Comments for Government Online

Comment on Leaving Europe would be bad for British business | John Cridland by Joe Thorpe

Joe Thorpe — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:58:33 +0000

We don’t get £9 Billions worth of influence we have a trade deficit of £65 Billion so we have live quite happily without ever trading with Europe we will have to make like Apartheid South Africa & start making things for ourselves again which is no bad thing, its not like our own internal market is insignificant & we can control who has access to it if we dont have access to their market & lets not forget our biggest industry I financial services which are still not a part of the “Single Market” yet we operate a free open market for all our European “Friends” to come along to & plunder!

Comment on Smart meter rollout delayed for year amid energy firm caution by David Havard

David Havard — Sun, 12 May 2013 07:46:10 +0000

I should think the energy companies want this roll out to go well, because the current technology is in a mess and needs to make a big leap forward, especially for pay as you go customers. I cannot top up online because I run an up to date PC and would have to downgrade it’s performance just for that service. The current PAYG smart-meters / paypoint technology leaks like a sieve!!

Comment on E-cigarettes: no smoke without ire | Lionel Shriver by www.auravape.co.uk

www.auravape.co.uk — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:37:52 +0000

I’ve not had a real cigarette for 4 weeks now thanks to using e-vapes. I am now a supporter of these electric cigarettes. I tell everybody I meet to just search on Google for for electronic cigarettes to see for themselves how well rooted this industry is, and how big the choice is for these superb products is. What p*sses me off, though, are the increasing number of stories in the papers and tv saying how dangerous they are. Apparently pharmaceutical companies – the producers of quit smoking aids are backing an anti-e-vape war – not so much the cigarette firms (as one might presume), as they are putting money into them. I can now feel all the improvements of e cigs. Just saying – that there is always some secret accord with these self-interested faceless types trying to prohibit e cigs – our country’s legislators could do a lot more to support them.
It makes me so despondent. I will be bereft if they ban them.

Comment on Letters: Coal, dole and wasted North Sea oil by Joe Thorpe

Joe Thorpe — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:51:28 +0000

Absolute rubbish, the miners were constantly on strike holding the entire economy to ransom which is why we had to call in the IMF. Our coal was expensive deep mine coal. We have miners whinging about lung issues yet saying they wanted to work under ground hacking coal, if they wanted to work they should have been working and extracting coal at a competitive rate allowing our other heavy industry to compete. Every union was in it for themselves & couldn’t care less about the economy so long as they were alright. Scargill still had his Union funded accommodation & “company” car while the workers he dragged out on strike were chopping up their furniture for heat. The NUM were producing coal the country didnt need thats why they lost their battle, the NCB had to stockpile coal that no one wanted in vast heaps & these stocks were used while they were on strike, they tried to use rent a mobs to stop these stocks being distributed to power stations & quite rightly the full forces of the law were used to stop them from blocking the highway & of other people from going about their lawful days work. Far more people will be dancing when Scargill has gone!

Comment on Evidence and education: It’s not about Gove vs Marx | Jon Butterworth | Life & Physics by Jack Sills

Jack Sills — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:27:59 +0000

I think there is a lot of evidence that it’s unnecessary: Look at all the well educated people who didn’t write until first grade. I never even went to kindergarten and plenty in my generation didn’t go, yet we are educated and productive citizens. I don’t understand the need for education reform. We are a literate nation. The lawmakers, who seem fairly well educated turned ort fine in our public system.

Comment on Train Wi-Fi and mobile access expected to be in Osborne’s budget giveaway by Joe Thorpe

Joe Thorpe — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:40:54 +0000

We have had wifi on Irish trains for years & the buses, whats the big deal?

Comment on I signed a two-year mobile phone contract – and the price went up by Alex Bell

Alex Bell — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 01:14:02 +0000

Orange have just done the same to me. Inflation was given as the reason. It was a Chritmas present for my partner. Funny how inflation doesn’t figure just before Christmas. Is someone checking the patterns of these price increases. Orange have just lost my loyalty. I was just about to renew my own contract with them but will now leave them. They have a little more squeezed out of me on one contract but will loose all of my other contract. A net fall of £32 per month for them. Sorry orange that’s inflation for you!

Comment on HS2: a ‘catalyst for economic prosperity’ by Joe Thorpe

Joe Thorpe — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:09:20 +0000

Will this project go out to open tender across Europe in accordance with EU rules? EU rules should be ignored until the single market is functioning in services & utilities & this bias against the UK economy is ended.

Comment on Being self-employed: our readers respond | The people’s panel by Julia Ford

Julia Ford — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:28:53 +0000

Great comments. I would say bravo to those embarking on being self-employed. It’s tough – but it certainly makes you work harder. Loved Juliet England’s elegantly written comment – a true writer there.

Comment on Dear Mr Gove new year special: Michael Rosen’s letter from a curious parent by Tim Delaney

Tim Delaney — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:27:31 +0000

I’m delighted to see that you are giving serious consideration to Dr Rosen’s proposals. I’m looking forward to seeing some of his ideas forming part of the government’s programme for education.

