MOT’s annual inspections could be lifted under government plans to ease the cost of living for households across the country, according to Sky News.
On Tuesday, Boris Johnson held a cabinet meeting to ask his senior team to come up with “innovative” ideas to help ease pressure on household finances that do not require government spending.
Sky News understands that Transport Minister Grant Shaps has discussed the idea of moving from an annual vehicle inspection to a biennial inspection.
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The proposed change could save motorists up to £ 55 a year.
But it is clear that not all cabinet ministers at the meeting supported the idea, with at least one objecting on the grounds that inefficient cars burn more fuel.
Some industry experts, including the AA car body, have also warned that such a move could lead to higher repair bills for drivers who do not detect problems early enough.
Image: Transport Minister Grant Shaps is said to be the minister who discussed the idea of abolishing the annual MOT
The annual MOT can be done twice a year
Millions of people in the UK are facing increases in energy bills, municipal tax and the effects of raising taxes on national insurance – as well as inflation, reaching a 30-year high of 7% earlier this month.
Following Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, number 10 announced that Mr Johnson would chair a commission to tackle the cost of living crisis “over the next few weeks”.
The members of the Committee on Internal and Economic Strategy, which is not new, include the Prime Minister, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Minister Steve Barkley.
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A spokesman for the prime minister confirmed that ministers had discussed “several ideas” to ease pressure on household finances that would “feed a more formal process”.
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2:40 Sky business correspondent Helen-Ann Smith looks at how the prices of everyday items have been affected by rising inflation
The government will have “more to say” about childcare
A future communication on childcare aimed at alleviating the financial burden facing many families was also hinted at by number 10.
Asked about parenting measures, the prime minister’s spokesman added: “I think all I can say is that this is an area where the government acknowledges that there is still work to be done.
“Political work is currently underway and I am sure we will have more to say in the future.”
A possible move could be to increase the number of people a caregiver can care for at a time to reduce costs for parents and carers.
Currently, babysitters can care for a maximum of six people under the age of eight at a time.
Speaking on Wednesday, Justice Minister Dominique Raab told Sky News that “there are a whole host of things” that ministers are considering to ease the financial burden that increased living costs impose on households.
“We will continue to look at what else we can do – and the reason is that we understand the pressure that families face in the country,” he said.
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“No Golden Bullet” to solve the cost of living crisis
On Tuesday morning, Armed Forces Secretary James Happy told Sky News that “there is no doubt” that any government intervention will be “expensive”, but added that a “cumulative” set of measures could “start to make a difference”. “.
He also warned that there is no “golden bullet” to solve the cost of living crisis.
Labor, meanwhile, reiterated its call for an “emergency budget” to tackle the rising costs facing households.
Speaking to broadcasters on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer said he should include an unforeseen tax on oil and gas companies to allow energy bills to be reduced “at a minimum”.
The Labor leader added that he would like to see “interest rate cuts for businesses” and money returned through fraudulent coronavirus business support schemes “returned”.
“The argument the government is trying to make is that there is nothing we can do is utter nonsense,” he added.
According to new data released by the National Statistics Office this week, nearly nine out of 10 adults say they have seen an increase in their cost of living – up from 62% in November last year.
On Monday, the Asda and Morrisons supermarket groups announced efforts to help troubled shoppers during the cost-of-living crisis.
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