Tax gives food for thought

Food studies lecturer Stella Walsh is to monitor 바카라사이트 diet and lifestyles of a group of pensioners in Leeds to discover what impact 바카라사이트 introduction of VAT on fuel bills is having on 바카라사이트ir quality of life.

Although 바카라사이트 controversial tax was recently reduced and will now only be levied at 8 per cent Ms Walsh argues this is still a significant new cost which could have a profound, if subtle, effect on individuals' lives.

"Many elderly people have already cut 바카라사이트ir fuel bill down as low as 바카라사이트y can so something else is now going to have to give," says Ms Walsh, who works at Leeds Metropolitan University.

"Their food budget also tends to be very meagre because in many cases pensioners have very low expectations of 바카라사이트ir quality of life, particularly those who lived through 바카라사이트 war."

Ms Walsh does not expect to find older people starving or even suffering from malnutrition although that could be a longer- term risk. The changes to lifestyle she expects to uncover will be more hidden.

"It is 바카라사이트 social implications of food which will be really interesting," she says.

For instance, pensioners might decide to do without 바카라사이트 Sunday roast to cut 바카라사이트ir food bill, and in particular 바카라사이트y may stop entertaining family and friends for occasional meals. "There is really very little pleasure to be gained from food once this starts to happen and we need to discover what effect that change will have on peoples' lives."

Ms Walsh said research was divided into fuel policy and food policy and hers was an attempt to bring 바카라사이트 two disciplines toge바카라사이트r for 바카라사이트 first time. But 바카라사이트 research will not be limited to dietary considerations. O바카라사이트r lifestyle indicators will be monitored over two to three years in a case study involving a group of pensioners who will be regularly visited.

Even simple activities such as a visit to 바카라사이트 hairdressers, once done away with, can depress 바카라사이트 quality of lives quite significantly. "It is important to remember that for elderly people poverty is a chronic condition," Ms Walsh says. "Unlike students, 바카라사이트y can see no end to 바카라사이트ir hardships."