HAYLING ISLAND GROUP - GENERAL ELECTION TOP 20 QUESTIONS

Day 4 – Answers to the next four questions::13. Forty years ago, it was common in the UK for young people to undertake a 4 year apprenticeship and, simultaneously, to attend part-time further education to gain qualifications such as HNC. Only the very academic attended university but when they did it was fully funded by government grants. Nowadays, 50% of young people attend university, but they rack up huge debts, while the traditional apprenticeship is a thing of the past. How do you believe post-school education and training should be re-balanced to make it more affordable, more relevant to the majority of young people and better targeted to the needs of the UK economy? How do you believe the rights of zero hours workers should be protected, without such protections leading to a loss of jobs or working flexibility for those who want it?14. Do you believe the higher rate of income tax should be increased to 50%, or possibly higher? If the effect of such an increase did not increase revenue (an entirely possible outcome due to people relocating, not working as hard, using avoidance measures etc) would that make a difference to your views on what the top rate tax should be?15. Do you agree that the United States is our closest ally and that the 'special relationship' between our two nations should be fundamental to the UK's foreign policy?16. Should the UK renew, and even expand, its nuclear power generation capacity in order to guarantee security of energy supply and to reduce damage to the environment?  

Alan MakConservative Party

 

13. Forty years ago, it was common in the UK for young people to undertake a 4 year apprenticeship and, simultaneously, to attend part-time further education to gain qualifications such as HNC. Only the very academic attended university but when they did it was fully funded by government grants. Nowadays, 50% of young people attend university, but they rack up huge debts, while the traditional apprenticeship is a thing of the past. How do you believe post-school education and training should be re-balanced to make it more affordable, more relevant to the majority of young people and better targeted to the needs of the UK economy? How do you believe the rights of zero hours workers should be protected, without such protections leading to a loss of jobs or working flexibility for those who want it?

The  traditional  apprenticeship  is  not  a  thing  of  the  past.  It  is  alive  and  well.  In  fact,  apprenticeships  are  very  popular. Conservatives  created  2 million  apprenticeships  between  2010-2015,  and we will  create  3 million more  if  re-elected.  Local businesses like Head Romance, an award-winning hair salon in central Havant, run by two childhood Hayling friends employs a growing number of apprentices, as do many other local businesses. Post-school education and training should be re-balanced by ensuring young people have good careers advice and a range of options (a job, an apprenticeship or further study, rather than university being the only route). We can make it more affordable by asking employers to help with the costs of an apprenticeship or university (for example with scholarships). We also have to be frank and accept that students themselves benefit from post-school education and training, and should therefore also be expected  to  make  some  financial  contribution.  Employers  should  also  work  with  government  and  training  bodies  and universities to ensure post-school education and training is targeted to the needs of the UK economy.Labour took no action on zero hour/flexible hours contracts during 13 years in office. Conservatives took action quickly to make them fairer by banning exclusivity clauses  in these contracts which tied people to 1 employer so they couldn’t take on other jobs if their main employer didn’t give them any hours. Flexible contracts allow certain groups who want to be in the jobs market and to earn a wage, but who don’t know exactly what hours  they  can work  each week.  For  example,  they may  have  study  commitments  or  child  care  commitments  that  change. Around 1 in 50 jobs uses a flexible/zero hours contract, but we should certainly protect this group of workers. 

14. Do you believe the higher rate of income tax should be increased to 50%, or possibly higher? If the effect of such an increase did not increase revenue (an entirely possible outcome due to people relocating, not working as hard, using avoidance measures etc) would that make a difference to your views on what the top rate tax should be?

No.  We  need  to  get  the  right  balance  between  taxation,  and  allowing  successful, hardworking people to keep more of the money they earn. 

15. Do you agree that the United States is our closest ally and that the 'special relationship' between our two nations should be fundamental to the UK's foreign policy?

Yes, we have strong economic, cultural, military and historic links with the US, and we work closely  with  them  at  the  UN,  NATO  and  other  international  bodies.  In  particular,  we  co-operate at all  levels on military and  intelligence sharing under  the “Five Eyes” agreement (an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA).

16. Should the UK renew, and even expand, its nuclear power generation capacity in order to guarantee security of energy supply and to reduce damage to the environment?

