Petition Petition against proposals for a benefits chargecard

This is a petition against the proposals by the current government to pay benefits into a card scheme limiting what claimants can spend thier benefits on.
Many claimants, (and low income workers too!) rely on being able to carefully budget thier money like going to charity shops or cheap online auctions for clothes/ homewares, buying items in small local shops/ markets. Chain stores simply are too expensive. How will parents pay for school trips? How will somone studying or re-training pay for required books or DVDs for thier course?
In addition to these, and countless other issues, this will also increase the crime rate as people become desparate for cash to survive.
It will also cause the demise of small businesses in deprived areas, which have relied upon the regular custom of low income people local to their area.
We, the undersigned, strongly urge the government to re-consider this proposal.
Thanking you for your attention in this matter;