Interesting documentary so far

[vetran]

Can't stop people buying food in the shop with their debit card, then swapping it for fags with schoolkids outside the shop.

no you can't but if they buy £70 worth of coffee (or other things that hold their value) we can assume they are reselling it.

As pointed out above it does mean they can't say we can't afford food. Sanctions can then be their discretionary amount.

[VectraMan]

Yes, but then they don't have the food, and can't complain that "I didn't have enough money for food".

Well they can, and the do-gooders at the food bank will feed them anyway. The point of a limited debit card is to limit what they spend the money on. Just pointing out that it doesn't work.

Also, things have changed from my days if the kids are standing outside shops with fags, instead of the old call of "Can you buy me 10 B&H please mate?".

Given the number of obese kids I think that may be correct. At least smoking keeps them thin.

[DodgyAgent]

Some will even go so far as to set up employment agencies.

[MicrosoftBob]

You might as well go the whole hog and scrap the benefits system and just reintroduce poor houses, if nothing else it would annoy Labour luvvies

[vetran]

Well they can, and the do-gooders at the food bank will feed them anyway. The point of a limited debit card is to limit what they spend the money on. Just pointing out that it doesn't work.



Given the number of obese kids I think that may be correct. At least smoking keeps them thin.

You have direct experience of foodbanks ?

The majority of them require referral from a relevant agency. They limit the amount of food you can obtain to 3 a year. So if you think people get dependant on them you are mistaken.


Try this from the largest UK foodbank.

http://www.trusselltrust.org/resourc...y2013Small.pdf

[original PM]

You might as well go the whole hog and scrap the benefits system and just reintroduce poor houses, if nothing else it would annoy Labour luvvies

You are Bob on there Bob.

Not working will once again be seen as something to be avoided at all costs.

[doodab]

You might as well go the whole hog and scrap the benefits system and just reintroduce poor houses, if nothing else it would annoy Labour luvvies

It would annoy pensioners as well.

[original PM]

It would annoy pensioners as well.

Pensions are not benefits!

[doodab]

Pensions are not benefits!

They make up half the benefits bill though....

Then of course you have to factor in that of the remaining £70bn or so a significant chunk is subsidising low wage workers.

[vetran]

You are Bob on there Bob.

Not working will once again be seen as something to be avoided at all costs.

not sure I agree, as you know I look to my left and see Ghengis Khan however we need to support the people unable to find work or looking for work otherwise there will be anarchy.

Also whilst I have little sympathy for the idle I do believe we should support the unlucky to a certain extent. However I'm all for making a prolonged life on benefits very uncomfortable (not unpleasant).