Cycling UK Forum

I can almost *hear* some of you throwing stones at me across the Internet, but in for a penny.... Personally, if practical, I would means test ALL benefits. Including Child Benefit (no, I know its not practical). I'd include the State Pension in that comment, but as far as I'm aware it is means test...

I think I've said as clearly as I can that I've no problem whatsoever with benefits going to those in genuine need. Sorry if that's not obvious. My point - I'll try again to express it better - is that I don't agree with the notion of "entitlement" being linked to age, nor that working all...

Where is your evidence that pensioners "are going cold"? You've completely missed my point. I 've given two examples of folk who've been given winter fuel allowance even though they simply don't need it. All I've said is that it should be means tested. As, I believe should all be all age r...

Al, when I retire, I'll pay no tax because although I've worked in the public sector since 1979 my pension is nowhere close to the point where I start paying tax. Ì don't qualify for a state pension for another 7 years. If you pay more in tax than you receive in benefits, then in my world, you're do...

Edwards, that's exactly my point! Winter fuel allowance was introduced to make sure in a rich country like ours nobody was at risk from hypothermia.

Yet many who have not the slightest risk of dying from the cold claim this payment "because they're entitled to it".

Sorry, and I know I'm going to upset a fair few on here, but I don't think winter fuel allowance should be automatic. Or indeed any other "age related" benefit. My 84 year old Mum gets it. She also gets a free TV licence. She worked full time for 40+ years, and she has a good enough pensio...

You don't appear to know very much about food banks Boyd. Simply "being poor" doesn't qualify you to use them. I got talking to the volunteers in my Mum's one because I was interested and there's quite a complicated system of referrals in place that someone has to go through before they ca...

Well when I went down to visit my 84. year old Mum last week ( as I do every other week) she had a couple of bits to donate to her local Food Bank. Some gifts she'd been given but won't use like a carton of orange juice she can't drink because it affects her arthritis The same with a big box of choc...

Not Orpington Council Landsurfer - we were part of the local government re organisation in 1965 and Orpington Local District Council became part of the London borough of Bromley, along with district councils of Beckenham, Chislehurst and Penge. We still stubbornly stick to our postal address of &quo...

Indeed he did. "Frontline" means one thing to me, and another to you. Each is valid, in its own sphere.

Thank you Meic. I hadn't seen your post before I posted my reply to Landsurfer, but yes, that's what I meant to say (but probably not as well expressed)

Umm, the front line dealing with the needs, hopes, desires and wants of the general public. You, me and anyone from Joe Public coming into a library and looking for help or information. What on earth does the military have to do with this? Frontline = those dealing directly with custoners Back Offic...

Councils have failed to adapt to modern times because they have no need to do so. They insist that their employees get excellent terms and conditions of employment, including extra pay for evening and weekend work, even if that means making many of their staff redundant so that those who remain sta...

Jan, I don't know what goes on over in Orpington, but it sounds like a perpetual horror show down there. Either that or you are more attuned and sensitive to these events than other people. You are calling for me to empathise and I do, but unlike other men here, I won't take anecdotes as matters of...

I'm with MrsHJ. Plus I support the EU on environmental laws. I'm a bit out of kilter on almost everyones concerns, but this ones mine, I simply cannot believe anyone thinks anything is more important than the health of our small world. I don't believe anything is more important to our grandchildren ...