One of Reading’s MPs is set to take the government to task over the cost of living crisis and its economic policies.

Matt Rodda the Labour MP for Reading East, is campaigning for measures to help alleviate financial pressure on people and businesses with changes to government policy.

Mr Rodda has launched a survey asking for residents about their experiences amid the cost of living crisis.

Questions include ‘how concerned are you about the cost of living crisis’; and ‘are you having to make changes to your household budget to respond to the cost of living crisis?’

It also asks what adjustments people are making as a result of the crisis, such as cutting  back on food shopping using the car less, socialising less, or turning the heating down or not using it altogether.

Furthermore, respondents are asked how much their gas and electricity bills have gone up per month. 

It is understood the data will be used to urge the government to make changes to help people and businesses.

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In Parliament, Mr Rodda has been calling on the government to freeze energy bills and levy a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, get rid of VAT on energy bills, increase the Warm Home Discount, insulate two million more homes this year, and cut business rates for small businesses.

He’s also argued  the Government’s energy price guarantee of £2,500 ‘does not go far enough to help people, and will have to be repaid by future generations’

Mr Rodda said: “Families and pensioners are under enormous pressure due to rising energy and food costs and they are now facing a significant rise in mortgages and rents.

“I am raising this in Parliament and calling on the Government to scrap its mini budget.

“Filling in the survey will help me understand more about the issues facing residents and I’d like to thank everyone who has completed it for their views.”

You can fill the survey out here.

A video has been shot to the launch the survey, filmed at the Weller Centre in Caversham:

Mr Rodda visited the Weller Centre to hear how volunteers there are helping people in the crisis, both through its foodbank and its designation as a ‘warm bank’ – somewhere people can visit to heat up in an  effort to avoid skyrocketing heating bills at home.

The survey has also been circulated in a letter to constituents.

In the letter Mr Rodda states he has already heard from a number of people, including a teaching assistant who was already spending over 70 per cent  of their income on rent – with the rest now going towards paying energy bills.