They look at Government policy in terms of prices and see a country where the Government has consciously added to overall costs, a situation further fuelled by the Government decision to increase VAT rates from 12.5% to 13.5% in this Finance Bill, increasing costs for an average family by €182. They see motor tax increased by €30, hospital charges increased by €133, the qualifying threshold for the drugs refund scheme increased by almost €200, VHI costs up by €66, cigarettes and alcohol up by €180, bank charges up by €83, ESB bills up by €72 and college fees up by €275. All of these increases are a direct consequence of a conscious decision as part of the Minister's budgetary policy.