We  should  renew  the  nuclear  deterrent,  and  we  are  the  only  Party  to  fully  commit  to renewing  and  replacing  all  4  Vanguard-class  nuclear  submarines  so  we  have  a  24/7 deterrent 365 days of the year. We cannot know what nuclear threats may emerge in the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s, so the only responsible choice is to recommit to our continuous at sea deterrent now before it is too late.  

  

Tim DawesGreen Party

 

PF PowerPoint Presentations

13. Forty years ago, it was common in the UK for young people to undertake a 4 year apprenticeship and, simultaneously, to attend part-time further education to gain qualifications such as HNC. Only the very academic attended university but when they did it was fully funded by government grants. Nowadays, 50% of young people attend university, but they rack up huge debts, while the traditional apprenticeship is a thing of the past. How do you believe post-school education and training should be re-balanced to make it more affordable, more relevant to the majority of young people and better targeted to the needs of the UK economy? How do you believe the rights of zero hours workers should be protected, without such protections leading to a loss of jobs or working flexibility for those who want it?

Yes, well, 40 years ago we still had a manufacturing industry.  We still had a thriving local building industry and we had proper provision for training on the job supported by college courses for day-release. Where are all these now after 40 years of Labour and Tory governments that have woefully failed to support them?  I referred  in  my  answer  to  question  12  to  what  seems  to  me  to  much  better  opportunities  available  in Germany, which still has a thriving indigenous industrial sector.  If young people want to go to university and that  is  the  right  thing  for  them,  then fine –  they  should have  that opportunity without being  forced  into debt. The Greens would abolish the massively  inefficient and damaging tuition fees and bring us  into  line with Scotland.  We also propose to follow the example of some successful education systems elsewhere and set up Youth Colleges as an alternative to more academic schools for the 16-19 age group and would look to fund quality vocational training in local colleges to support real trade and skills apprenticeships.   

14. Do you believe the higher rate of income tax should be increased to 50%, or possibly higher? If the effect of such an increase did not increase revenue (an entirely possible outcome due to people relocating, not working as hard, using avoidance measures etc) would that make a difference to your views on what the top rate tax should be?

Our policy is to have a top rate of income tax of 60% on very high earners.  In part that is intended as a disincentive for employers to pay salaries that are so high they contribute to instability in our society.  Removing tax loop holes at  the same time as raising higher rates changes the game with respect  to net  tax take.    It's not at all clear  that higher rates lead to more evasion in other countries with less lop holes – though they may be part of the reason that inequalities are less pronounced.  Some very rich people will want to do the unpatriotic thing and go an live a less  vibrant,  culturally  poorer  life  in  a middle-eastern  country  or  some  other  tax  haven.    That's  OK, we  can  do without  them.  I  don't  think  most  scientists,  engineers  and  leading  thinkers  will  go  –  especially  if  we  radically improve the amount of money spent on research – as the Greens propose.    

15. Do you agree that the United States is our closest ally and that the 'special relationship' between our two nations should be fundamental to the UK's foreign policy?

We  have  not  always  followed  US  to  war  (Vietnam),  nor  they  us  (Suez).    It  is  a  strong  and  mostly  healthy relationship, but more of our  trade and many of our strongest cultural  links are with Europe.    I am very  fond of America personally and would always want  to see a close and mutually  respectful  relationship, but not a slavish one such as developed between the Blair and Bush administrations. I do believe very strongly in the importance of collective security, but I want to see that extended beyond the limited vision of NATO to include Russian and the emerging  economic  powerhouse  countries.  The  UN  is  my  preferred  vehicle  for  a  more  inclusive  and  stable collective security in the future, but I accept that there may need to be interim arrangements.   None of this is easy to achieve whilst Russian and some other regimes do not altogether share our “rule of law” and open democratic principles, but I am not that confident about all the NATO members either – for example Albania and Turkey may in the future prove very problematic  in certain circumstances.        In the final analysis, a simple “England and the US against the rest”  policy is myopic and unrealistic.  We should be trying to deal with conflicts on a global scale and bring as many as we can into a common security system – only that way will those countries, like Russian and Iran (and indeed Turkey and the Baltic States) that feel threatened, be made to feel secure and confident enough not to threaten back.      

16. Should the UK renew, and even expand, its nuclear power generation capacity in order to guarantee security of energy supply and to reduce damage to the environment?

