Current Affairs

[Manoverboard]

Well I wonder how many hotels/restaurants etc will pass on the VAT reduction and how many will pocket the 15%?

We booked a Christmas/New Year break last week so it will be interesting to see what happens with the price.

It surely has to rocket ( up ) given the lack of numbers as compared to previous years ?

[Clophill4]

Be interesting to see how businesses show it if you ask for a VAT receipt

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'm not sure whether the intention is for the cut to be passed on to encourage trade or to enable the business to increase its profit while not increasing price. Either would possibly help the business to recover.

[david63]

I'm not sure whether the intention is for the cut to be passed on to encourage trade or to enable the business to increase its profit while not increasing price. Either would possibly help the business to recover.

I agree with that and after the 15th July a business can charge what it wants for its goods/services with the VAT included.

The interesting one is the situation I have where I booked accommodation when VAT was 20% but when it comes to having pay and the invoice issued VAT will be 5% - therefore I should be paying 14.3% less as VAT is added at the date of invoice.

I bet they would soon add it if VAT went up!

[Stephen]

I'm not sure whether the intention is for the cut to be passed on to encourage trade or to enable the business to increase its profit while not increasing price. Either would possibly help the business to recover.

I agree with that and after the 15th July a business can charge what it wants for its goods/services with the VAT included.

The interesting one is the situation I have where I booked accommodation when VAT was 20% but when it comes to having pay and the invoice issued VAT will be 5% - therefore I should be paying 14.3% less as VAT is added at the date of invoice.

I bet they would soon add it if VAT went up!

You hope, or they might say the VAT was at full price when you booked, so no change.

[Quizzical Bob]

I'm not sure whether the intention is for the cut to be passed on to encourage trade or to enable the business to increase its profit while not increasing price. Either would possibly help the business to recover.

I agree with that and after the 15th July a business can charge what it wants for its goods/services with the VAT included.

The interesting one is the situation I have where I booked accommodation when VAT was 20% but when it comes to having pay and the invoice issued VAT will be 5% - therefore I should be paying 14.3% less as VAT is added at the date of invoice.

I bet they would soon add it if VAT went up!

You hope, or they might say the VAT was at full price when you booked, so no change.

It’s a matter of when the tax point is created. This will vary depending on circumstances.

https://informi.co.uk/finance/what-tax- ... ding-vat-1

[Stephen]

BBC to go ahead with over-75s licence fee changes https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53347021


Oh dear......

[Mervyn and Trish]

No choice. Blame Theresa and Boris for dumping the bill on the BBC when the government knew it was unaffordable. The cuts you have recently seen are to save £25m extra spending incurred by putting it off during the Lockdown. The licences that will still be free to the worst off will cost them another £250m, ten times what you've seen so far. To keep them for all over 75s would have cost £750m, three times that.

And before anybody mentions Gary Lineker again (though they can certainly dump him as far as I'm concerned) the total cost of all the BBC's top paid freelance performers is less than £25m. So sacking the lot wouldn't help. Nor would sacking the higher paid staff. That's only another £15m. In fact sacking all staff would save around £1000m. So to save £750m would be pretty draconian.

There are no winners in this whichever way you look at it.

[Manoverboard]

There are no winners in this whichever way you look at it.

We're all losers then .... bet you're not even ever so nearly 75

[Onelife]

STOP all these unaffordable freebie handouts, apart for those who need them...tv licences, child bennift, winter fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, etc, etc should all be stopped or means tested.

I’ve never been able to get my head around why a Government thinks it makes economic sence to give freebies to those who, if they have to pull in their belts in a little (or not in many cases) should be entitled to money that could be put to better use…such as improving deprived council run housing estates/areas.

The imbalance in society needs to be change and the government needs to find the courage to stop appeasing the better off and get some perspective on which of society’s needs are greater.

[anniec]

STOP all these unaffordable freebie handouts, apart for those who need them...tv licences, child bennift, winter fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, etc, etc should all be stopped or means tested.

I’ve never been able to get my head around why a Government thinks it makes economic sence to give freebies to those who, if they have to pull in their belts in a little (or not in many cases) should be entitled to money that could be put to better use…such as improving deprived council run housing estates/areas.

The imbalance in society needs to be change and the government needs to find the courage to stop appeasing the better off and get some perspective on which of society’s needs are greater.

I agree. So many of us pensioners have far more disposable income than other generations. Trouble is, we also roll out of bed and head off to the polling booths. Social care needs the money far more than most of us - the government has committed to sorting that out. We shall see.

