UK & The Euro.

[j.sabourn]

My 73 pounds a week OAP wouldn't go far then. Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

The problem with export and import figures is that they can be manipulated to serve the individual. Very often you wil hear the phrase, 'seasonaly adjusted' to my mind nothing more than spin. Exports are only such when they rteach the end buyer, same with imports. Accountants and finaciers will change, manipulate or spin any figure to get the result they want. But beware of the European peso.

[j.sabourn]

I can remember years ago in the UK being headline news about a builders labourer getting 1000 pounds a week. Apart from the cries of the so called middle and upper class, why shouldn't he. He was putting the hours and the hard yards for it in, probably far in excess of someone sitting in an office. I know tradesmen out here now at this moment in time earning in excess of 4000 dollars a week clear of tax, and the best of luck to them. They are of course FIFO workers who all the fuss is about re the mental stress etc. this of course from our press trying to stir it. When any of the masses who comes from a menial background earns more than someone sitting on his backside counting paperclips there is an uproar. Companies want foreign labour in of course they do they want to see their profit side of the portage bill go up and this purely by paying lower wages and conditions, there is no other answer or excuse to this. I should imagine a lot of companies are very pleased at the moment to be able to choose the price of their work force. Who knows this could be the reason why so many MPs of another ethnic background these days, but I very much doubt so. JS

[Jim Brady]

I was reading somewhere recently that the trade figures,UK exports to Europe is far lower than the 50% figure which is bandied about.From what I read is, if cargo for Canada is loaded aboard ship in Liverpool,the ship calls at Antwerp or Rotterdam to pick up further cargo before sailing to North America the cargo that was loaded in Liverpool for Canada is counted as exports to the EU.Is this the Antwerp and Rotterdam effect ?.I may be wrong over that but I'm sure someone will come up and clarify it.
Regards.
Jim.B.

- - - Updated - - -

John S. I think that guy earning the big dosh was a hod carrier and he earned the nickname "Super Hod".He was that fast he was carrying the hod for quite a few brickies at the same time so he would've been on a cut from each of them.
Regards.
jim.B.

[Ron Kendall]

The Hod carrier was Max Quarterman, who went to work in his Rolls Royce, he was offered work in America, but Idon't know if he went or not.

[vic mcclymont]

Keith yes there are more cuts on the way even if Labour wins the next election.There is only one way out of this as I see it and that is a rise in income tax but all governments are terrified of that word.Did we pay 33% at one time ?I'm not suggesting anything as drastic as that but I'm sure 2p rise wouldn't harm anyone and I'm sure many people would'nt mind paying an extra £2.00 on a hundred quid if it helped to cut the deficit.I remember getting a £24.00 pm rise and it moved me into the company car bracket for tax purposes which was £30.00 pm so I ended up £6.00 pm worse off.I think it was 23p when Harold Wilson was in and it was James Callaghan I think that dropped it to 20p which it has remained at since.Peoples wages are static plus the threshold was increased taking thousands out of the tax bracket,although the unemployment figure is down the vast majority of the people are on 16hrs pw and many not earning enough to pay tax.
Regards.
Jim.B.

Raising Tax isn't the answer, efficiency is the way forward.
I worked in in the private sector before joining Magistrates Courts Committee and the ultimately the Civil Service.
In the first two ever penny counted and non was ever wasted.
When the last Labour Government decided to merge the Courts Service and the Magistrates into a combined service, they were supposed to pick the best of both working practices and use them. Forget - Civil Service wasteful practices were implemented.
In both the Private and the Committees, expense sheets were single side A4, and could be filled in minutes. Civil Service, double sided A3, which took a morning to complete.
Civil service employees Consultants to look after there building, who employ maintenance contractors to do the hands on work. Magistrates employeed hands on.
As well as the annual fee, consultants receive a fee for drawing up capital project specification, namely 5% and the remaining 10% on completion. The 5% is payable even if the works are cancelled.
Consultants always go for the most expensive option as there cut is dependant on the final price.
Savings can be made in the C.S. if only attitudes were to change.

[John Pruden]

The Hod carrier was Max Quarterman, who went to work in his Rolls Royce, he was offered work in America, but Idon't know if he went or not.

ron he was only the hod carrier what was the brickies earning?? I bet max was not popular on the site regarding the tax man the brick layers would have been on what we call the lump the more you laid the more you got. jp

[Jim Brady]

Raising Tax isn't the answer, efficiency is the way forward.
I worked in in the private sector before joining Magistrates Courts Committee and the ultimately the Civil Service.
In the first two ever penny counted and non was ever wasted.
When the last Labour Government decided to merge the Courts Service and the Magistrates into a combined service, they were supposed to pick the best of both working practices and use them. Forget - Civil Service wasteful practices were implemented.
In both the Private and the Committees, expense sheets were single side A4, and could be filled in minutes. Civil Service, double sided A3, which took a morning to complete.
Civil service employees Consultants to look after there building, who employ maintenance contractors to do the hands on work. Magistrates employeed hands on.
As well as the annual fee, consultants receive a fee for drawing up capital project specification, namely 5% and the remaining 10% on completion. The 5% is payable even if the works are cancelled.
Consultants always go for the most expensive option as there cut is dependant on the final price.
Savings can be made in the C.S. if only attitudes were to change.

Efficieny,you are talking of saving millions,millions are a pittance to the government what they need is billions and a tax increase is the best way for raising the revenue that they require to reduce this deficit.
Regards.
jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

Too many [ legal] Tax dodgers in the UK.
The Tax man can take Tax from my Miserable M.N. Pension, But Celebs who make themselves millionaires can dodge tax by being domiciled overseas and still make big money Tax Free in UK.
Cheers
Brian.

[Jim Brady]

They call it "Tax Avoidance" Brian and not "Tax Evasion".Tax avoidance is the legal usage of the tax regime to one's own advantage.
Regards.
Jim.B.