Points to Ponder

[Hugo]

More than a fifth of UK working-age adults are still not in work or actively looking for work, official figures suggest.

Sir Keir Starmer is saying that those who can work, should work.      So what is wrong with that?      I entirely agree with him and it's ridiculous that we have 1.9 million 16 to 24 years olds who can work but are not effectively looking for work.     Yet at the same time in the UK  we have 1.8 million job vacancies.
Why doesn't the Government make the people take the jobs that are available with the alternative of losing their benefits if they fail to take the job?

[Hugo]

'Affordable homes' planned for David Lloyd George's boyhood village
Five dwellings could be developed on land at Maes Llwyd
This full application has been submitted by Tŷ Gwynedd, as part of a housing plan by Cyngor Gwynedd. The homes would be developed and sold on the basis of a shared equity model to provide "affordable" homes.

The proposals describe the development and provision of "intermediate quality housing" of a different type of affordable housing to that provided by housing associations. The properties would be available on a "shared ownership  basis" which allows eligible occupiers to buy most of the value of the dwelling by fixing a mortgage at a discount from open market values, plans say.
I'm all for affordable homes but in this instance they should only be for local people living in the area
--

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/affordable-homes-planned-david-lloyd-31252235

[Hugo]

Isle of Man assisted dying bill passes!
The upper and lower chamber of the Isle of Man’s parliament agreeing on changes to the Bill. My Death, My Decision, whose local Isle of Man branch has been campaigning strongly for a law, welcomes this compassionate move.

Today, Members of the Legislative Council, the upper chamber, discussed amendments which had been rejected by House of Keys, the Isle of Man’s lower house including an amendment to cut the residency criteria from five years to 12 months before a patient can access the scheme.

I watched the ITV news tonight and a 93 year old lady whose husband  had been suffering with severe MND        It was quite emotional listening to her story and the husband   told her "I'm breathing but I'm not living"      Together they made the decision and they flew to Switzerland where he had a dignified end to his life.
The wife said that  when her time came she would do the same
It's a very controversial topic but if I let my dog die in agony then I would quite rightly be prosecuted for animal cruelty.    It's barbaric to let anyone suffer 


https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/2025/03/25/isle-of-man-assisted-dying-bill-passes/

[SteveH]

Why am I surprised by this story, I should be used to this BS by now...........


Cost of tourist tax in Wales could top quarter of a billion pounds in first decade.............   
It will be up to each of Wales’ 22 local authorities to decide whether to roll out the levy

The staggering cost of launching and running a visitor levy in Wales have been revealed as ministers fine-tune the controversial policy. In its first 10 years of operation, the levy and associated registration scheme are forecast to cost at least £313.9m – and as much as £576m.

Levy benefits are estimated at £264m over 10 years - or £211.8m just using current prices, according to the Welsh Government’s own Regulatory Impact Assessment. Based on the latter figure, the "net present value" benefit over the first eight years of levy operation is between -£41.9m and -£257.5m. So potentially the scheme could result in a net loss of more than a quarter of a billion pounds in a worst case scenario.............  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/cost-tourist-tax-wales-could-31287632?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

I think it has been said on here before, that there is a report stating the present system is not being used despite costing millions of pounds......... why continue spending more?

Campaigners have warned that changes to the Welsh government's cycling policies are putting efforts to get people on their bikes at "risk".

The Welsh government has spent millions on encouraging people to walk and cycle, with councils bidding for cash to build new infrastructure.

But Transport Secretary Ken Skates has made his priority inclusive travel - including fixing pavements to ensure they are suitable for people with disabilities and implying less of a focus on bike routes...........  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx208jlr575o

[Hugo]

Warning bill rises hit single parents hardest

Unless you have a smart meter how do the energy companies know exactly how many units someone has used at the lower rate?         

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly1vwd57y2o