Wait till they find out the triple lock is going...

[barney]

I'm not too concerned about the BBC at all.
It doesn't seem logical to have a state sponsored broadcaster anyway in this commercial age.
I'd reckon that if they had to really compete in the commercial world, it would soon disappear.

If it was called what it actually is, a compulsory tax, then there would be even more opposition to it.
By calling it a license fee, it sort of glosses over it.

Maybe some think that the charge is worth it.
Put it to the test and see how many opt out.

I certainly wouldn't bother.
I listen to Radio four every now and then and the local news at 6.30, but that's probably about it.
I occasionally have Radio two in the car but wouldn't be concerned if it wasn't there.
There are loads of stations to choose from that don't charge.

Thinking about it, we don't watch much on the beeb.
I like the Repair shop but if the BBC wasn't there, another station would pick it up for sure.

I think that days of a tax funded broadcaster is long out of date.
Latest figure was 1.9 million households are not paying.
Maybe it's time to give people the choice.
Pay and watch or don't pay and watch other channels.

I have Sky and Netflix, both through choice.
To watch either of these, I have to pay the BBC as well.
Doesn't really make much sense when looked at this way, does it?

[Stephen]

STOP all these unaffordable freebie handouts, apart for those who need them...tv licences, child bennift, winter fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, etc, etc should all be stopped or means tested.

I’ve never been able to get my head around why a Government thinks it makes economic sence to give freebies to those who, if they have to pull in their belts in a little (or not in many cases) should be entitled to money that could be put to better use…such as improving deprived council run housing estates/areas.

The imbalance in society needs to be change and the government needs to find the courage to stop appeasing the better off and get some perspective on which of society’s needs are greater.

For once I whole heartedly agree with you Keith. Can't chat any more or I'll be late for the food bank

[Manoverboard]

STOP all these unaffordable freebie handouts, apart for those who need them...tv licences, child bennift, winter fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, etc, etc should all be stopped or means tested.

I’ve never been able to get my head around why a Government thinks it makes economic sence to give freebies to those who, if they have to pull in their belts in a little (or not in many cases) should be entitled to money that could be put to better use…such as improving deprived council run housing estates/areas.

The imbalance in society needs to be change and the government needs to find the courage to stop appeasing the better off and get some perspective on which of society’s needs are greater.

Who will decide who needs what ?

Means testing can cost more than the benefit itself and you should try to remember that many of us have paid dearly, indeed continue so to do, for some of the fringe benefits that we presently receive. I can eek out a meal several days a week AND a TV licence but would suggest to you that the winter fuel allowance is of great value to some but I do think that it should be taxed rather than scrapped. I agree that one's Christmas bonus should be scrapped.

What I do not agree with is your blanket idea of throwing the money at folk who live on the Council Estates. It will be wasted but less so if the recipients were made to perform some type of additional Community work for their extra receipts. Sitting on one's backside watching the telly while waiting for extra handouts is NOT the way to go as far as I am concerned in spite of having lived on one many years ago.
.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'd just put all these benefits into the pension. You could increase the gross so the poorer could get more money and the better off would pay tax so the net government spending was no different. And the saving on admin would be huge.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I did hear a stupid argument today that some of the poorer pensioners who would be eligible if they claimed pension credit actually won't be because they don't bother to claim the credit. Well I'm sorry but if you're eligible for a benefit but don't bother to claim it you can hardly claim poverty.

[screwy]

Is it me just being a cynical sod,No, don’t answer that.! Watching the news last night they were talking about school children who don’t have a computer etc, being left behind in their schooling.! Well, I’m sorry but I didn’t have technology,we didn’t have an encyclopaedia etc, I had to listen and take in what the teacher was saying.

[Onelife]

STOP all these unaffordable freebie handouts, apart for those who need them...tv licences, child bennift, winter fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, etc, etc should all be stopped or means tested.

I’ve never been able to get my head around why a Government thinks it makes economic sence to give freebies to those who, if they have to pull in their belts in a little (or not in many cases) should be entitled to money that could be put to better use…such as improving deprived council run housing estates/areas.

The imbalance in society needs to be change and the government needs to find the courage to stop appeasing the better off and get some perspective on which of society’s needs are greater.

Who will decide who needs what ?

Means testing can cost more than the benefit itself and you should try to remember that many of us have paid dearly, indeed continue so to do, for some of the fringe benefits that we presently receive. I can eek out a meal several days a week AND a TV licence but would suggest to you that the winter fuel allowance is of great value to some but I do think that it should be taxed rather than scrapped. I agree that one's Christmas bonus should be scrapped.

