What do you hope for in the budget?

Whilst I was a "stay at home" mother, I helped raise thousands of pounds to help the schools my children were at, I was a voluntary Safeguarding Officer so that my children and other children were safe and I was a primary carer for my Grandad who had dementia. All of those jobs would have had to be paid by someone without a "stay at home" mother and all contributed financially to society...they didn't contribute financially to me with the exception of my pension stamp. Personally, I feel that I gave good value at that price!

So, why is Rachel Reeves giving us Austerity2?

I would like to see child care for the under fours subsidised. This has no personal interest for me, parents helped me, and no grandchildren, but I am saddened by a recent suggestion from a business man that 'regulations on early child care should be relaxed so we can get more mothers back to work, and sooner.'
I don't like seeing mothers of very young children having to return to work so early, and then sacrifice their wages in expensive child care.

A very informative post thank you MaizieD.

National debt is real and when the bank prints more money, also known as 'quantative easing' it fuels inflation.

We have all heard stories of the german inflation of the 1920s,that led to Hitler winning control of the country and all that ensued. Although the trigger causes were complex, it was when the previous German government tried to print themselves out of trouble by producing more and more bank notes, that the flak really hit the fan. In the morning a loaf of bread would cost 100 marks, by evening it was 250 marks.

Oh dear, Monica. Trotting out the old cliche about prewar German hyperinflation (and I'm surprised that you didn't add in Zimbabwe and Venezuela while you were at it) is not a killer argument against money creation. Analysis of the causes of these hyperinflation episodes has shown that it was shortage of supply leading to rising prices, that led the governments to create more money to enable the purchase of goods in order to keep the population on side with the government. The sociopolitical situation of a country explains a great deal. The countries cited had sociopolitical conditions peculiar to them which cannot be generalised across the globe to extrapolate a firm 'rule' which says that money creation causes hyperinflation.

As it is, we have recent experience of 'money creation' by way of Quantitative Easing (QE) ass a response to the Global Financial Crisis and the Coronavirus pandemic. In the UK this has amounted to some £900billion of 'new' money released into the economy without any adverse effect on inflation. Because we do know that the inflation of 2022/23 was primarily caused by the shock to energy prices caused by the Russian war with Ukraine.

Economic theory is not a series of rules set in stone by dead economists. It is in a continual process of development through empirical research, analysis of past economic phenomena and questioning of past theories. It may confirm or it may challenge accepted theories.

This article looks at inflation in such a questioning fashion.

Interestingly it ends with a quote from one of the economic giants of the 20th C.

There are not many who are influenced by new theories after they are twenty-five or thirty years of age, so that the ideas which civil servants and politicians and even agitators apply to current events are not likely to be the newest. But, soon or late, it is ideas, not vested interests, which are dangerous for good or evil.”

John Maynard Keynes

www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/economy/spotlight/understanding-inflation.html

My son is a long term psychiatric nurse who has repeatedly turned down promotion suggestions. He says that would turn him away from patients (his happy and constructive zone) and into non stop paperwork. I'm pleased he has stayed strong enough to resist the life of increased salary and less job satisfaction.

I think it’s a bit misleading to make assumptions that ALL professionals wish to progress.

Some teaching and nursing staff, as well as some police officers and in lots of other professionals, not every member of staff wants to progress.

Those who fix to progress should be supported to reach their potential, those who don’t should also be supported to do their chosen role to the best of their ability.

Allira

Anyway.

Training for:
More police
More medical staff
More qualified science and mathematics teachers
Reintroduce the SEN or similar so that not all nurses are required to be qualified to degree level.

A ban on MPs' freebies
Laws to tax the wealthy but not so punitive that they leave the country.
Close loopholes about tax evasion.

Investigate care home charging.

Support farmers so that they can continue to produce food in a sustainable way whilst still making a profit. Too many are in despair right now.

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The old SEN role has been replaced by the Nursing Associate role ....theses practitioners are registered on NMC role ......the qualification is a foundation degree ....thing is there's no scope to progress with a foundation degree....as an NA you are neither a nurse nor a HCA ....so better to decide whether you want to commit to being a nurse.....or prefer to be a HCA .....a HCA can be a band 3......an NA can never progress beyond a band 4 .....I wouldnt encourage anyone I know to do it

Mollygo try not to worry - the NHS doesn’t do communication!!

ronib

Mollygo is SE something to do with cholesterol?

If it is, you could do a better job than the person who wrote that on my notes without mentioning it or explaining.

Dickens

Allira

they just don’t have the money for give aways

That is just not true and not how the economy works.

That is just not true and not how the economy works.

Do you think there's many people who understand how a national economy works?

There is no fixed stock of money.

If only this was understood.

There is no fixed stock of money but at the end of the accounting period either borrowing has increased or reduced. If the aim is to reduce borrowing spending has to be reduced or revenue increased, the indications so far are taxation of higher income/wealth will increase AND the universal benefits will be reduced. This should allow some spending on growth which has been sadly neglected recently.

It’s very good housekeeping to reduce spending on those that don’t need help, for example the Tories gave an additional IHT concession for couple up to £1m, they do not NEED that, it was money taken directly out of the mouths of the poor

Mollygo is SE something to do with cholesterol?