No.  It  is  of  course easy  to  say  “if  it were me,  I wouldn't  start  from here”, but  that  is how  I  feel  about energy strategy in the UK.  The truth is that since Thatcher and monetarists decided that the market was the  solution  to  everything  and  we  just  needed  to  privatise  the  lot  and  all  would  be  well,  we  simply haven't  had  a  strategic  national  energy  policy worthy  of  the  name.   We  are  paying  for  that  now with increased energy insecurity. We need to move to a renewable energy low-carbon energy economy if we are  to  avoid  catastrophic  climate  change. Wind  energy  is  a  great  asset  in  the UK  because we  have  so much  potential.    Even  now,  with  only  a  small  fraction  of  that  potential  exploited  wind  sometimes contributes as much as 25% of our energy needs. The trouble  is of course  it contributes that when the wind blows, when it doesn't the generation capacity drops to hardly aything.  If you want to understand our current energy mix, I recommend you look at this web site: http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/.  As the notes on the site explain because a lot of wind capacity is not linked to the national grid telemetric system its contribution is actually understated, but even so when I checked just now it was registering at just  short of  15%  -  and  its not  that windy  today.    The major  advantage of nuclear  is  that  its output  is reliable and so it provides the base load to the grid.  I would not like to contemplate an energy strategy that  soought  to  move  away  from  fossil  fuel  completely,  as  I  believe  we  must  in  order  to  plan  in  the national interest, without the knowledge that nuclear was there to support the base load pro temp.  But nuclear is inherently dangerous and ruinously expensive. Tidal and geothermal solutions could, I believe, replace the need for nuclear altogether and in the longer term will be much more cost effective and of course won't threaten the environment or our safety.   We also need more capacity for storage of wind and solar energy – our existing two pumped storage stations, absolutely critical to the way the grid works, are both older than some nuclear stations already decommissioned.  The tragedy is that we have failed to invest at all significantly in these technologies.  If we start now, there is still time to catch up. 

Dr Graham GilesLabour Party

 

13. Forty years ago, it was common in the UK for young people to undertake a 4 year apprenticeship and, simultaneously, to attend part-time further education to gain qualifications such as HNC. Only the very academic attended university but when they did it was fully funded by government grants. Nowadays, 50% of young people attend university, but they rack up huge debts, while the traditional apprenticeship is a thing of the past. How do you believe post-school education and training should be re-balanced to make it more affordable, more relevant to the majority of young people and better targeted to the needs of the UK economy? How do you believe the rights of zero hours workers should be protected, without such protections leading to a loss of jobs or working flexibility for those who want it?

Havant and Hayling island benefit from excellent educators but all schools and colleges have struggled to manage cuts and confusion in education policies.  I believe in choice, but aspirational education for all needs to be properly funded for the long-term.   My Charity  ‘Europe  to Europe’  runs Summer Schools  for disadvantaged high-achievers  called OpenEd, which encourages an  international world-view, enterprise,  character and  leadership.    For example  investment  in our pupils  can support ambitious young teams starting a business at 16, creating an NGO at 17 and running a political campaign at 18.   Billions of Euro EU Erasmus+ funding  for  this  innovative extra-mural education  is available until 2020  if  local schools and youth organisations are simply prepared to apply for it.  There is a need for an integrated 21st century vision to encourage, facilitate and mentor young entrepreneurs to set up new ventures with a low-tax threshold. As  I’ve  said  many  times  on  the  door-steps  and  hustings:  ‘If you haven’t got a decent job in Havant, haven’t got an affordable home in Havant, haven’t got a meal in Havant – then you haven’t got a hope in Havant !”.  Real wages have fallen £1,600 a year since David Cameron took office, the largest fall since the 1870’s.  This has left many working people struggling, with one  in five workers  low paid, and half of  those  in poverty now  living  in a working  family.    Labour’s plan ensures that working people will benefit from an £8 an hour minimum wage, action to promote a living wage, and a ban on exploitative zero hours contracts.  Alongside getting young people back to work, a compulsory jobs guarantee, a responsible welfare  system,  and  abolishing  the  unfair  bedroom  tax  –  this  is  how  we  will  tackle  the  cost-of-living  crisis,  reduce dependency on food banks, and earn our way back to greater productivity and higher living standards for all.

14. Do you believe the higher rate of income tax should be increased to 50%, or possibly higher? If the effect of such an increase did not increase revenue (an entirely possible outcome due to people relocating, not working as hard, using avoidance measures etc) would that make a difference to your views on what the top rate tax should be?

