A message from Harriet Harman - Minister for Women and Equality - how is the credit crunch/recession is affecting you and how do you think Government can help?

[JustineMumsnet]

Harriet Harman writes:
We want to protect families from the credit crunch with real help. And we want to hear what Mumsnet are concerned about during this recession; what you want us to be doing about it; and what you want to see changed for the future. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is hosting an international Economic Summit in London (which President Obama will be coming to) in April to agree with other countries how we work together to get the global economy back on its feet and growing again. I want to hear from you and feed your views in to this summit.

Opinion polls tell us that women are more concerned about the impact of the recession than men, is that your view?
Is the recession affecting your family life and if so how?
Are you getting the advice and information you need if you ask for help?
What do you want to see government doing to help with that?
What do you think about bonuses?
How can we help women who want to start their own businesses?

I recently visited two suddenly one-job households and have heard at least three admiring interviews with job-reduced women "coping" by clipping coupons and driving around to buy expensive pre-prepared foods and fancy cleaning chemicals.

Why on earth are we not training or at least encouraging some of these newly homebound men and women to fercryinoutloud COOK a little bit? Opening the cheapest packaged dinner is far more expensive (and usually nearly as tricky and time-consuming) than preparing the same dinner or a much better simple meal. Get out that bread machine that's been gathering dust for three years and test-drive it. Loaves are pennies rather than dollars, even factoring in the cost of the mistakes. Cooking is one of the most empowering things I can think of (shhhh! if the word gets out...)(And contrary to popular (male) opinion, it won't kill a man to learn how to load a dishwasher or even wash a dish!)

Think about it.

Urtica (prickly today)

Opinion polls tell us that women are more concerned about the impact of the recession than men, is that your view?
No, not in my experience or those around me.

Is the recession affecting your family life and if so how?
Not hugely at the moment directly, though more and more people close to us are losing their jobs. We are being more careful with money in small ways, eg. saving more, going out less, making packed lunches etc. Also we are not benefiting from the interest rates as we have a fixed rate mortgage.

Are you getting the advice and information you need if you ask for help?
Haven't asked for any but have found that understanding the childcare benefits you're entitled to is pretty hard work.

What do you want to see government doing to help with that?
High quality affordable childcare is the major issue for everyone I know. There is a gap in assistance from birth to 3 yrs. Tax breaks on childcare for working parents would be a support. Many women stop work because their pay only just covers the childcare so it's hardly worth it. Then when they want to get back into work they are unconfident and deskilled, they find it hard to get work and accept lower pay or status. Grandparents also help out a lot and should be able to claim financial assistance for that - it's unfair that they assist the economy unpaid.

What do you think about bonuses?
I think bonuses should be performance related and capped. As the bankers have had fantastic bonuses for years I don't see why it's now a problem to go without because they have clearly not performed well. I think there is a much larger problem with our economic and political model - ie of unchecked growth at all costs - it's unsustainable and is costing us the planet - which has finite resources. Capitalism is the best worst model but it needs regulation. The government is blaming the bankers but why have we not had stronger regulation - without checks and balances this was bound to happen.
I also think the recent Guardian Tax Gap investigation - www.guardian.co.uk/business/series/tax-gap is essential reading - the government must close the loopholes allowing these organisation to avoid paying tax. It's criminal - the lowest paid in the country are bailing these failed organisations out with our taxes - yet they are avoiding billions in tax which, if reclaimed, could save the problem.

How can we help women who want to start their own businesses? I don't think this is necessarily a major issue, but I'd say free business and legal advice and mentoring from successful businesspeople who can assist with business plans, market research etc.

I was reading an article at the dentist all about these "poor women" who were cutting back on their personal trainers etc so they could afford their travel needs

It is of course wholly immoral for any senior staff in banks to get bonuses. It is incorrect to say that they are due them contractually. If we the tax payer had not bailed them out then they would have gone bust and they wouldn't even have been paid never mind get a bonus. A major oversight by the Government in allowing it to happen, sort it out.

