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ENERGY BILLS
FACE FOURFOLD INCREASE
SUGGESTION that people
should fork out thousands of pounds to replace their gas boilers and
cookers with electric units and then have to endure a fourfold
increase in their bills is bonkers says GMB, who are the union for
energy workers.
They commented on the intervention by
the Committee on Climate Change in writing to Energy Secretary Ed
Davey expressing "great concern" over the Government's
recent statement that gas will continue to play an important role in
the energy mix up to and beyond 2030.
Gary Smith, GMB National Secretary for energy and utilities, said:-
"The Committee says in their letter that the mixed messages
the Government is sending out over energy policy will damage efforts
to get investment into low-carbon technologies such as nuclear and renewables which is needed to tackle climate change. GMB has never been a supporter of burning gas to produce
electricity. Even with the development of shale gas GMB do not think
it is the best use of what is a finite resource. GMB recognise that
while gas fired stations are easy to turn on to meet peak demand the
UK needs investment in low carbon ways of producing electricity
including new nuclear. The view that gas should not be burned to
meet base load electricity is right. However there is a need for a
reality check by some of these experts about the economics of
energy. A unit of electricity is about four times as expensive as
the equivalent unit of gas. Given the fact around 80% of British
homes use gas for heating and cooking there is no way they will
easily or cheaply move from gas to electricity. Nobody in
their right mind could suggest that people will have to fork out
thousands of pounds to replace their gas boilers and gas cookers
with electric units and then have to endure a fourfold increase in
their bills. The experts need to face the fact that the suggestion
is bonkers and will not be accepted by households."
'Cruelty' of those who
force others to live
OPPONENTS of right-to-die
legislation in England and Wales have been accused of acting in a
'callous and cruel' way in a new pamphlet. With Liberal
Democrats expected to call for changes to the 1961 Suicide Act at
their party conference next week, Southport Euro-MP Chris Davies
claims that to force people suffering unendurably to stay alive
against their will is a form of torture. Davies, who will be moving
the motion on medically assisted dying on Sunday, 23 September 2012,
says that Britain should learn from the experience of Belgium, the
Netherlands and Luxembourg where right-to-die laws already exist.
Davies said that:- "It demonstrates that a change in British
law could be wholly beneficial, giving comfort to individuals forced
to live with intolerable suffering, and without giving rise to
adverse consequences."
In "Our Right to Die - Lessons for Britain from the European
experience", the MEP argues that denying the wishes of
people experiencing intolerable suffering can be justified only if
it is for the good of society. He claims that the European
experience proves that fears that the elderly and vulnerable might
become prey to abuse are groundless. More than 200 British citizens
have now made a final journey to Switzerland to secure assistance to
die from the Dignitas organisation, and 20 to 25 more do so every
year! Davies describes this as a policy by default, and claims that
it represents an embarrassing failure on the part of British
politicians to stand up for the rights of individuals.
Davies added:- "Why should medically assisted suicide be
restricted to those with the ability, the connections or the money?
What of those who are too defiant and bloody-minded to seek this way
out? As Tony Nicklinson responded when asked whether he would make
the journey to Switzerland:- 'Why should I?
Why can't I die at home, in my own country, when I choose?'
So why shouldn't you have that right?"
The MEP claims that a change in the law has been blocked by
opponents whose religious or ethical views are out of step with
majority public opinion. "Their motives may be compassionate
but their actions are callous and cruel." he added. So
do you agree or disagree? Email us to
news24@southportreporter.com with your views on this. |
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New chief
executive for Trust
THE Royal Liverpool and
Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust has appointed a new chief
executive. Aidan Kehoe joins the Trust from Blackpool Teaching
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where he has been chief executive
since 2009. Aidan has worked in the NHS for over 20 years and brings
with him a wealth of experience. He is also a chartered accountant.
Aidan said:- "I am absolutely delighted to be joining such a
well-regarded and high performing Trust. I was born and brought up
in Liverpool and am really thrilled to be joining the Trust at such
an exciting time for the hospitals and the city. The new Royal
Liverpool University Hospital and the Liverpool BioCampus are
absolutely key to the regeneration of the city and I can't wait to
be a part of that. Liverpool is my home city and it has always been
my ambition to be chief executive at the Royal Liverpool. I am
really looking forward to working with the caring and dedicated
staff at the Trust and ensuring that the hospitals continue to
provide the best possible care for patients."
Aidan is highly regarded at Blackpool and led the Trust through a
period of significant change and improvement, engaging with staff
and leading on Blackpool becoming a teaching trust.
Judith Greensmith, chair of the Royal, said:- "I am extremely
pleased that Aidan will be joining the Trust as chief executive. He
joins us at a key time, with a new hospital planned and many other
exciting developments in place. I am sure he will continue to take
forward the excellent work already undertaken at our hospitals. We
are looking forward to welcoming him to our hospitals."
Aidan's start date at the Trust will be announced in due course, but
is expected to be before Christmas 2012.
Liverpool grocery and retail trade
targeted in tax cheat crackdown
A new taskforce to tackle
tax dodgers in the grocery and retail trade in Liverpool has been
launched by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Taskforces are specialist teams that undertake intensive bursts of
activity in specific high risk trade sectors and locations in the
UK. The teams will visit traders to examine their records and carry
out other investigations.
David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary, said:- "We have made it
clear that we will not tolerate tax evasion and we are determined to
crack down on the minority who choose to break the rules. Everyone
needs to pay the taxes they owe in full. It is not fair that at a
time when most hard-working people are paying the right tax, others
are trying to get out of paying what they should."
HMRC's Mike Eland, Director General Enforcement and Compliance,
said:- "This taskforces bring together specialists from across
HMRC to find people who are not paying what they should. If you have
paid all your taxes you have nothing to worry about. But for those
deliberately evading tax, be warned that HMRC is coming after you.
This is not an empty threat - HMRC can and will track you down if
you choose to break the rules. We are on target to collect more than
£50 million as a result of taskforces launched in 2011/12."
HMRC has launched 30 taskforces since May 2011.
Taskforces are a result of the Government's £917 million spending
review investment to tackle tax evasion, avoidance and fraud from
2011/12, which aims to raise an additional £7 billion each year by
2014/15.
If you are aware of someone who is evading their taxes you can tell
HMRC via the Tax Evasion Hotline by phone, on:- 0800 788 887, email
or by post.
Full details can be found at:-
hmrc.gov.uk.
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