Comment on London housing: Boris challenged by boroughs over "affordable rent"London housing: Boris challenged by boroughs over "affordable rent" levels by Sam

Sam — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:09:38 +0000

A well written article. Local councils are more attuned with the needs of the people living in their area who are after affordable rent or social housing.

Housing associations have lost Government funding and have had to make up the funding by providing a portion of properties at market rent to those that can afford it.

There has been an 86% increase of working people claiming housing benefits since 2009 and this number will only increase.

Comment on Labour plans crackdown on ‘rogue’ landlords by Jan Cosgrove (Mr)

Jan Cosgrove (Mr) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 04:36:24 +0000

Cracking down on landlords …. AND Agents

Ed should look at:

1. Repealing shorthold tenancies and returning to the Rent Act 1977 inc Case 13 – that would allow appeal to the court except where the landlord proposes to return to their own home, or a close relation would occupy – that would be the only case for automatic possession.

2. Consider allowing those who rent-to-buy (mortgages by another name) to claim housing benefit – also would stimulate house building and home ownership.

3. Make it possible for a tenant to take an agent etc to court for failing to inform that it is possible for landlord and tenant under shorthold or any other -hold, when the agreement/tenancy ends to allow things to continue on the same basis as before whtout a new agreement/fees etc – it’s called ‘statutory tenany’ – agents never tell people, it’s a form of deceit. Neither tenant nor landlord gains by the constant game of new agreements – only agents do so and they fail to tell either side the truth. Fees first….

Comment on Arctic Convoy and Bomber Command veterans to be honoured by Paul Spivey

Paul Spivey — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:28:45 +0000

A little late for most. My Dad – 27 missions, DFM, has just gone into a musing home

Comment on How Totnes won fight to keep Costa out of town by Helen Stone

Helen Stone — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 18:35:58 +0000

Congratulations to all in Totnes that signed the petition, You are the winners. Totnes is a Fab place to visit. If Costa, etc, were there we would not visit and spend our well earned pounds, as it would be the same as all places. Long live TOTNES, You do not need the big chains, they will damage you.
Helen Stone
Plymouth

Comment on Nick Clegg announces support for new transparency law by andyj

andyj — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:56:51 +0000

..yeh!.. I can see right through that one..

Comment on Design a leadership development programme by Funding News: Grants & Awards | Islington Chamber of Commerce & Trade

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:04:41 +0000

[...] for sixty days from the final date for submission of tenders. Tender documents available at: http://www.government-online.net/design-a-leadership-development-programme/ 7. Tender for the Provision of HealthWatch Functions in Waltham Forest Waltham Forest [...]

Comment on Fuel bills: Green Deal insulates your home, you pay through what you save by Hal-Luke Savas

Hal-Luke Savas — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 23:11:12 +0000

What happens if there is not enough approved insulation installers or certified assessors? do we have to go through the HIPs story again or is this a well thought out and resourced initiative?
Needless to say that many householders are keen on getting the benefits in the face of current exorbitant fuel charges (now they are talking about slapping on £2+ weekly standing charges on all meters, prepaid or the credit type!!!!)

In short any chance of HIPs story = Green Deal story

Hal-Luke Savas MBA FCIM MBIFM ICIOB affCIBSE
londonhs@aol.com

Comment on Atos and Capita preferred bidders for PIP assessments by Dr John McCallum

Dr John McCallum — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 20:44:12 +0000

So Atos are getting a new contract and discredited software which is no better than a jargon generator may be developed further to prevent the disabled and their carers have enough to survive on while the Chairman of Atos picks up a seven figure bonus.

Isn’t this the company that lost the chip with the passwords for various government systems? How can this government ignore all those charities who have been voicing their concerns for years over the assessment process, the LiMA software and the questionably qualified “doctors” carrying out the assessments. Why did they ignore the “revelations” of the Dispatches programme.

Maybe we should use a modified LiMA package to decide on the validity of MP salaries and expenses?

Comment on First Utility’s service is less than first-class in bill dispute by First Utility

First Utility — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:22:42 +0000

Please note that this customer has received a full apology from First Utility as per the updated location (http://goo.gl/9yOwd) of this article.

First Utility is currently in the process of significantly improving customer services and procedures to be able to more consistently reach the high customer satisfaction standards we are committed to and to avoid this situation reoccurring.

Comment on This mining in the Moors row exposes a deeper environmental offensive | Richard Seymour by S J Chapman

S J Chapman — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:18 +0000

Had you bothered to look at the company’s proposal you would know that the proposed mine blends most sympathetically with the landscape and that the “spoil” amounts to no more than moving earth from one discreet place to another close by where it will be harmless and invisible. And you should also know that the mined ore, polyhalite, is a natural mineral which in its raw state is usable as an organic fertiliser. This is very clearly a well thought through project which will bring long term economic benefit to the region and to The Treasury — and from my reading of the mood locally, the vast majority of the people who live and work in the region appear to be in favour of the mine.

If ever a project merited fast-track planning approval and favourable government-backed financing, this is it.