to wonder what cuts YOU would make?

[jade80]

I keep reading threads about how a, b or c should not, under any circumstances have their funding cut. So, given that cuts have to be made because of ongoing overspending in recent decades, what would you, personally, choose to take the money away from?

i too think it's bollocks and keep meaning to read the shock doctrine

Some one way back said not allowing MP's to claim expenses to travel and stay in London. Why should my MP be penalised for living a long way from London???

because they currently earn enough to pay their own expenses

Actually I think that's unfair to expect an MP to pay their own expenses on 65k. It's a good salary but, considering the lack of job security, not ott. To have to pay to have two homes on that salary isn't fair and would mean that anyone in a permanent, stable decent paying job wouldn't want to become an MP.

the forces. not just what they get paid but all the other benefits - can buy new cars cheap, educate children cheaply, get subsidised housing, lump sum on leaving, let alone the BILLIONS spent on arms and generally keeping an army and all the families.... that is more than anything than can ever be saved... but yes, civil service should be completely overhauled..

cockneysparra that's why I'm not one

Do you think any of these suggestions are remotely constructive then? Just the usual 'let's put civil servants out of work and take their pensions away'- yes because that will make all the difference.

Urm, my point was about reforming the ridiculous and expensive criminal justice system in this country, actually, but hey ho.

i would cut art. in belfast they are spending 350,000 on a fecking "sculpture" on a roundabout. we live in fear of DH's job been cut but they can spend thousand upon thousands on shit bits of steel. also when they rebuilt the hospital dh works at they spend nearly 200,000 on "art". people can't get cancer drugs but you get to look at a bit of metal while your dying, great.

i would also stop name changing of govt departments. DH's employer went from being central services agency to the business services organisation. everything had to be changed from work uniforms pens paper signs on the lorrys new website etc. what a waste of money. i wonder how much money would have been saved if govt departments just kept their original name?

cut child benefit to families with more than 2 kids

cap benefits to what the average minimum wage earner would earn - you dont get a penny more regardless

stop throwing money at people and give them vouchers

I'd also cut sure start grants and health in pregnancy grants and all that other free money pople get just for being pregnant.

Curly i think they are cutting them

Reform and potentially scrap the health visiting service.

Review bureaucracy in the NHS and review whether treatments are essential.

Review politically correct monitoring by all state organisations. Sex, colour, race, etc., are irrelevant when the priority should be to provide an excellent service to all, not to have someone keying information into a database.

Reform the employment tribunals procedures and introduce a fee for all potential claimants.

Scrap the CRB and make senior managers responsible for hiring decisions and allowing them to say no because of an experience bound "gut" feeling rather than yet because of a clean check on someone who may never have been caught.

I would cut tax relief for private schools and for all but an elite of worthy charities .Especially religious charities: state should provide for all not one sector.

I would cut inheritance tax avoidance schemes that allows people to keep pictures and show them to the public for 30 mins a day.

I would make Vodafone, BHS and the like pay their fair share of taxes.

I would outlaw Jersery companies like Tesco and Amazon selling CDs and things under £10 duty free.

I would reform the tax breaks for VCT's

I would cap child benefit to 3 children per family (going forward).

I would outlaw leveraged buyouts as they enable companies to add spurious debts to their balance sheets and avoid tax.

Also if you leave to live in Switzerland like Lewis Hamilton, on your return you have to pay the balance of tax you missed out on paying. You're either in or your out, no middle measures.

I would also tax chewing gum heavily. It creates such a mess.

I'd cut child benefit-I don't think it's the Govt's responsibility to pay for children that women choose to have. Same goes for tax credit etc.

Have kids, in a state hospital if you wish (shudder) for free, go home, be visited by a midwife/HV, for free, get vaccinations, for free, send your child to school, for free....I don't believe the Govt need to be doing anymore than that.

Then again I'd cut MPs money back to basics (not minimum wage though) I'd shut libraries, but fund more into school libraries/colleges/universities.

I'd also make education compulsory to 18.

Id cut all the ridiculous quangos and adult education set up to distract unemplyed people from getting a job.

I'd scrap pretend qualifications like NVQs too.

I agree with compulsory ed until 18

Lady i guess you dont claim child benefit or the like

Many people only survive with these benefits, there are always convos on mn about that

I wont mention tax credits then lol

Lol porcine, i am only repeating what i have read regularly on here

No I don't. I survive from working hard through university (without loans and "free help") getting a job and working my backside off. If £20 a week is dictating whether or not your child EATS, then I think something has gone wrong somewhere.

I think it's good we have a safety net, but I don't believe people should be getting into the habit of free money. Not when it's money I have taken from my pay packet.

pull armed forces out of all foreign countries - save a packet - shame we didn't do it a few years ago

i also think burseries for university courses should go

So do I. Porcine, shall we just rule the world?

Maybe...if I havent been assassinated by the first few months of term