Social Tariffs; Selling Clothes; Rent Arrears
Should broadband providers be forced to offer lower tariffs to people on low incomes?
Thousands of families in the UK can't afford basic broadband provision, according to the communications regulator OFCOM. A group of MPs want the Government to force internet service providers to offer low income households 'social tariffs', with lower prices for basic broadband. At the moment, only Virgin and BT offer social tariffs of Β£10 - Β£15 for a monthly contract.
The ban on evictions is due to end in England in less than two week's time, leaving many tenants with the threat of becoming homeless. The charity Shelter argue the ban should be extended throughout the pandemic as many tenants have fallen into arrears because they can't work. But groups representing landlords say they're also struggling and point out that a third of landlords are pensioners who rely on rent for their income.
And what we're wearing has changed in the pandemic. Second hand clothes websites and apps report an increase in traffic as many of us get rid of party dresses and shirts that aren't getting an airing anytime soon. We speak to one woman who's had a big clearout...