifth of households gaining more than twice as much as the poorest fifth."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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