Finacially we are okay at the moment - we buy wine we like it. Wine and other alochol is a luxury therefore if I cut down on anything it should be this. You should make alcohol very high in VAT to recoup some of the money made by the ridiculous (and EVERYONE knows it) VAT cuts. One can go without wine but not basic food and clothes.

Work with supermarkets to stop offers on alcohol and to put those savings on the necessities.

The VAT cuts were utterly pointless. Made no difference to peoples spending whatsoever and i don't belive that there is a shred of evidence nor will there be to say that thi worked. Admit it was wrong and pedal backwards. We will of course have to pay for this in the future so it will get harder when the recession supposedly ends! A cynic might say just as the Tories win the next election they will get blamed for having to raise taxes when of course it was the ludicrous decision made by Labour. I don't worry now, but I worry about the future when we all have to pay for those cuts which are costing us a fortune. I've been a Labour supporter for 20 years, unlikely I will be voting Labour again, not because of the banks but because of the way it is handling the recession, VAT cuts was not the way to go.

Childcare people forget is far more accessible than it was pre 1997 however, it is still prohibitive for many and needs to be improved. In addition those parents who want to stay at home to raise their children in their first years of life should be rewarded for doing so. Parents who make the decision to stay at home because they want to should not be forced to go back to work because they have to financially.

Come back and tell us what you are taking from this forum and will be saying so we don't think that you are paying lip service to getting views.

Shame those bosess who get a bonus make them write in less than 500 words why they deserve the bonus and what they are going to do with it. Bearing in mind that a single bonus would be the total of several families' average earnings. It's obscene. Give it back to the tax payer. The bail out was not for bonuses. Supply of Goods and Services Act, their service was not satisfactory!

God, I could go on forever. Next time you have a focus group I'd be very interested, oh and provide childcare...........

Is the recession affecting my family? Yes.

What should the government be doing about it?
For a start, MPs should be setting an example by not claiming second home allowances when they are staying with relatives during the week (Jacqui Smith, are you listening?)

People are sick to the back teeth with MPs filling their boots with allowances.

Yes the recession is affecting my family hugely.

My husband was the main breadwinner and has been made redundant. We bought our house in 2004 so have quite a hefty mortgage, but are now rellying upon just my salary and struggling to keep our home. One further consequence is that we will have to take my son out of childcare, so he loses consistency and routine.

There is not enough out there to help professionals who have worked very hard for the whole of their working life, but now have fallen on hard times and need something back from the state.

At present I'd be better off financially if my husband and I seperated in terms of the benefits I could get. How does this make sense and help to encourage the traditional family unit???

Recessions change many things drastically and the government must reassess its benefits for those who have fallen on hard times.

Yes Credit Crunch has done something to us.

We were a 2 car family and we sold one car and my husband brought a bike and bikes 17 miles each way to work every day.

I on the other hand use the car to take the kids to Nursery which is 6 miles away. I can't bike it with the kids as the roads are either to dangerous because of the speed of traffic or because of the state of the roads.

No Bonuses. NO WAY.

Gas and Electric Prices are too high, just like Petrol and Diesel. Get the prices down. S*D helping the car industry, help us to make it get the kids to school. Perhaps we need to have village schools back again. With this weather we need help with fuel prices of every type. This will help to save us all. Help keep us warm. Also help keep all the business's, small business's going in the country not the large ones who've taken stupid risks. The small ones that will help to keep the country going.

Married Couples tax allowance also needs to come back again please.

The Government need to help people help themselves. More people being taught to cook and grow their own fruit and veg. Just speak to Jamie Oliver and Hugh FW they have the right idea on what we need to get us through the rest of our lives.

What should the government be doing about it....?

I'll say what everyone else is saying....childcare!

How about increasing the amount of money a childcare voucher is worth? And how about paying for nursery sessions for younger children as well as kids over the age of three?

And how about offering employers financial incentives like tax breaks if they allow staff to work flexibly or go part time?

