Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini Member of Parliament Ahmed Qarata said that the government is leaning towards reducing the number of high-cost allowance beneficiaries in 2016, in light of the general state budget figures and the indecisiveness of government opinion with regards to lifting subsidies on some commodities and services.

According to Al-Bilad newspaper, Qarata added that the budget of support given to families of limited income in the general state budget amounts to 115 million BD for 2015, and is reduced to 80 million and 500 thousand BD for 2016.

He further explained that the parliamentary governmental agreement states that the high-cost allowance beneficiaries be divided into three categories. The first category consists of those whose incomes don't exceed 300 BD i.e. 100 BD monthly; the second category comprises of citizens whose incomes are between 301 and 700 BD i.e. 70 BD monthly; and the third category consists of those whose incomes are between 701 and 1000 BD i.e. 50 BD monthly.

After taking a look at the general state budget figures, he wondered if this government approach which needs to be confirmed or denied "will affect only a number of high-cost allowance beneficiaries (in the 2016 budget) from one category, meaning that 100 BD will be given to those whose incomes do not exceed 300 dinars?".

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