Business  interests and the Conservative party once forecast that  introduction of a minimum wage would be catastrophic for the country and cause the  loss of many jobs. This scaremongering proved not to be true. Restoring the highest rate of tax to 50% is reasonable and ethical in current circumstances.  Ordinary working people and those unfortunate enough to rely on benefits have borne the brunt of VAT and austerity taxation up to now. Those with the broadest shoulders should at least appear to be carrying the greatest load.  We must not allow unsound economists or fat-cats to get away with scare tactics which resist a fair taxation system. Labour is committed to end non-dom status and also empower the HMRC to crack down effectively on corruption and tax evasion.  

15. Do you agree that the United States is our closest ally and that the 'special relationship' between our two nations should be fundamental to the UK's foreign policy?

Great Britain is still a global power, the fifth or sixth richest in the world.  With Queen Elizabeth being head of State in 53 countries, our diplomatic, economic and political influence is undeniable.  Clearly, the UK has a ‘special relationship’ with the Commonwealth. Since 1970 Britain has also had a ‘special relationship’ with Europe as a member State of the expanding European Union.  We also have a long historical and national security ‘special relationship’ with the USA, especially through NATO and the UN.   Each of these special relationships have on-going fundamental importance to the unique global foreign policy of our nation.  Of course special relationships have to be mutual.  If the USA considers the UK to be its closest ally and the UK considers the USA to be its closest ally then we have the basis for active strategic collaboration on matters of global resonance.  I had a two hour breakfast with President Obama in February at which international ‘special relationships’ were very much on the menu.  For me the tests of our UK-USA special relationship are now threefold: the imperative of peace and reconciliation between nations; the urgency of binding global agreements on reversing man-made climate change; and the reduction of threats from terrorism and nuclear proliferation.  16. Should the UK renew, and even expand, its nuclear power generation capacity in order to guarantee security of energy supply and to reduce damage to the environment?

Due  to  a  lack  of  investment  in  renewable  energy  and  appropriate  energy  saving  initiatives  in  this  country  over  the  past  5  years,  it  is inevitable  that  we  need  some  nuclear  power  generation  for  the  next  30  years.  However,  we  should  invest more  in  renewable  energy including free geothermal energy for Havant and Hayling, as  in Southampton. We must certainly adopt a precautionary principle against new fossil-fuel power generation -  I oppose fracking  for environmental, health and economic reasons. Given the complexity of our  local geology,  population density,  and  the  importance  of  local  aquifers  to  our water  supply,  it would  be  extremely  ill-advised  to  permit  gas-fracking anywhere along the south coast.  I  support  a  new  generation  of  efficient,  safe  nuclear  power  plants  on  existing  sites  because  it  is  essential  for  our  growing  industrial, scientific and domestic requirements.  Investment in 21st Century nuclear fision is part of Labour’s integrated UK strategy to provide all the energy we need without harming the planet. 

Steve SollittLiberal Democrats

 

13. Forty years ago, it was common in the UK for young people to undertake a 4 year apprenticeship and, simultaneously, to attend part-time further education to gain qualifications such as HNC. Only the very academic attended university but when they did it was fully funded by government grants. Nowadays, 50% of young people attend university, but they rack up huge debts, while the traditional apprenticeship is a thing of the past. How do you believe post-school education and training should be re-balanced to make it more affordable, more relevant to the majority of young people and better targeted to the needs of the UK economy? How do you believe the rights of zero hours workers should be protected, without such protections leading to a loss of jobs or working flexibility for those who want it?

The Liberal Democrats have worked in the coalition to increase apprenticeships and this expansion would continue with an aim to double the number of businesses with apprentices including extending them to new sectors of our economy.    We  would  develop  the  skilled  workforce  needed  to  support  this  growth  and  extend  the  Grant  for Employers  for  the  remainder  of  the  next  Parliament  and  deliver  200,000  grants  to  employers     We would  also expand the number of degree equivalent Higher Apprenticeships.The  present  system  of  university  funding  only  requires  students  to  pay  back  after  they  are  earning  more  than £21,000  a  year.      The majority  of  people  I  have  talked  to  feel  that  the present  system  is  fair  and allows  for  the required  finance  in  the  university  sector.      A  continued  expansion  in  apprenticeships  could  reduce  the  number attending university but student fees do not appear to have significantly reduced the number who wish to attend at present There  are  times  when  fixed  term  contracts  and  other  flexible  contracts  work  well  for  some  employees  and businesses.   However  that  is  not  always  the  case  and we would work  to  stamp out  abuse.   We would  create  a formal right to request a fixed contract and consult on how to make regular patterns of work contractual after a period of time.