And how about offering working parents who lose their job help with nursery fees?

I knew I wouldn't finish.

STOP wasting so much money on the NVQ training. It isn't training, it isn't training it isn't training. You are paying for assessing and just giving people quals. People in most industries do not rate NVQs as highly as other quals. It is not helping people back to the workplace. Training for people in the workplace should be a minimum set not assessing to prove that they can do the job they've been doing for years. This gov has invested hugely in training but not necessarily wisely

Quote from vtiredmummy At present I'd be better off financially if my husband and I seperated in terms of the benefits I could get. How does this make sense and help to encourage the traditional family unit???

THAT is appalling! Outrageous!

And get people out of the council houses that have been in there for years and have gone from having no jobs to going to college and getting good jobs with good pay but don't have mortgages but we subsidise their housing. It's righ that those who can't afford housing are given housing it is not right that they continue for years when they could afford private renting or a mortgage like other working people. Those with children who have grown up should also be made to downsize! A couple in a house which had 3 children should not still have a 3 - 4 bedroom house. It happens, too often!

Make the BBC get rid of the tv licence that would save us all a few bob.

and I'll say it again - make sure you come back onto this thread and it goes in the newsletter about your feedback before and after the summit - some of this you can get started with NOW!

Opinion polls tell us that women are more concerned about the impact of the recession than men, is that your view?
No it isn't. women might voice their concrens and worries more but I'm sure both are equally preoccupied.

Is the recession affecting your family life and if so how?
It is affecting in terms of fear and worry. We have cut down on spending (needed anyway) and are being careful. Dh's job has not been affected in any way yet, maybe next year it'll slow down. Certainly big difference has been felt in price of utility bills.

Are you getting the advice and information you need if you ask for help?
have not asked/needed help.

What do you want to see government doing to help with that? have not thought about this yet.

What do you think about bonuses? They should be paid in relation to performance, not just personal but of the entire company. Do not agree in blaming a few bunch of people for a global situation. afterall we all benefitted from the same way of dealings in the past 10 years. A general and global change is needed. I'm not an economist so no practical idea.

How can we help women who want to start their own businesses?
easier childcare.

oh and thanks for asking.

"How can we help women who want to start their own businesses?"

I launched my own business last year while looking after 3 pre-school children, following an 11 year career.

Businesses started by mothers (and fathers) are the best opportunity we have yet of creating an alternative career model for parents that brings together work and family life, one where flexible working is built into the foundations of the business rather than being imposed on it.

Get an e-mail at midnight from one of your suppliers? It's a Work-At-Home-Mum. (But forget trying to reach her between 8.45 and 9.15 or at 3.15)

For anyone juggling pre-school children and business ownership (or self-employment) childcare is the biggest barrier to growth. We're reliant on the generosity of friends and family to look after children, or burdened with expensive childcare commitments. (Try justifying that in your business plan).

2 simple changes would make things easier:

1. CHILDCARE VOUCHERS FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED. These are currently only available to PAYE employees.

1. CRECHE FACILITIES BOOKABLE ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS for work-at-home parents juggling kids and meetings. The only creches available on that basis in my city, Brighton, are at gyms.

Even the fantastic facilities such as the British Library Business and IP Centre are beyond reach for those with children in tow.

"How can we help women who want to start their own businesses?"

Sensible tax breaks for SMEs.

Please give small businesses a council tax break this year, we are suffering with banks hardly doing any lending at all, if you want us to keep our staff on, give us a break somehow, a year off council tax will help a lot of small businesses and would have been a much better idea than a vat rate cut....

Is the recession affecting your family life

--- Watching every penny - just in case

What do you want to see government doing to help with that?

--- Like to see tax relief on childcare. Benefits to pay mortgage interest in the event of redundancy. (Does housing benefit cover rent but not mortgage interest?)

What do you think about bonuses?

--- Unlike most I don't have a problem with bonuses if people have met their performance targets. Why should all staff be penalised for the mistakes of a few.

