She was with a [partner LOl, but she tossed him out. No idea why.
What do I suggest?
maintaining existing loan system- you get to study (and friend is paying hers back) but you will pay. I am not advocating giving everyone random cash. I treat my student debt as an extra tax on the extra education I was lucky enough to receive.
As for saving money, i'd start with trident. then replace Cb with a universal fsm service as detailed either here or on parallel thread- pre school children would get a payment made through tax credits iof entitled at any lvel (CTC or TC at any amount); then we'd scrap teh entire admin system behind CB, cut the cost of FSM's as an addition to CB and manage to make sure the kids saw the benefit.
I'd make it impossible for dads to shirk avoiding paying for tehir kids without a guranteed prison sentence (if on benefits they would still contribute something)... tehreby promoting responsibility and helping to cut benefit bill at fatehr's expense.
I would pay half benefit for children conceived whilst on benefits after the second; enough to feed them, and rely on hand me downs, but less incentive.
I would offer a disocunt on a massive hike in CGT to landlords willing to accept HB tenants (minimum 2 years) , thereby dealing with housing issues at least in part as well (HB tenant could be made to pay insurance top up and deposit of curse)
I would introduce a voluntary charge for non means tested provision- for example, my boys may get a place on a council disability playscheme this year. if they do, Dh adn I woudl be happy to pay £5 each per session from their DLA; there is no system to allow us to do so.
I would pay CA in teh break over the summer for students to enable carers to get work well paid enough to get off benefits and paying taxes. let's face it, if your child needs a nanny 1-1, Asda ain;t gonna cut it.
I would cut CTF and even if at all possible ask people to consider voluntaruly returning their payments: I would, happily. I want money for food now, not lsoing value in a bank for the distant future. I would give H in P grants only to those on the usual qualifying benefits.
I would means test bus passes for pensioners by simply attaching eligibility to eligibility for pension credit to avoid thecosts of admin related to means testing specifically.
I'd be trawling through quangos and the management level of public services would be haled; I would be seriously looking at teh foreign office and halving ambassadors to non threat countries ( 30 to Americ a IIRC- do they not ahve telehones and internet there, then?)
Looking at all Government owned properties: last time I temped in a public service there were three of us in an office for 60. they could ahve easily sold teh block for ££££££ and bought somewhere a tenth of teh price.
Cut the law stopping people with degrees from receiving funding for college courses- a random degree that could never be used is no use to society whereas a qualification at NVQ3 saves loads if it gets someone in work, of benefits and paying tax absed on my inability to get funding for TA training for said reaon)
Cut teh law preventing some in HA and rented housing from working from home so tehy could work as childminders etc
Ban councils from sending crap newspapers / fridge magnets (!)- a copy in the library and on the internet is enough.
Ban random changes of name and expensiture on new logo's for public agencies- ours has just been compeltely redesigned at a cost of ££££. Why?
A good start anyway...... far from perfect but i don;t beleive in criticising if you don't have a solution