What Goverment spending would you cut? poll discussion 8 June 2010 at 11:56AM edited 8 June 2010 at 12:06PM in MoneySaving polls 248 replies 24.8K views

Former_MSE_Wendy

Poll Started 08 June 2010:

What Goverment spending would you cut?

The Prime Minister and Chancellor have both confirmed that the country will need to face swinging cuts in public spending, with David Cameron announcing they will consult the public for ideas on where pennies and pounds could be saved.

If you were in charge, which of these areas of government spending would you think should most be cut?

A. Defence (military spending - £35bn)
B. Education (schools and universities - £32bn)
C. Environment (waste and pollution - £5bn)
D. Health (the NHS £124bn)
E. Housing £4bn
F. Law & Order (police and courts - £15bn)
G. Overseas aid (money to the developing world – £12bn)
H. Social Protection (state pension and benefits - £171 bn)
I . Transport (roads & railways - £11bn)

Please vote here or click ‘post reply’ to discuss below.

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happyrichard

I voted for the NHS. I know it will be unpopular, but I feel that NHS managers do not contribute much, if anything at all, and I feel that they are often wasteful with resources. I think if they were reduced in number, we would see little change to the performance of the NHS and save lots of money.

If I could have voted for number 2, I would cut child tax credits for all. Some people clearly do not need this to help with bringing up a child and lots of money every month could be saved.

I know that these may be unpopular, but I think that some very unpopular choices need to be made.

eileenfromplaistow

Streamline the Police, AND CUT THEIR OVERTIME.

amy21_84

Benefits, without a doubt.

I agree with benefits to some extent, most of us experience times in our life when we need help, but i am fed up with paying for people to sit on their backside all day complaining they can't get a job (when in fact they just cannot be bothered).

The only people who should be entitled to benefits are severely disabled/ ill people and their carers, OAPs and people who have been made redundant (for max a year, but there should be higher payments for people with mortgages). If these were the only people the government could then give back the savings to people who work by taxing us slightly less, then everyone would have more money to spend on what they need. Everyone else who claim they just can’t get a job should have to do community work in order to get there benefits, otherwise they don’t get them.

Single parents who are looking after young children and don’t wish to work should have someone paying their share of that child anyway (like the absent mother/ father), which should be far stricter (DNA testing should be mandatory for people who claim it isn’t there’s – but if it comes back as wrong ei, mother doesn’t know who the father is and just accuses a list of potential men, then that person should pay a fine to the person they accuse!). If they need their benefits topping up to feed their child then they should only get vouchers, and nothing else.

I live in a flat which I brought 2 years ago, and the flat above me is council. I have had 3 couples living up there since I moved in the first was a mother and child, she openly told me she was claiming benefits for being a single parent when dad came and stayed round practically every night (also claiming benefits and had a council flat!). When she couldn’t get the council to give her a house (she claimed the 1 bed flat was too small for her and her 2 year old – obviously couldn’t just be honest and say it was too small for her, her partner and child as they would loose vital benefits) she then became pregnant again (yes with the same bloke) and then she got moved to a house. Second couple actually worked, but only stayed there for 5 months. Third couple (there now), both don’t work, he has two kids already by another women and now his current g/f he lives with is pregnant, so yet another mouth to feed on benefits! Both couples which were on benefits always had the latest technology, mobiles, TV’s, IPods, play stations – more than I have!!!! To top it all off, they ring up kingfisher (the leaseholder) every 5 mins with a problem and guess who has to pay half the bill if its communal….me!!!!!! Last year I had to pay £650, this year it was £450, I have not once rang them with a problem. The only bills I should have to pay is ground rent, lighting and building insurance, which on their own would only cost me a combined £80. It a bloody joke!!

Ok, rant over, but you get my point. We live in a society where you work hard and do everything yourself you get nothing (oh no sorry, I am entitled to 25% off council tax as I live on my own, even though it’s based on 2 adults sharing so shouldn’t that mean I should get 50% discount!!??) but if you do nothing, don’t work, s**t on society you get everything for free. Think I made the wrong choice somewhere!!!!

ehlo

All overseas aid. There is no reason for us to give money away until our own debts are completely resolved

You could also argue that our taxes should not be going to foreign countries anyway. People with money to give away should be able to have control themselves over where it goes (which specific countries it goes to etc).

spendalot_sanj

NHS staff numbers have grown disproportionately against population, unpopular but required. If possible reduce staffing numbers to year 2000 figures. And resolve issue with pensions, public sector pensions are not properly funded.

dunncha

Why cut when that will just make matters worse. Just put everybodies Tax up, everybody in the country, including those on Benefits, Pensions, Incapacity, Non-DOMS - Rich and poor alike.

That way everybody in the country can contribute and equally feel the sting. There will be less people loosing there jobs which is going to be increasing hard to replace with so many losing their jobs.

of course the rich wouldn't be happy? Wouldn't effect the uber-rich I know because they don't pay tax anyway.

This is gonna sting so lets see what's stinging us rather than find Cancer Wards being cut after we have been diagnoised with cancer. And don't believe the rubbish about front-line services... everything is a front line service to somebody.

Rant over......

in_the_Cotswolds

I chose the NHS. It may be unpopular but if it was streamlined and wasn't so top heavy with managers managing managers the money saved could be spent on front line services. And keeping the wards clean.

Geoffsave

ehlo wrote: »

All overseas aid. There is no reason for us to give money away until our own debts are completely resolved

You could also argue that our taxes should not be going to foreign countries anyway. People with money to give away should be able to have control themselves over where it goes (which specific countries it goes to etc).

How sad that you don't realize how well off you are.
Ever visited the third world?

ehlo

Geoffsave wrote: »

How sad that you don't realize how well off you are.
Ever visited the third world?

Multiple times.

PasturesNew

It's not that easy. I'd vote for a cut across ALL budgets for "non jobs" where they exist.