What I do not agree with is your blanket idea of throwing the money at folk who live on the Council Estates. It will be wasted but less so if the recipients were made to perform some type of additional Community work for their extra receipts. Sitting on one's backside watching the telly while waiting for extra handouts is NOT the way to go as far as I am concerned in spite of having lived on one many years ago.
.

That’s a good question Mob because it certainly shouldn’t be the Government who clearly don’t have a clue how to tackle the needs of those stuck in run-down low-income council estates. They have been all too happy putting plasters on the problem hoping the problem will heal by itself.

What is needed is a vision and the willingness to make change, then get an independent body to enact a policy that see these rat holes brought up to a standard that gives the inhabitants pride in where they live or what I think would be a better solution… a 50 year plan of replacing our run down rat holes of council estates and replace then using a ‘rural footprint’ of both private and social dwellings together… tree lined streets with open green spaces. starting with a new estate in the lovely countryside of Devon…however if this was rejected by a few grumpy old residents then they should start building new estates on the outskirts of every large town and city in the country.

Most of us have paid our dues and those who have through their own endeavours and opportunity deserve its rewards, but if they do find themselves having a genuine need for fuel allowances etc one would hope the cut of point would be set at a level that covers this section of people… nevertheless, us x council estate dwellers know how to find and chop a bit of kindling for our wood burning stoves, unlike some who a stove would be no use at all because they have very few trees in concrete jungles.


I didn’t say ‘throw money at the people’ I was thinking more along the lines of a structured approach of money distribution. I do however agree with you about getting paid for what you earn and that is another area where successive governments have missed an opportunity…there are many areas where their skills could be utilised without any impact on the fully employed.

[Onelife]

STOP all these unaffordable freebie handouts, apart for those who need them...tv licences, child bennift, winter fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, etc, etc should all be stopped or means tested.

I’ve never been able to get my head around why a Government thinks it makes economic sence to give freebies to those who, if they have to pull in their belts in a little (or not in many cases) should be entitled to money that could be put to better use…such as improving deprived council run housing estates/areas.

The imbalance in society needs to be change and the government needs to find the courage to stop appeasing the better off and get some perspective on which of society’s needs are greater.

For once I whole heartedly agree with you Keith. Can't chat any more or I'll be late for the food bank

If the government did change its policy I would be delighted knowing that the money would be going to people like you Stephen …chin up mate your Carnival shares will go up…. eventually!!

[towny44]

STOP all these unaffordable freebie handouts, apart for those who need them...tv licences, child bennift, winter fuel allowance, Christmas bonus, etc, etc should all be stopped or means tested.

I’ve never been able to get my head around why a Government thinks it makes economic sence to give freebies to those who, if they have to pull in their belts in a little (or not in many cases) should be entitled to money that could be put to better use…such as improving deprived council run housing estates/areas.

The imbalance in society needs to be change and the government needs to find the courage to stop appeasing the better off and get some perspective on which of society’s needs are greater.

Who will decide who needs what ?

Means testing can cost more than the benefit itself and you should try to remember that many of us have paid dearly, indeed continue so to do, for some of the fringe benefits that we presently receive. I can eek out a meal several days a week AND a TV licence but would suggest to you that the winter fuel allowance is of great value to some but I do think that it should be taxed rather than scrapped. I agree that one's Christmas bonus should be scrapped.

What I do not agree with is your blanket idea of throwing the money at folk who live on the Council Estates. It will be wasted but less so if the recipients were made to perform some type of additional Community work for their extra receipts. Sitting on one's backside watching the telly while waiting for extra handouts is NOT the way to go as far as I am concerned in spite of having lived on one many years ago.
.

That’s a good question Mob because it certainly shouldn’t be the Government who clearly don’t have a clue how to tackle the needs of those stuck in run-down low-income council estates. They have been all too happy putting plasters on the problem hoping the problem will heal by itself.

What is needed is a vision and the willingness to make change, then get an independent body to enact a policy that see these rat holes brought up to a standard that gives the inhabitants pride in where they live or what I think would be a better solution… a 50 year plan of replacing our run down rat holes of council estates and replace then using a ‘rural footprint’ of both private and social dwellings together… tree lined streets with open green spaces. starting with a new estate in the lovely countryside of Devon…however if this was rejected by a few grumpy old residents then they should start building new estates on the outskirts of every large town and city in the country.

