What Goverment spending would you cut? poll discussion

The_MoneySavingKid

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

In my opinion.

• We should get out of the EU we are paying £6.4 billion this year which is double that paid of 2008 and £7.9 billion next year FOR WHAT? :mad::mad:

I think that is for economic reasons, i.e Trade. Only figures I could find was:
Main source of imports:
European Union 55%

Main export markets:
European Union 57%

As of 2008.

SD-253

CUT DEFENSE? IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR? It is unbelievable just how selfish people can be.
OVERSEAS AID? Cut it? I am afraid I think they will benefit more in the long run by fending for themselves than with the are aid which often has the opposite effect IE giving away free food causing there own farmers to go hungry. Reduce it steadily OR look at ways of relieving there long term problems.
BENEFITS Once on benefits and you are working class IE no chance of a well paid job and you have kids and living in rented accommodation. You would be mad to get a job absolutely potty. Maybe something needs to be done about that. Also remember Labour reduced the unemployment count by increasing those on sickness benefits IE income support and disability living allowance.....how are you going to get these people of again they are not daft?????????? Even if they are working class!!!!

snooky

robin_banks wrote: »

The argument used to be "aid brings trade".

I'm not sure if it does, maybe another poster can provide some evidence one way or t'other.

You mean like all the trade India gets from offshoring jobs previously held by UK workers? Sounds like a bargain to me!

swifts_2

I'm very surprised at the low vote for Road & Rail... Rail certainly requires some investment but under the 'roads' part of the DfT comes the Highways Agency! I've been a consultant over the past number of years and year on year I'm exasperated at the waste of OUR money being spent, not particularly on roads itself and are we aware of the following:
There are 5 regional HA offices all in prime city centre locations, Birmingham has just moved into the most prestigious building in town and Manchester are about to to the same. there are upwards to 1000 employees in each building.
There are 7 Regional Control Centres (Traffic Officer Service) who has actually seen a benefit of these guys and at what cost... in the south they haemorrhage staff to call centres once they know what's required of them, so training is a costly business
There are 13 Area Teams, run by the Private Sector, Amey, Atkins and the like, so why is there the need for the HA Regional Teams?
They employee consultants and contractors like you'd never imagine!
There is a programme underway for more Managed Motorways, technology gone mad here at the cost of billions. Lets stop that for a start. So I vote we look at the ROADS side of DfT as a priority!

robin_banks

brandeberryj wrote: »

CUT DEFENSE? IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR? It is unbelievable just how selfish people can be.

Ahem, maybe we shouldn't be at 'war', not that a state of war actually exists between the UK and Iraq and Afghanistan.

Why as an island do we need the largest land forces in Europe (Russia excepted), larger than say France, Germany, Spain, Poland.

Part of the German cuts include huge defence cuts, and I can't think why we don't follow suit.

Oldbiggles

It’s a shame that the poll has lumped together:

”H. Social Protection State Pensions and Benefits”.

Working people have contributed all their working lives for a state pension whereas a good proportion of those on benefits have contributed nothing and are never likely to do so. I’m sure there would be a different answer to this poll if the two were separated.

ladyesmereldaprice

I vote the NHS. Bring back the old 'time and motion' man/person and see how much could be cut from the NHS budget!!

Oldbiggles

Originally Posted by Robin Banks.

'Why as an island do we need the largest land forces in Europe (Russia excepted), larger than say France, Germany, Spain, Poland.
Part of the German cuts include huge defence cuts, and I can't think why we don't follow suit.[/QUOTE]'

The last time we followed Germany with defence cuts after the first world war, they then rearmed with a vengence and we all know what happened next.

:spam:

Pont

Oldbiggles wrote: »

It’s a shame that the poll has lumped together:

”H. Social Protection State Pensions and Benefits”.

Working people have contributed all their working lives for a state pension whereas a good proportion of those on benefits have contributed nothing and are never likely to do so. I’m sure there would be a different answer to this poll if the two were separated.

Totally agree.

charliewiggs

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

In my opinion

• Overseas aid should be cut completely.
• We should get out of the EU we are paying £6.4 billion this year which is double that paid of 2008 and £7.9 billion next year FOR WHAT? :mad::mad:
• Anyone with a household income of over £40,000 p.a should not get Child Benefit or Child Tax Credits.
• Get rid of the child trust fund it is acomplete waste of time and money
• Get rid of translation services - if you live here you MUST speak and read English
• Sorry but if you are not born in this country and haven't worked here for at least five years you should not be entitled to free health care, education, being top of the list for housing or benefits of any kind including pensions, CTC, CB etc. How can you benefit from something you have never contributed to? This should help with immigration numbers as well. No discrimination on this whether you come from outside the EU or within the EU
• Cut Beauracracy in Schools, Health, and Social Services and cut overpaid management staff in these areas.
• Cut Quangos
• All councils should have a Government audit to see where money is being wasted
• Cut the amount of consultants used in local government.
• Scotland and Wales should have to pay for prescriptions why do we have to subsidise them when we are paying £7.50 per item :mad: make everyone pay £7.50 per prescription not item would be much fairer no matter how many items are on there.
• Get rid of NICE
• Income Tax and NI should go up by 1p in the pound

Some of these measures might be attacked by the pc brigade but I feel it is the only way to reduce the black hole this country finds itself in

could not agree more