I’d like to see action which means students do not leave Uni with debts that take years to pay off.
Admin in school would be difficult to change.
Payroll and requisition are already carried out by the Bursar and ancillary staff.
NTAs are employed to print off and laminate resources.
The SENDCo is responsible for admin relating to communication and meetings with support agencies, though teachers are involved with observations, assessment and reports on the children.
Time to meet with SENDCo and parents to discuss the needs of these children is a problem.
Additional cover teachers to allow these meetings to happen without disrupting the class?
Other admin? Not sure what could change.
Record keeping is essential for ensuring children’s progress.
Marking, sometimes part of the lesson, often teachers’ homework informs that record keeping.
Both record keeping and marking become more onerous with each new fad - different colour pens, two stars and a wish, different signs, dot, cross, wiggly line, etc.

Re the NHS
Nurses are now required to be degree level.
More and more staff are not required to do that.
I’d like to see a table of essential qualifications held by the increasing number of people we are faced with when trying to get a doctor’s appointment.
Following a recent accident I’ve been seen by an assortment of staff,
Triage nurse
Nursing assistant
Assistant nurse
Practice nurse
Health Care Assistant
Some of them could take bloods.
Some of them can give you results.
Some of them can prescribe.

None of them could actually tell me what treatment I would get, but on reading my notes, I find I’m on a waiting list -no time limit given, and I mentioned concern about SE?
What is SE?
I’m really looking forward to the appearance of all the extra doctors, though given the length of training . . .

National debt is real and when the bank prints more money, also known as 'quantative easing' it fuels inflation.

We have all heard stories of the german inflation of the 1920s,that led to Hitler winning control of the country and all that ensued. Although the trigger causes were complex, it was when the previous German government tried to print themselves out of trouble by producing more and more bank notes, that the flak really hit the fan. In the morning a loaf of bread would cost 100 marks, by evening it was 250 marks.

There is also a lot of nonsense talked about 'household' budgets. The days of Mr Micawber and Annual income 20 pounds, annual expenditure 19 [pounds] 19 [shillings] and six [pence], result happiness. Annual income 20 pounds, annual expenditure 20 pounds ought and six, result misery.

In fact nowadays household financial management is quite complex. Housebuyers have mortgages, others will borrow to fund education - student loans and similar. At the same time we are saving for pensions. Older people take out money on Equity release, money and debt racking up until they die.

These days it is not just the government that doesn't run on aa household type budget, neither do most households!

I always thought that “national” debts were notional? That govts could instruct the Bank of England to print more money?

I don’t think the country is run on a household type budget?

Many businesses run with deficit budgets now and again and don’t go into liquidation.

OK! Admin and staff!

I mean cut the actual admin itself in roles like teaching/police/NHS!

Cut out unnecessary paperwork, cut down on red tape.

There will still be plenty of admin jobs for those who want them

Allira

I forgot to add supporting apprenticeships in vocational subjects.
Very necessary for the future.

Hear, hear to that.

- also -

I know there will be a new law which bans exploitative zero-hours contracts - but I'd like to know how this will be enforced.

According to a BBC report, it's mostly the under 25s who take up these zero hour contracts. They don't all live at home with mum, and have rent and bills to pay.

I wonder if the new Bill will result in more contracted hours being given?

I forgot to add supporting apprenticeships in vocational subjects.
Very necessary for the future.

Allira

^they just don’t have the money for give aways^

That is just not true and not how the economy works.

That is just not true and not how the economy works.

Do you think there's many people who understand how a national economy works?

There is no fixed stock of money.

If only this was understood.

Steelygran

I'd like to see more help with energy costs for people with a high level of disability who aren't able to work, perhaps in the form of a discount scheme or social tariff to make their heating bills more affordable. These people often have high energy needs, often because they run specialist equipment or their lack of mobility means they can't move to keep warm.

Yes, those who are housebound and, as you say, are unable to move and/or need specialist equipment do need help.

That’s a good idea too. There could be a different (lower) tariff for those in that position. I agree with a lot of the suggestions in Allira’s post of 20.05, too.

I'd like to see more help with energy costs for people with a high level of disability who aren't able to work, perhaps in the form of a discount scheme or social tariff to make their heating bills more affordable. These people often have high energy needs, often because they run specialist equipment or their lack of mobility means they can't move to keep warm.

they just don’t have the money for give aways

That is just not true and not how the economy works.

Reading the posts there are going to be an awful lot of disappointed voters, they just don’t have the money for give aways beyond what they are already committed, means testing will also be expanded. On the revenue side taxes will increase, property and inheritance taxes are a likely target, indirect taxes also.
Personally I would like to see a surcharge on turnover of
overseas domiciled companies.

Anyway.

Training for:
More police
More medical staff
More qualified science and mathematics teachers
Reintroduce the SEN or similar so that not all nurses are required to be qualified to degree level.

A ban on MPs' freebies
Laws to tax the wealthy but not so punitive that they leave the country.
Close loopholes about tax evasion.

Investigate care home charging.

Support farmers so that they can continue to produce food in a sustainable way whilst still making a profit. Too many are in despair right now.

Expand SureStart