[Archived] Government Benefits

[thenodrog]

Stuart, I'm pretty sure that Gist has the contract for Starbucks' logistics and they do pay road tax. It's kind of irrelevant though, since "road tax" is actually an emissions tax, the proceeds of which are not spent directly on construction and maintenance of the nation's roads.

Since the question has vaguely been asked whether Starbucks should be paying more tax, there is an article from the beginning of the year that says the UK branch posted a 10% increase in profits for the three months up to January 2012 with net profit of £243.4m.

However, the interesting thing for me is that they also plan to open 100 new stores over the next 5 years, creating 5,000 new jobs.

Now, they pay for their buildings and all the expenses associated with that. They pay NICs for their employees, their employees pay NICs and income tax. VAT is paid on their products. You then want to tax the company on its profits and levy yet another tax against the shareholders receiving dividends from those profits. Surely you can see why companies look for creative accountants when the government effectively taxes the same pound a dozen different ways?

Definitely. Anybody employing 5000+, getting people off benefits and in doing do providing much needed revenue for the taxman in the form of all forms of income tax, VAT, business rate, fuel tax etc has every right to enjoy a few tax breaks and associated benefits. These are the people and businesses which we need to attract to the country and help to succeed.

[thenodrog]

Speaking of govt benefits and demonising Starbucks........

http://money.aol.co.uk/2012/10/22/jobless-face-three-year-benefit-axe/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk-ws-bb%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D133233

[jim mk2]

The trouble is HMRC launches (quite rightly) new taskforces into tax avoidance by small and medium sized enterprises yet Starbucks, a company that prides itself on its ethical standards and yet sidelines the British tax system while raking in huge profits, and multinationals like it, is allowed to get away with it.

The latest benefits changes along with changes to employment legislation that a worker's dismissal cannot be legally challenged until after two years of continuous employment shows that the Cameron/Osborne right wing state is driving us back to the Victorian mills. Look out for more legislation soon repealing the ban on children sweeping chimneys.

[thenodrog]

The latest benefits changes along with changes to employment legislation that a worker's dismissal cannot be legally challenged until after two years of continuous employment shows that the Cameron/Osborne right wing state is driving us back to the Victorian mills. Look out for more legislation soon repealing the ban on children sweeping chimneys.

The worst aspect of most businesses is employing people. The pendulum has swung too far away from the employer and until the situation changes to make employment less of a minefield full employment will just be a pipe dream.

[thenodrog]

Ask most businessmen and they will say that the worst aspect of businesses is employing people. The pendulum has swung too far away from the employer and until the situation changes to make employment less of a minefield anything even close to full employment will just be a pipe dream.

[jim mk2]

The worst aspect of most businesses is employing people. The pendulum has swung too far away from the employer and until the situation changes to make employment less of a minefield full employment will just be a pipe dream.

After the pro-employer, anti-union legislation enacted in the 1980s (which Labour lamentably failed to repeal) this post has to be some sort of joke. Even now, with workplace law entirely tilted towards employers, Tories think the answer to the unemployment and growth is the ability to sack anyone they like when they like.

[thenodrog]

After the pro-employer, anti-union legislation enacted in the 1980s (which Labour lamentably failed to repeal) this post has to be some sort of joke. Even now, with workplace law entirely tilted towards employers, Tories think the answer to the unemployment and growth is the ability to sack anyone they like when they like.

The tories were wrong and Labour were wrong. You are fast running out of options. Anyway your own words suggest that the rule will have a 2 year cut off point.

[SydneyRover]

The tories were wrong and Labour were wrong. You are fast running out of options. Anyway your own words suggest that the rule will have a 2 year cut off point.

You do realise that politics is a spectrum rather than two boxes marked "Tories" and "New Labour" right?

[thenodrog]

You do realise that politics is a spectrum rather than two boxes marked "Tories" and "New Labour" right?

Have you tried running that by a politician just before an election?

[Paul]

love it

[jim mk2]

The tories were wrong and Labour were wrong. You are fast running out of options. Anyway your own words suggest that the rule will have a 2 year cut off point.

And your point is ?

[Steve Moss]

This is a tragedy, if true. What makes it worse that it is avoidable.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9639090/Cystic-Fibrosis-sufferer-denied-chance-of-life-drug-by-NHS.html

[thenodrog]

It appears that the army have been called in to clear weeds and shrubs which are growing rampant in Blackburn Cemetary and obscuring many war graves into the bargain. Surely the council tax should cover that? If not then why on earth do we have to call the army in when there is a much bigger army of people living off benefits with nowt to do and all day to do it in? Crazy isn't it?

[jim mk2]

Probably the same army that had to cover for the failings of the private security firm that so spectacularly ballsed-up security arrangements for the London Olympics.

The "craziness" is cutting back on council staff and services and tendering out former council work such as tending cemetaries to the private sector. As we all know, private sector exists to make a proifit and pays its workers as little as possible so in all likelihood the private company that should have been tending the cemetary has reneged on the contract. The private sector: crap service and £2 an hour workers while its bosses rake off huge salaries and bonuses....dontcha just love it ?

[thenodrog]

Probably the same army that had to cover for the failings of the private security firm that so spectacularly ballsed-up security arrangements for the London Olympics.

The "craziness" is cutting back on council staff and services and tendering out former council work such as tending cemetaries to the private sector. As we all know, private sector exists to make a proifit and pays its workers as little as possible so in all likelihood the private company that should have been tending the cemetary has reneged on the contract. The private sector: crap service and £2 an hour workers while its bosses rake off huge salaries and bonuses....dontcha just love it ?

Is that fact or just pure speculation on your part?

[Paul]

Well my views tend to vary from Gordon's but I guess we will agree this one is crazy. Under the new benefits scheme everyone will be moved to Employment Support Allowance (ESA) including people on Incapacity Benefit which includes my lad.

Got a FOUR page letter on Saturday from the Department of Work and Pensions asking me to call a number on my son's behalf within 7 days. This was connected with the fitness to work assessment.

After 43 minutes waiting on the phone (I called during the advised "quiet" period) and speaking to 3 different people I learnt the DWP is writing to all claimants asking people to ring the DWP to confirm the phone number already held by the DWP is correct. This will then allow the DWP to phone the claimant back to conduct the interview!!!

There might be a cheaper way of doing this.........

[BuckyRover]

Probably the same army that had to cover for the failings of the private security firm that so spectacularly ballsed-up security arrangements for the London Olympics.

The "craziness" is cutting back on council staff and services and tendering out former council work such as tending cemetaries to the private sector. As we all know, private sector exists to make a proifit and pays its workers as little as possible so in all likelihood the private company that should have been tending the cemetary has reneged on the contract. The private sector: crap service and £2 an hour workers while its bosses rake off huge salaries and bonuses....dontcha just love it ?

Labour decided to give the whole security contract to one company (a monopoly on a service). What is effectively called putting all your eggs in one basket.

They also provided the security at the Labour Party conference the other week.

The two Eds are obviously more forgiving (or forgetful) than you.

[Baz]

Labour decided to give the whole security contract to one company (a monopoly on a service). What is effectively called putting all your eggs in one basket.

They also provided the security at the Labour Party conference the other week.

The two Eds are obviously more forgiving (or forgetful) than you.

The Tories have just awarded the same company the contract for the Glasgow Commonwealth games.