Most of us have paid our dues and those who have through their own endeavours and opportunity deserve its rewards, but if they do find themselves having a genuine need for fuel allowances etc one would hope the cut of point would be set at a level that covers this section of people… nevertheless, us x council estate dwellers know how to find and chop a bit of kindling for our wood burning stoves, unlike some who a stove would be no use at all because they have very few trees in concrete jungles.


I didn’t say ‘throw money at the people’ I was thinking more along the lines of a structured approach of money distribution. I do however agree with you about getting paid for what you earn and that is another area where successive governments have missed an opportunity…there are many areas where their skills could be utilised without any impact on the fully employed.

Having collected paper money on a council estate as a young man, I can advise from personal experience that no matter how smart and freshened up you make the estates, some tenants will have their house and gardens scruffy again in no time. Whereas other tenants houses will be spick and span year after year, how or even why they bothered if they had a scruffy neighbour I could never understand.
And from personal experience it was generally the wealthier ones with several wage earners in the family who were the scruffiest.

[Stephen]

Is it me just being a cynical sod,No, don’t answer that.! Watching the news last night they were talking about school children who don’t have a computer etc, being left behind in their schooling.! Well, I’m sorry but I didn’t have technology,we didn’t have an encyclopaedia etc, I had to listen and take in what the teacher was saying.

I thought the same.

Teach them how to read, write and add up before fannying about with computers. And as for the queens English, half of them can't speak properly ......innit, like.

[Onelife]

Hi John.....not a lot has changed since you were collecting paper money and l was living on our council estate. There are those who live like pigs and who have total disregard for the upkeep of their gardens etc (if they have them) I'm sure we could both come up with various reasons why this happens, one, l would suggest is that the respective councils/associations have been far to lapse in allowing neighbourhoods to be blighted by inconsiderate neighbours (One pigsty ruins the whole street and ultimately the whole neighbourhood if left to go unchecked) Another is the cultural diversity whereby some cultures deem it ok to use their gardens as rubbish dumps.

Whatever the reason stricter enforced tenancy aggrement would/could have eradicated most, if not all of these problems,

The point I'm trying to make ( not very well l know) is that most of theses 1950's constructed council estates need a massive refurbishment program, but whatever refurbishment program is put in place it has to be on the understanding that area-based improvements are also needed, one without the other leaves them back where they started..

There is no easy solution but to carry along the same path will ultimately create a bigger divide between the have's and the have nots and this in the longer term will create social disharmony on a scale never seen in this country before.

[Onelife]

Is it me just being a cynical sod,No, don’t answer that.! Watching the news last night they were talking about school children who don’t have a computer etc, being left behind in their schooling.! Well, I’m sorry but I didn’t have technology,we didn’t have an encyclopaedia etc, I had to listen and take in what the teacher was saying.

I'm not about to go trawling through articles to back this up but l'm pretty sure children without computers are at a disadvantage where schooling is concerned. Computers are today's dictionary and as such are, l would imagine, an essential tool in home revision etc.. but to get a more definitive answer on this you'll have to ask a teacher.

[towny44]

Is it me just being a cynical sod,No, don’t answer that.! Watching the news last night they were talking about school children who don’t have a computer etc, being left behind in their schooling.! Well, I’m sorry but I didn’t have technology,we didn’t have an encyclopaedia etc, I had to listen and take in what the teacher was saying.

I'm not about to go trawling through articles to back this up but l'm pretty sure children without computers are at a disadvantage where schooling is concerned. Computers are today's dictionary and as such are, l would imagine, an essential tool in home revision etc.. but to get a more definitive answer on this you'll have to ask a teacher.

At present while schools are closed they are certainly at a major disadvantage if they don't have any internet access.

[Stephen]

Is it me just being a cynical sod,No, don’t answer that.! Watching the news last night they were talking about school children who don’t have a computer etc, being left behind in their schooling.! Well, I’m sorry but I didn’t have technology,we didn’t have an encyclopaedia etc, I had to listen and take in what the teacher was saying.

I'm not about to go trawling through articles to back this up but l'm pretty sure children without computers are at a disadvantage where schooling is concerned. Computers are today's dictionary and as such are, l would imagine, an essential tool in home revision etc.. but to get a more definitive answer on this you'll have to ask a teacher.

Sorry Keith, I'm old school and disagree.

Pick up a dictionary and find the correct word and how it is spelt.

Pick up a book and read it.

Use your brain to work out math equations.

Use pen and paper to write.

When you have mastered the basics, then go onto computer technology.