I have been mostly impressed with the Welsh NHS, dentistry provision less so.
Got a doctor’s appointment within two days last week, none of this telephone queueing/go online bollox. I simply asked the receptionist to make me an appointment, saw my doctor two days later.
Mrs GG had broken a tooth, we have not registered with a dentist but I have rung several practices but no vacancies – one said try again in about a year…so I rang 111. Nothing of immediate help so I booked with a private practice which gave her a same day appointment, at extortionate cost, but she was able to sleep for the first time for a while.
What amused me was the long, detailed list of questions asked by the111 operator, among which :
What is her sex? I told her she was female; that was not good enough – ‘What does she self-identify as? – doh! No need for all that nonsense – she is a woman! I had to concede that she self-identified as such before we could proceed.
I want to thank John Craven, not only for the bible extract – I vaguely remember some of the words but had no idea where from, perhaps an old poem…… but also for promoting Opera videos such as the one of – O Mio Babbino Caro – sung by a then 9 year old Amira Willighagen a performance I had not seen before. Absolutely sublime and I joined all of the audience in silent weeping during that incredible performance.
Turning to the Labour VAT on Private Schools’ fiasco.
The followings comments are from readers of a commentary on a paper prepared (I believe) by the IFS last year when Labour first mooted the idea of bringing private schools into the vat net. It has already been seen that they have shot themselves in the foot with this proposal but several readers also noted other possible bear traps. Perhaps the Government is missing the colossal intellects of such as Adonis and Chuka?
There is one more complication you have not considered.
- Private schools offer bursaries for talented pupils who can’t afford the fees. Assume, for arguments sake, that 1/6 of the total fees a school receives pre awarding bursaries is awarded in bursaries. This means the total spent of bursaries equals the VAT that would be charged on all non bursary pupils fees.
Perhaps the parents who can currently afford the fees when VAT isn’t charged will feel that the school should stop awarding bursaries and use those savings to reduce the fees so that the VAT inclusive price is the same as the old VAT exempt price? I doubt they will be feeling particularly charitable.
So charging VAT on private school fees could lead to the removal of bursaries. Well done Labour, you’ve just made private schools more elitist.
- I understand this discussion was nearly a year ago but obviously this issue is being discussed again.
On the subject of bursaries
I can state the two schools my children are at plan to abolish all 100% bursaries.
Reduce 40% bursaries to 10% and cut the number offered by at least half. ( or more if it’s necessary )
We are a well known private school, ( not Eton ). Our school offers bursaries to a large % of the student body…approx 40% at the moment .
Furthermore. Teachers at one of our schools will no longer be able to offer free music lessons and instruments to the local state schools and
our sports buildings and fields will no longer be free to neighbouring schools.
Meanwhile it’s worth mentioning many parents who work to pay the fees and leave the private sector will either Put their income into pensions or isas thus not pay tax (they are used to not having the money anyway)
Or
As many have stated, cut hours or give up work as they don’t now need so much money
So it’s worth considering the impact of less tax and national insurance by parents who just don’t need to work so much after their kids have to move to state.
We sent two daughters to private school, well worth doing but we did struggle a little at times. A couple of re-mortgages was necessary though.
© Gillygangle 2024
