Government Mid-Term Review: childcare and pensions shake-ups coming

Cazbarfeatures is absolutely correct. As someone who has worked (and am still working) for 46 years and is of pensionable age, I am fed up with being told that the next generation are having to keep us. We have paid into the system via our taxes, national insurance etc for years and years. If Governments have squandered it then it is their fault and not ours. As a reward for our hard work we are now being told to keep on working until we are in our 70's/80's i.e. until we are put in a pine box., and before we get to that resting place they will ensure that "enjoy" our old age by withdrawing all the benefits (SERPS, free bus pass, winter fuel allowances, free TV license for the over 80's) that are not actually "FREE" because we have already contributed towards them.....and we are still paying our Income Tax, Council Tax etc. Then they say we are to get an improved state pension (£140 I believe) that "rewards saving". Well, as my pension, due to extra payments made is about £139, I don't think they will be giving me much extra and what will happen to the money I have saved....you guessed it, they will tax it at 40% along with the rest of my estate when I die (hardly a savings incentive). But let's look at what they have done for parents:- Well if you are two people earning £49,999 each you won't have any cuts in your child benefit (I wonder how many M.P's will benefit from this) but if one of you earns £50,001 they will lose it. How fair is that? I am afraid that this is one of the main problems with the country at the moment. Things are never fair and rip-off Britain rules as usual. We are one of the most highly taxed countries in the world and it is just getting worse and worse....but then perhaps those in power are really happy about it because they never seem to suffer. Yet another business has gone to the wall today (camera shops) - only the very rich businesses will survive and how can you run an economy with no businesses. People cannot spend on goods if they don't have the money. Henry Ford of "Model T" fame was once asked why he paid his workers a good wage and his reply was that they could then afford to buy his cars....now there's a man who knew a thing or two !!!

Bengilda - you completely miss the point. We will not be able to afford for my wife to work without tax breaks of one kind or another, because we would actually be worse off after childcare and other expenses. £2,000 per year tax break would allow the following increased taxation paid to the government: - £3,500 - Income tax & NI payments by my wife. £200 (estimate) - Income tax & NI paid by the childminder we employ. You also need to add the following which I have not bothered to calculate: - Additional tax on fuel paid for travel to/from work & child minder. VAT on additional purchases made. For those who claim it - reduction in unemployment benefit paid out. The government (and hence indirectly you) would be better off as a result of paying this £2,000. It will create higher levels of employment, a greater sense of self-worth for those who are back in employment, and increase the flow of money. From a purely economic sense it's a win win and you'd be foolish not to support it.

Let me guess bengilda, you're not a parent or anywhere near pensionable age. It seems to me we are in a world of parent and OAP haters. I have just the one child and both myself and my husband have worked all our working lives so far and contributed to this country via taxes etc. We are only entitled to child benefit and don't scrounge i.e. don't bother working and claim every benefit going. Why shouldn't I get some of my tax money back, I don't see it as money for nothing as my son could grow up to become a doctor to cure people giving something back. In any case whatever he turns out to be he will be earning and contributing for the future generation. I realise this isn't about child benefit, it's just a response to the haters.