14. Do you believe the higher rate of income tax should be increased to 50%, or possibly higher? If the effect of such an increase did not increase revenue (an entirely possible outcome due to people relocating, not working as hard, using avoidance measures etc) would that make a difference to your views on what the top rate tax should be?

I would not support a 50p tax rate as it’s unlikely to raise more tax revenue.     The issue we have to address is tax avoidance and our polices will do that as well as introducing a new tax on properties worth more  than £2million     On this basis  the  tax  rates should remain the same with an increase in personal tax allowance to £12500

15. Do you agree that the United States is our closest ally and that the 'special relationship' between our two nations should be fundamental to the UK's foreign policy?

The US is an important ally to the UK but we should not ignore the other allies we have within Europe and beyond. Our foreign policy should be the best one for the UK and not specially aligned to the US

16. Should the UK renew, and even expand, its nuclear power generation capacity in order to guarantee security of energy supply and to reduce damage to the environment?

The UK  should  seek  to ensure  that nuclear energy  remains part of our energy power generation  whilst  recognising  the  risks  of  this        If  we  are  serious  about  finding alternatives to gas and oil longer term then other environmental methods of generation are required through wind and tidal power but there would need to be some nuclear input into that to ensure we were not in a situation where we were short of generation capacity

John PerryUnited Kingdom

Independence Party 

13. Forty years ago, it was common in the UK for young people to undertake a 4 year apprenticeship and, simultaneously, to attend part-time further education to gain qualifications such as HNC. Only the very academic attended university but when they did it was fully funded by government grants. Nowadays, 50% of young people attend university, but they rack up huge debts, while the traditional apprenticeship is a thing of the past. How do you believe post-school education and training should be re-balanced to make it more affordable, more relevant to the majority of young people and better targeted to the needs of the UK economy? How do you believe the rights of zero hours workers should be protected, without such protections leading to a loss of jobs or working flexibility for those who want it?

UKIP Policy is no tuition fees for STEM subjects and I agree with that as there is a shortage of STEM subject graduates in the Havant area as evidenced by job vacancies.  Since 45% of student loans are being  written  off,  student  fees  could  be  at  least  halved  with  no  fiscal  impact  to  the  government coffers.    I believe we should reintroduce apprenticeship  training, but  this will only work  if unskilled migrants into the UK are restricted from entry, and that is UKIP policy.

I deplore zero hours contracts and would want them banned; they came in after the EU implemented controls over contract workers, and so leaving the EU would help employers and employees alike.

14. Do you believe the higher rate of income tax should be increased to 50%, or possibly higher? If the effect of such an increase did not increase revenue (an entirely possible outcome due to people relocating, not working as hard, using avoidance measures etc) would that make a difference to your views on what the top rate tax should be?

Last year, once employees were paying 20% tax on £32,000 they were moved into the 40% tax band.  This should be raised by at least £10,000.  UKIP policy is to have an intermediate 30% tax band.I believe the highest rate of income tax should be set at such a rate to maximise tax revenue; France raised their tax rate too high so wealthy French employees moved to the UK to pay UK tax.   Therefore,  I believe 40% is the maximum tax rate we should have now, since low tax rates encourage more high paid employees into the UK and a greater tax take.

15. Do you agree that the United States is our closest ally and that the 'special relationship' between our two nations should be fundamental to the UK's foreign policy?

Today’s paper suggests that the special relationship has gone following savage defence spending cuts by Labour and the Tories.  I believe we should try and re-kindle that special relationship so sharing intelligence for Britain’s benefit.  We in UKIP believe spending must be at least 2% of GDP on defence.  I would also like to see shipbuilding returned to Portsmouth.

16. Should the UK renew, and even expand, its nuclear power generation capacity in order to guarantee security of energy supply and to reduce damage to the environment?

Short answer: yes, as no CO2 emissions and it guarantees us energy security.  Nuclear Power relies on fission; I am hopeful that cleaner nuclear power based on fusion may be with us in future years to allay green concerns.

 

That’s it for Day 4The last four questions will

be answered tomorrow

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