'What should I ask George Osborne? Question suggestions wanted.' blog discussion

harryhound

Retro_Bunny wrote: »

Two questions for George Osbourne.

Please ask him if he intends to scrap copper coins (1p and 2p), and round all prices off to the nearest 5p (like in Australia)?

I'd love to know how much it costs the Royal Mint to produce 1p and 2p, and how many are lost. The metal costs must be high...
I read an article (maybe on MSE) saying that around 80% of coppers are not in circulation (stuck in charity tins and large whisky bottles etc.) therefore the mint has to keep churning them out to keep enough in circulation.
In order to remove the coppers from circulation, he could do something with the charities to collect them in and recycle the metal? (like with the old European currencies)

"Copper" coins stopped being copper some time ago - they are only steel "washers" these days. Just try your fridge magnet on them.

harryhound

mohthom wrote: »

I'd like to know what he's going to do to reverse the effects of the Pareto Principle, both in supply and consumption.

Thanks Martin,

MohThoM

?????????????????????????????????????????
Wot has the 80/20 rule got to do with this?
Are you worried about the return of swastikas as a political symbol?

donny-gal

Hi Martin

I have just driven back from Spain via France, and have been surprised at how much building is going on in France. One Billboard I passed and only got a glimse of was suggesting 0% tax on house purchase and now was the time to buy. Whether this was one particular company or a government scheme I am unsure, it was in Bordeaux by the way. However, I do see measures at helping get the housing market moving, thus providing homes easier for those to get on the ladder, and jobs for the construction sector, is a plus. Are they looking at any measures especially for lower priced homes to ease stamp duty, and higher the ceiling at which it starts?

DG

harryhound

The French government has not had to spend tens of thousands per citizen cancelling debts and buying up bankrupt banks.
Bouncing a cheque is a criminal offence in France.

lolpotts

what will they do about married couples with no children who both work and earn less than £35,000 pa but pay full taxes but don't get any benefits. No free laptops or internet for us hard working tax payers!!!!!

ed123_2

....you could ask does his mum let him play out late.........or failing that when will he abolish tax on savings for basic rate taxpayers as previously promised ?

lichtielass

I would like to know how they are going to money into a new system of getting back into employment and also what money will be garenteeed for each area of socal services like homelessness, disabilities, elderly, schools, NHS and so on as money has been getting cut in these areas and it must be addressed. And where will the cuts be then??

Fire_Fox

What extra benefits, tax breaks or grants will the opposition offer single people living alone on benefits or a low income and when? Seems like every concession is aimed at families or pensioners.

Two years ago the poverty line for a single adult was £115 a week; I currently 'take home' £63 JSA which is far below the poverty line. Of that £10 is spend on electricity alone - to achieve this figure I maintained my heating at 14C through the winter. I know of two other single MSEers and one real life single friend who did much the same. This is just one example of the kind of poverty single people on a low income are experiencing.

"Households are considered by the Government to be in 'fuel poverty' if they would have to spend more than 10% of their household income on fuel to keep their home in a 'satisfactory' condition. It is thus a measure which compares income with what the fuel costs 'should be' rather than what they actually are."
http://www.cpag.org.uk/povertyfacts/index.htm

carmartercon

ask him please..... why should pensioners pay tax on pensions?
having paid full NI and tax all my life and only get a government pension and a small private pension half my private pension is tax!

tomell

I would love to ask him if he thinks its right or fair that these appointed company directors of large institutions and the like, Can give themselves huge huge bonuses of millions of pounds while they force the lower paid workers to take pay cuts and worse terms and conditions.
I think the government and company executives are an absolute disgrace allowing this to happen ( as in the banking sector,royal mail etc.etc.)
where will it end when we are on poverty level wages.