How can we help women who want to start their own businesses?

--- Get banks to lend money again??

Opinion polls tell us that women are more concerned about the impact of the recession than men, is that your view?

Aren't you just conducting another poll - this is not a good question.

Both me and my husband, and most people we know of either sex, are concerned about potentially losing our jobs.

Is the recession affecting your family life and if so how?

Yes, we are worried about losing our jobs. Also, houses are finally becoming better value but we don't really want to take on a mortgage in such an uncertain environment.

Are you getting the advice and information you need if you ask for help?

Haven't needed any help - we are savers.

What do you want to see government doing to help with that?

Another bad question - help with getting help?

What do you think about bonuses?

They are a part of private enterprise. If shareholders don't like compensation structures, they should vote for changes. Re: government-sponsored banks - there probably shouldn't be any bonuses at all.

On a personal level, my husband's bonus was a lot smaller than last year, but we don't ever spend it anyway - it goes straight into the pension. He's at a US bank that has done better than most.

How can we help women who want to start their own businesses?

The best thing the government could do for all working women is to make childcare affordable.

I'll echo Snigger...

CHILDCARE, CHILDCARE, CHILDCARE

The government could make a very quick win on this by raising/eliminating the limit on childcare vouchers. Why can't all my childcare costs come out of my pre-tax salary? Why is this capped at £243 - a small fraction of my total monthly childcare costs?

Re: help with child care for the under fives, I think it needs to be emphasised that the current 5 free 2.5hr sessions for 3/4 yr olds are to provide early years education and not child care so don't pretend that this is a way that the government is helping working parents.

I recently discovered that the nursery we use (and love) has been turned down for Partnership status. The reason, the council says that there are enough places already to provide 3/4 yr olds with the free sessions.

Well, not in settings which provide 8-6 care. Most are council nursery schools which operate 9-4. These are no good for the average working parent unless you have family help. Speaking to friends, this is a common problem which means that working parents often can't take up a free place.

I was counting on this to reduce our care bills next year. I was hoping that we could have another child but we can't afford double nursery fees, and I can't afford to stay at home.

So please, don't say in response to demands for help with child care costs "12.5 hours per week free for 3/4 year olds and child care vouchers". We probably won't get either.

Change the rules so that Partnership status is awarded to settings that show they can meet the required standards, not to meet a quota.

Childcare costs are largely considered a fine or supertax by working parents.

Government interference in the sector, the introduction of the minimum wage and over-regulation have pushed these costs sky high, and we are compromising on pensions and so on to meet such costs.

A very short sighted policy.

Opinion polls tell us that women are more concerned about the impact of the recession than men, is that your view?
Not worth dignifying with an answer fgs. The old Mars /Venus debate eh? How evolved we are?.I would question how the opinion poll framed their questions.

Is the recession affecting your family life and if so how?
I seem to be the only one but if I?m honest the recession has brought my husband and I closer together. We have had to really evaluate what we do and don?t ?need? and plan for all eventualities. We?ve become exactly the governments? worst demographic. We haven?t lost our incomes and we earn a very decent amount but we have simply stopped spending. The truthful thing is that the amount of money we used to spend on immediate and worthless things was disgusting. We are cooking, eating healthily, using up leftovers and now finally living very frugally.
I don?t buy anything unnecessarily, recycle children?s clothing amongst my family and enjoy doing things rather than buying things. Last year I spent £1000 on a handbag. I am utterly ashamed to say that. I have no idea how I had become that person but I don?t want to return.

What do you want to see government doing to help with that?
I thought the VAT reduction was laughable, please no more of that!! Decent inexpensive childcare for all will enable those who want to work to have a chance to do so.
Gag the press, freedom of speech is not useful in all cases. Please read the Daily Mail you will understand exactly what I mean

What do you think about bonuses?
If you are talking about the banks that were bailed out? If you gift a private corporation a great deal of money with no clauses attached they will expect to continue to behave exactly as they please. Learn from this. For a seemingly intelligent government, you really dropped the ball on this issue.
If you refer to other large corps or banks, for instance Barclays, I think it is up to them how they pay their staff.

Oh thank god for the minimum wage. I don't begrudge nursery nurses one (paltry) penny of it.

One of the best things the government ever did.

Opinion polls tell us that women are more concerned about the impact of the recession than men, is that your view?
No, in my experience men and women are equally worried. Perhaps men may be less reluctant to tell opinion pollsters they are concerned (the macho effect!), but that doesn?t mean they?re not worried and men will express their fears to their loved ones.

Is the recession affecting your family life and if so how?
Yes, we have to make cut backs everywhere; and in the long-term we?re not paying into pensions or child savings. The 2 key impacts on family life are: fear and lack of choice.

What do you think about bonuses?
Shameful ? there should be absolutely no bonuses to staff in banks which have taxpayers? money invested. But to be honest, that is the least of the government?s long-term worries ? it is easy enough for them to fix the bonus issue, but the long-term state of the British economy is a greater concern for the British public. Getting rid of bonuses is a distraction really and just something the government needs to do for the visible impact ? to show whose side they?re on.

How can we help women who want to start their own businesses?
Why just women? All people need help if they want to start their own businesses. But to be honest, not sure if I would want to be starting a business in this climate!

Also agree with others about the cost of childcare being an issue ? but difficult to see how it can be any lower without the quality suffering. And I don?t agree the government should be subsidising nursery provision for under threes, when the evidence suggests that it is not beneficial for children (unless it is very good ? in which case, this costs massive amounts of money for either the parents or the government). I?m also not fond of the idea of more breakfast/tea clubs so that parents can work longer hours, as my experience is that a normal school day is long enough for a child ? we need more flexibility in our hours and the ability to work from home more if possible.

I agree with the previous posts on childcare - tax relief on all of the cost of childcare - not capped at £243.

Also making it easier to employ childcare within the home, rather than the focus being on burseries / child minders.

Harken to Georgimama (17:02) Ms Harman. This is how people see you and yours; it's the post that ends: "In other words Ms Harman, this whole thing suited you and yours when you were doing well out of it, just like the banks."

Be ashamed, be very ashamed.

Opinion polls tell us that women are more concerned about the impact of the recession than men, is that your view? i wouldn't worry about gender,each case on it's individual circumstances.

Is the recession affecting your family life and if so how? What do you fucking think? Got made redundant when trying to return from maternity leave in april last year,partner earns 17grand a year-we have a 14 year old and a one year old,and a mortgage-in very real danger of losing our home. There is literally nothing for me to apply for-it wouldn't even cover my childcare what there is-oh,and he earns too much for me to get anything benefit wise other than the basic £40 tax credits a month and family allowance. I've paid between ten and 15 grand a year in tax for the past decade-you do fuck all to help people like us.How people are long term unemployed is beyond me as the 26wks contributions based jop seekers allowance and the hoops i had to jump through for sixty quid a week were demeaning and ridiculous-i am not in a position to sit on my arse,there are no fucking jobs,i'm not proud,i'll do anything but i am not working in a shop full time to end up with £30 a week (as was the case in the run up to Xmas when i got a temp job at marks and sparks)

Are you getting the advice and information you need if you ask for help? no-i am being told there's nothing for me and largely being patronised.
What do you want to see government doing to help with that? helping-we have about £250 to live off after mortgage and council tax. for 4 of us.
What do you think about bonuses? fuck off
How can we help women who want to start their own businesses? businesses doing what? don't spend tax payers money supporting things that are unsustainable on their own. iam really fucking angry and if it weren't for me making a few quid on the snide looking after my friends little boy while she works we'd not be able to afford to eat.I am 36,you are taking away my last chances to have another child and everything i've worked for-i was a single mother with my first child and worked full time from when she was 12weeks old-claiming nothing from you. Bought a house,tried my best,made sacrifices-i wish i'd sat on my arse in a council flat you know?