Tax campaigners against Barclays are misinformed February 28, 2012 ON MONDAY, David Gauke, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, told a stunned House of Commons that a bank had attempted to use a tax avoidance scheme to reduce its tax bill by £0.3bn. The government would act swiftly to close this loophole. As other banks are also understood to have used this dodge, it’s hoped [...]
There’s no logic behind the workfare proposal February 28, 2012 THE government has introduced a scheme that encourages people on the unemployment benefit to work at selected firms, such as Tesco. They are paid nothing but are alleged to benefit by gaining work experience. This is not slave labour, as some have alleged. No one is forced to do this unpaid work, not even as [...]
RAPID RESPONSES February 28, 2012 Damaged goods [Re: Don’t blame the Depression on the gold standard, yesterday] George Selgin writes that there can be no question of a credible government-backed gold standard without public confidence in governments’ monetary promises. But that also applies to government-sponsored paper money. The failure of both is a lesson that we should get governments out [...]
Don’t blame the Depression on the gold standard – but don’t expect it back either February 27, 2012 TWO of America’s Republican candidates – Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul – have dared to toy with the idea of bringing back the gold standard. Their remarks have in turn triggered a fusillade of indignant replies, from pundits and professional economists alike, the general theme of which is that no one fit to be America’s [...]
Universities can be powerhouses of UK innovation February 27, 2012 THE government is aiming high with the publication of the Wilson Review today – a comprehensive report with the aim of making the UK the best place in the world for businesses and universities to work together. In the shadow of recommendations of how the sector can best do this, familiar voices will undoubtedly emerge [...]
Better squeezed than baffled by tax breaks February 27, 2012 WHEN my wife was pregnant last summer we received a £100 voucher from the government to ensure she was eating enough fruit and vegetables. She already was eating enough fruit and vegetables, but the money came in handy for other things. This is just one small example of how a well-intentioned policy is a waste [...]
RAPID RESPONSES February 27, 2012 Smart and simple [Re: The energy policy paradox: cheap tariffs for the savvy mean higher bills for most, yesterday] Will Straw is right to highlight the unfair impact of predatory pricing on all energy bill payers. Ofgem clearly needs to look at this issue, particularly as the most vulnerable members of society are likely to pay [...]
The energy policy paradox: cheap tariffs for the savvy mean higher bills for most February 26, 2012 AT A time when energy bills are soaring, many families will be angry that British Gas reported profits last week of over £500m. It follows the news ten days ago that EDF’s profits rose to almost £1.6bn and announcements from the other “Big Six” energy firms are due in the coming weeks. But politicians and [...]
London needs to have world-class education for all February 26, 2012 IN 2004 the opening of Mossbourne Academy marked a turning point in the London Borough of Hackney. Built on the site of the former Hackney Downs school (described by the then government as the “worst school in Britain”), Mossbourne became a symbol of academic excellence in one of the most deprived parts of London. Under [...]
Build for the future to keep the City running February 26, 2012 THE recent Court of Appeal hearing regarding the St Paul’s protest will be welcome news to many working in the City. Although peaceful protest is a democratic right and often sparks important debate, it is equally important that the rights of people working in the City are also respected. The mess and nuisance generated by [...]