Unemployment and Benefits

[Ian]

In the final analysis, however, I reiterate what I said in my posting (338 - above) that at this stage it's down to the government to start the ball rolling by kick-staring the manual services aspect of the economy. 

[DaveR]

Surely if corporation tax rates were lower, a 'reverse starbucks' effect would happen?

[DaveR]

Social protection spending - £196,000,000,000. With all this money being spent, how can it be possible that you see so people living in little more than slums, wearing filthy clothes etc unless this spending is being mismanaged?

[Fester]

In the final analysis, however, I reiterate what I said in my posting (338 - above) that at this stage it's down to the government to start the ball rolling by kick-staring the manual services aspect of the economy.

We don't always see eye to eye on such matters, but I wholeheartedly agree with you on this point.

The devil makes work for idle hands, and young men (and women) need to have something meaningful to do after leaving education.
They need to have a purpose, they need to earn money and they need to contribute.
If not, pretty soon they become a burden, they become disruptive and they become depressed.

Some people are born with lots of 'get up and go' , others are more reticent and need to be pushed... but its vitally important for society as a whole, that employment opportunities exist for all people, young or old.

[DaveR]

Very true, Mr Fester. 

[born2run]

http://www.demotix.com/news/1058485/coal-miners-life-twenty-years-south-wales#media-1058438

One of the reasons Wales has a higher percent is because of the large number of ex coal miners in Wales who now cannot work because of the conditions they worked in

[Ian]

Indeed. I suspected as much.

[born2run]

  woops sorry - too many posts to catch up on since returning to the online world! Must have missed yours.

[DaveR]

This is a very sad story...and it once again begs the question..what is the point of spending hundreds of billions of pounds on welfare when the very basic essentials are not being met?

Conwy Foodshare delivering record number of food parcels
Oct 25 2012 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

THERE has been an alarming surge in demand for food parcels for those in need in Conwy county.
Conwy Food Share was formed last January to feed local people in crisis.
Those who have received food parcels have no financial safety net, or are going through a sudden crisis such as bereavement, benefit delay, redundancy or illness, leaving them unable to feed themselves or their family.
Total parcels delivered by Conwy Food Share between last February and September of last year was 207. The same period for this year was 276. Total family parcels delivered in 2011 were 46, in 2012 it has already reached 108. Last month was a record month for the charity as 46 parcels were delivered, including 21 for families, which feed a total of 50 children.

Each parcel contains enough food for three days, if needed they also contain toiletries such as toilet paper, nappies and shower gel. The parcels contain tins of food, pastas and UHT milk.
The chairman of Conwy Food Share, Cherie Bailey commented: “We had to give one family eight food parcels because they had six children, and their situation was dire.
“We usually can only deliver up to three parcels, but in this case we knew we had to give more.
“We know of another woman, who had five children who had fled here to a safe house from a violent relationship, and after she had bought five new school uniforms for the children she didn’t have any money at all for food.
“There are many people going hungry on our doorsteps.
“When we deliver the parcels, the children get very excited because sometimes they’ve had virtually empty cupboards for two weeks and have had no hot meals, apart from at school.
“If we are giving parcels out to families then we always try and include a few treats as otherwise they wouldn’t get any
“I worry about the future because food and fuel prices are going up all the time, and a lot of people we deliver to can’t budget very well and are in terrible debt, and are robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
The charity has nine volunteers working for them, including a 90-year-old man. At present they don’t need any more, but do need tins of food, including baby food and toiletries. Apart from churches you can also drop off any donations at Cartrefi Conwy.
“People who need parcels go through a vetting process, we only give to those genuinely in need,” said Cherie.
“We have very small overheads, so any donations given do go straight to vulnerable people in Conwy.”

[born2run]

This is a very sad story...and it once again begs the question..what is the point of spending hundreds of billions of pounds on welfare when the very basic essentials are not being met?

Conwy Foodshare delivering record number of food parcels
Oct 25 2012 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

THERE has been an alarming surge in demand for food parcels for those in need in Conwy county.
Conwy Food Share was formed last January to feed local people in crisis.
Those who have received food parcels have no financial safety net, or are going through a sudden crisis such as bereavement, benefit delay, redundancy or illness, leaving them unable to feed themselves or their family.
Total parcels delivered by Conwy Food Share between last February and September of last year was 207. The same period for this year was 276. Total family parcels delivered in 2011 were 46, in 2012 it has already reached 108. Last month was a record month for the charity as 46 parcels were delivered, including 21 for families, which feed a total of 50 children.

Each parcel contains enough food for three days, if needed they also contain toiletries such as toilet paper, nappies and shower gel. The parcels contain tins of food, pastas and UHT milk.
The chairman of Conwy Food Share, Cherie Bailey commented: “We had to give one family eight food parcels because they had six children, and their situation was dire.
“We usually can only deliver up to three parcels, but in this case we knew we had to give more.
“We know of another woman, who had five children who had fled here to a safe house from a violent relationship, and after she had bought five new school uniforms for the children she didn’t have any money at all for food.
“There are many people going hungry on our doorsteps.
“When we deliver the parcels, the children get very excited because sometimes they’ve had virtually empty cupboards for two weeks and have had no hot meals, apart from at school.
“If we are giving parcels out to families then we always try and include a few treats as otherwise they wouldn’t get any
“I worry about the future because food and fuel prices are going up all the time, and a lot of people we deliver to can’t budget very well and are in terrible debt, and are robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
The charity has nine volunteers working for them, including a 90-year-old man. At present they don’t need any more, but do need tins of food, including baby food and toiletries. Apart from churches you can also drop off any donations at Cartrefi Conwy.
“People who need parcels go through a vetting process, we only give to those genuinely in need,” said Cherie.
“We have very small overheads, so any donations given do go straight to vulnerable people in Conwy.”

Few words pop out there - such as "Benefit delay" People should not be going hungry because some pen pusher is not doing their job properly. I hear more and more stories about how absolutely inefficient, some of those who work for this government are.
"bought five new school uniforms for the children she didn’t have any money at all for food." Why are uniforms not given out for free or at least subsidized. Children can't attend school without a uniform, to charge high prices for these is tantamount to blackmail on the most vulnerable.

[Ian]

I hear more and more stories about how absolutely inefficient, some of those who work for this government are.

I suspect one reason is that those who 'work' for the government are an endangered species. With the reductions in manpower across the civil service, it's surprising anything works.

Why are uniforms not given out for free or at least subsidized. Children can't attend school without a uniform, to charge high prices for these is tantamount to blackmail on the most vulnerable.

But they are subsidised and many schools also offer their own help.  And there's something that doesn't ring true about this...

We know of another woman, who had five children who had fled here to a safe house from a violent relationship, and after she had bought five new school uniforms for the children she didn’t have any money at all for food.

[Fester]

Uh ho....  Fat people may be refused benefits under this idea!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20897681

I had better get down that gym a little more.

[born2run]

One of the stupidest ideas yet, and for this government that takes some doing!

Even if they get them all to the gym how are they going to make sure they actually use the equipment? Cattle prods? !!

my gym is full enough as it is without having a load of government ordered fatties taking up considerable space!

[Yorkie]

There will be yet another QUANGO to administer this rubbish!   What is saved with one hand will be given to Government employees by the other, multiplied by two! 
 

[Ian]

This sort of thinking was bound to happen  with local councils being given control of NHS budgets.  What concerns me more, however, is that local councils don't currently enjoy unequivocal admiration for their performance in somewhat simpler issues such as road maintenance or - to quote wrex's favourite - decorative street lighting. Now they're effectively being put in charge of the NHS...

 Z@@