Coach Concession Cuts - not Scotland !

margaretclare

Farway wrote: »

Maybe I am in a different [English] world, I was not even aware there were half price coach concessions, but then I never use coaches, or trains come to that, just local buses or my car, so for me the cancellation of the subsidy has no effect, except perhaps a bit less public expenditure on those who can afford to pay full price anyway

PS, before you ask, I do use my free bus pass, and I can afford to pay full fare, however if the free pass was withdrawn I would just use my car instead

I am similar. I don't use any such concessionary fares and haven't even got a free bus pass. But that doesn't mean I'm not acutely aware of anomalies which only apply within my nation's borders and nowhere else within the UK.

GlynD

margaretclare wrote: »

Yes, that is right. I assume everyone knows what is meant by the West Lothian Question? No?

This question was posed some years ago now by Tam Dalyell who at that time was MP for West Lothian.

It still remains the case that Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can debate and decide on matters that apply only in England, whereas the converse is not the case.

To my mind the answer is simple: a parliamentary session which pertains to England only and which the Irish, Scottish and Welsh members are barred from attending and/or voting in.

margaretclare

GlynD wrote: »

To my mind the answer is simple: a parliamentary session which pertains to England only and which the Irish, Scottish and Welsh members are barred from attending and/or voting in.

It may be simple, but I would guess that there are many reasons why it wouldn't work. There have been proposals put forward that English MPs only should be entitled to vote on English matters. I think you'd find that, because the other national MPs are also full members of the Westminster Parliament, there would be objections and reasons put forward as to why they were being treated as 'second-class citizens' i.e. not allowed to vote on all matters. This has been discussed at length, was proposed at one time by the former MP Malcolm Rifkind, among others.

GlynD

margaretclare wrote: »

It may be simple, but I would guess that there are many reasons why it wouldn't work. There have been proposals put forward that English MPs only should be entitled to vote on English matters. I think you'd find that, because the other national MPs are also full members of the Westminster Parliament, there would be objections and reasons put forward as to why they were being treated as 'second-class citizens' i.e. not allowed to vote on all matters. This has been discussed at length, was proposed at one time by the former MP Malcolm Rifkind, among others.

But surely this already exists in the form of Scottish Questions, Welsh Questions and Northern Ireland Questions which English MP's are prohibited from sitting in on? Why can't there be a simple English Questions session for English MP's only.

Farway

GlynD wrote: »

But surely this already exists in the form of Scottish Questions, Welsh Questions and Northern Ireland Questions which English MP's are prohibited from sitting in on? Why can't there be a simple English Questions session for English MP's only.

Because the other nations' MPs, who are entitled to vote on English questions, would block it the first time it was proposed?

GlynD

Farway wrote: »

Because the other nations' MPs, who are entitled to vote on English questions, would block it the first time it was proposed?

The English MP's far outnumber the MP's from the other constituent nations, even when lumped together.

scotsbob

cinderfella wrote: »

I thought we were all equal in the UK, yet Scotland is free from Prescription charges & now this. Looks as if Scotland is more equal than England. Total farce.

It all comes down to how you allocate your funds. Just like budgeting in a home, you have to make choices.

Now you can have Olympic games, domes and that eyesore of a wheel, or you can have subsidised transport, no tuition fees and free prescriptions.

Farway

scotsbob wrote: »

It all comes down to how you allocate your funds. Just like budgeting in a home, you have to make choices.

Now you can have Olympic games, domes and that eyesore of a wheel, or you can have subsidised transport, no tuition fees and free prescriptions.

And you can invade Iraq, Afghanistan & bomb Libya

Now I am into rant mode :mad: