Business – rates
Remove business rates from empty and/or unused premises
Why is this idea important?
Remove business rates from empty and/or unused premises
CRB checks
Introduce one-time CRB checks which will be acceptable by agencies other than the one initially requiring it
* issue a visa like certificate of passing to successful applicants which will be placed on a page of their passport
* the person's passport then becomes their proof of passing as well as of ID and will last the lifetime of the passport
Why is this idea important?
Introduce one-time CRB checks which will be acceptable by agencies other than the one initially requiring it
* issue a visa like certificate of passing to successful applicants which will be placed on a page of their passport
* the person's passport then becomes their proof of passing as well as of ID and will last the lifetime of the passport
The Midlothian Question
Either give English MPs the right to vote on purely Scottish matters or remove the right of Scottish MPs to vote on purely English matters
This needs to be addressed at once
Why is this idea important?
Either give English MPs the right to vote on purely Scottish matters or remove the right of Scottish MPs to vote on purely English matters
This needs to be addressed at once
Pension Plans – ACT
Re-introduce ACT so that, after Gordon Brown’s disgraceful actions, pension providers can begin to provide worthwhile pension plans again – to the envy of the world.
Why is this idea important?
Re-introduce ACT so that, after Gordon Brown’s disgraceful actions, pension providers can begin to provide worthwhile pension plans again – to the envy of the world.
Savings – some reward for thrift
Set up savings plans with the banks which we taxpayers have rescued which pay interest rates of at leaset 1% over inflation
Why is this idea important?
Set up savings plans with the banks which we taxpayers have rescued which pay interest rates of at leaset 1% over inflation
Credit/Debit Cards – protection
Give the users of debit cards the same protection as those of credit cards
Why is this idea important?
Give the users of debit cards the same protection as those of credit cards
The NHS – some savings
The idea is in three parts:
* to reduce the number of clerical and management staff so as to provide, once again, more beds than administration people
* to encourage people, by way of a tax break, to take up private health insurance and thus be able to pay for treatment outside ot the NHS with the concomitant huge cost savings
* review the so-called Private Public Initiativewhereby the NHS leases back premises – an ongoing and very expensive exercise – and renegotiate the terms
Why is this idea important?
The idea is in three parts:
* to reduce the number of clerical and management staff so as to provide, once again, more beds than administration people
* to encourage people, by way of a tax break, to take up private health insurance and thus be able to pay for treatment outside ot the NHS with the concomitant huge cost savings
* review the so-called Private Public Initiativewhereby the NHS leases back premises – an ongoing and very expensive exercise – and renegotiate the terms
The environment – packaging
Reduce significantly the amount of non recyclable plastic packaging, used in the food industry particularly, by several means:
* ensure that all "one-time" shopping bags are recyclable – i.e. paper or recyclable plastic
* phase out all one-time plastic bags; whilst the usage reduction from 60 to 40 billion a year over the last two is significant it still means we will put 40 billion bags into the ground still this year
* phase in the use of paper bags
* require that both plastic bottles AND their tops are of the same recyclable material. The lids on the plastic milk bottles are recyclable whilst those on the soda bottles are not! If they were, one could flatten the plastic bottle, put on the cap and than discard thus reducing the volume by about 70%
* invest in power plants which use packaging and other rubbish as their fuel
Why is this idea important?
Reduce significantly the amount of non recyclable plastic packaging, used in the food industry particularly, by several means:
* ensure that all "one-time" shopping bags are recyclable – i.e. paper or recyclable plastic
* phase out all one-time plastic bags; whilst the usage reduction from 60 to 40 billion a year over the last two is significant it still means we will put 40 billion bags into the ground still this year
* phase in the use of paper bags
* require that both plastic bottles AND their tops are of the same recyclable material. The lids on the plastic milk bottles are recyclable whilst those on the soda bottles are not! If they were, one could flatten the plastic bottle, put on the cap and than discard thus reducing the volume by about 70%
* invest in power plants which use packaging and other rubbish as their fuel
The environment – power generation
Stop the building and erection of wind turbines – they are not effective and they are very expensive
Why is this idea important?
Stop the building and erection of wind turbines – they are not effective and they are very expensive
Human Rights
Repeal those parts of this legislation which prevents the UK from dealing with foreign criminals and others effectively by deporting them.
Why is this idea important?
Repeal those parts of this legislation which prevents the UK from dealing with foreign criminals and others effectively by deporting them.
Digital Radio
Stop the expensive, unnecessary and non-beneficial changeover to digital radio
Why is this idea important?
Stop the expensive, unnecessary and non-beneficial changeover to digital radio
CANCEL GOVERMENT ADVERTISING
Cancel all government advertising other than where the message is of the utmost importance to the wellbeing of the populace,
Why is this idea important?
Cancel all government advertising other than where the message is of the utmost importance to the wellbeing of the populace,
Parliament – M.Ps. behaviour
Re-imbue in MPs the idea that they are public servants.
This subject is potentially huge and covers too much to put on this site. However, there are a few easy to implement ideas:
* When an MP (or a local councillor) crosses the floor, he/she should be subject to a new ballot. When these people are voted for it is usually on a party ticket and so changing their minds is not adhering to their election promises
* If and when an MP is found to be abusing the position parliament must be able to fire that person immediately. It should not be the case that the offender can simply hang around for the rest of the parliament before facing the constituents in an election contes
* The number of MPs should be reduced to around the 400 mark. It really does not take nearly 700 MPs to run this country – plus the House of Lords.
* Redraw the constituency map so that each one has approximately the same size of population (accept that there will be some anomalies like the Isle of Wight
* Require that all MPs actually attend the house for a minimum period during each session. It cannot be right that there are so many empty seats where important measures are being debated. If the low attendance (or non) is indicative ot the low level of interest in and the small importance of the measure under discussion – cancel it
* Ensure that MP's benefits such as subsidised restaurants, bars, crèches, etc. are declared as such for tax purposes in the same way as everyone else in this country
Why is this idea important?
Re-imbue in MPs the idea that they are public servants.
This subject is potentially huge and covers too much to put on this site. However, there are a few easy to implement ideas:
* When an MP (or a local councillor) crosses the floor, he/she should be subject to a new ballot. When these people are voted for it is usually on a party ticket and so changing their minds is not adhering to their election promises
* If and when an MP is found to be abusing the position parliament must be able to fire that person immediately. It should not be the case that the offender can simply hang around for the rest of the parliament before facing the constituents in an election contes
* The number of MPs should be reduced to around the 400 mark. It really does not take nearly 700 MPs to run this country – plus the House of Lords.
* Redraw the constituency map so that each one has approximately the same size of population (accept that there will be some anomalies like the Isle of Wight
* Require that all MPs actually attend the house for a minimum period during each session. It cannot be right that there are so many empty seats where important measures are being debated. If the low attendance (or non) is indicative ot the low level of interest in and the small importance of the measure under discussion – cancel it
* Ensure that MP's benefits such as subsidised restaurants, bars, crèches, etc. are declared as such for tax purposes in the same way as everyone else in this country
European Legislation
Do not just accept european legisaltion when handed down from Brussels. All such legislation should be treated as proposals until the UK parliament has examined and debated it. Only after successfully passing through this process should any legislation be made into British law.
Why is this idea important?
Do not just accept european legisaltion when handed down from Brussels. All such legislation should be treated as proposals until the UK parliament has examined and debated it. Only after successfully passing through this process should any legislation be made into British law.
Review Health & Safety legislation
Health & Safety legislation should be heavily pruned.
Why is this idea important?
Health & Safety legislation should be heavily pruned.
Repeal regulations for horse passports except for foreign travel
Regulations which require horse owners to register for and acquire expensive passports for their animals, which may never leave their home, should be cancelled.
Why is this idea important?
Regulations which require horse owners to register for and acquire expensive passports for their animals, which may never leave their home, should be cancelled.
Stop printing signs in Welsh and English in Wales
See above – stop printing signs and any/all official paperwork/forms etc. in the welsh language.
Why is this idea important?
See above – stop printing signs and any/all official paperwork/forms etc. in the welsh language.
Implement an immediate review of ALL benefits
The idea is to review the payment of all types of benefits – unemployment, sickness, housing, motobility – to name but a few, with a view to reduce the outgoings
Why is this idea important?
The idea is to review the payment of all types of benefits – unemployment, sickness, housing, motobility – to name but a few, with a view to reduce the outgoings
Cancel bonuses for public employees
The idea is to cancel the payment of bonuses to all public servants.
Why is this idea important?
The idea is to cancel the payment of bonuses to all public servants.
Reduce and/or cancel foreign aid
The idea is to cancel foreign aid to inappropriate countries such as China and India both of which, for instance, are neuclear powers and have space programmes.
Why is this idea important?
The idea is to cancel foreign aid to inappropriate countries such as China and India both of which, for instance, are neuclear powers and have space programmes.
Reduce immigration
The idea is to reduce immigration and, therefore its effect on the population and make up of the UK. It seems that Britain's population grew by some 395,000 during 2009 and is now expanding at three times the rate of the 1980s.
Why is this idea important?
The idea is to reduce immigration and, therefore its effect on the population and make up of the UK. It seems that Britain's population grew by some 395,000 during 2009 and is now expanding at three times the rate of the 1980s.
Reduce staffing levels at the M.O.D.
The idea is to reduce the number of staff at the M.O.D. by at least thirty percent.
Why is this idea important?
The idea is to reduce the number of staff at the M.O.D. by at least thirty percent.
Charge D.E.F.R.A. with following up on all notifiable plant notifications
It is important theat certain notifiable plants, such as ragwort and himalayan balsam are destroyed as early as possible in the growing cycle to avoid further reproduction. At the moment, the way the rules work it is down to any individual who notes these plants to ask the landowner to remove/kill them. It is required that the reporting individual asks the landowner twice and logs the action taken (or not) before D.E.F.R.A. will get involved and even then this department is reluctant.
The usual response from a landowner informed of the existence of these plants by a member of the public is nothing!
Why is this idea important?
It is important theat certain notifiable plants, such as ragwort and himalayan balsam are destroyed as early as possible in the growing cycle to avoid further reproduction. At the moment, the way the rules work it is down to any individual who notes these plants to ask the landowner to remove/kill them. It is required that the reporting individual asks the landowner twice and logs the action taken (or not) before D.E.F.R.A. will get involved and even then this department is reluctant.
The usual response from a landowner informed of the existence of these plants by a member of the public is nothing!
Allow local, on farm disposal of dead livestock
The idea is to allow farmers to dispose of their dead livestock on the farm as long as certain conditions, such as distance froam a watercourse, are met.
Why is this idea important?
The idea is to allow farmers to dispose of their dead livestock on the farm as long as certain conditions, such as distance froam a watercourse, are met.
Single payments scheme – introduce minimum land holdings to qualify
Introduce a minimum holding of (say) 25 hectares to qualify for single payments. It is absolutely crazy that anone with one or two acres can qualify and receive annual payments of several hundred pounds especially as one reads that it costs £1700 to process each one.
This will have several major effects:
1. Reduce the outgoings considerably – senior DEFRA management can easily calculate the monetary savings – probably in the order of 20%..
2. Because the number of claimants will be reduced by 80% (the 80/20 rule) there will be an enormous reduction in the need for people to process the claims.
3. Because there are many fewer qualifiers there will be a saving of at least 80% of the stationary bill – the packets of leaflets and brochures sent out several times a year.
Why is this idea important?
Introduce a minimum holding of (say) 25 hectares to qualify for single payments. It is absolutely crazy that anone with one or two acres can qualify and receive annual payments of several hundred pounds especially as one reads that it costs £1700 to process each one.
This will have several major effects:
1. Reduce the outgoings considerably – senior DEFRA management can easily calculate the monetary savings – probably in the order of 20%..
2. Because the number of claimants will be reduced by 80% (the 80/20 rule) there will be an enormous reduction in the need for people to process the claims.
3. Because there are many fewer qualifiers there will be a saving of at least 80% of the stationary bill – the packets of leaflets and brochures sent out several times a year.