Why are the Scots better treated?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....ing-than-English.html

According to this report they not only receive £1,600 more per head in state spending than English, but they also enjoy a range of benefits denied to those south of the border, including no prescription charges, no university tuition fees and free personal care for the elderly.

[Svejk]

While we're all apologizing, let me take this oppertunity to apologize to you AOG. My removed thread to you,yesterday,was in no way meant to cause offence to you. If it did I'm sincerely sorry.
Friends?

[youngmafbog]

Gromit, if you are trying to insinuate it is the Tories that wont give the benefit

1) Its pretty much the same as your beloved Noo labour in England

2) The Tories are giving it to the Scottish in the first place.

the point of it is the English are bailing out the sweaties.

Jake, not sure what point you are trying to make either.

Wharton, what is all yours? If you are referring to the North sea oil then you may have a problem. Salmon made a grave miscalculation there as very little is in scottish waters and indeed much of it has nothing to do with the UK.

anyway, by the time you get independance we will be on alternative fuels, tha Arabs will be back in their tents and you lot will be crying into your Haggis

[friedgreentomato]

Northern Ireland also enjoys a lot of those benefits - perhaps we budget better than those englishmen!!!

[Wharton]

youngmafbog
Talking of 'waters', where do you intend parking your nuclear submarines? We'll help you dredge the Thames if you like.

[Jordyboy9]

United we stand divided we fall, and I still want to be part of a united kingdom,dont like salmond and his cronies all out for themselves,sturgeon gets on my wick.home rule for Scotland no thanks,I will emigrate to Kent the garden of England.

[albaqwerty]

youngbogface
do you practice at being rude or does it just come naturally?

You get the government you deserve.

[emmie]

Hopkirk, so no Scottish scientists?

[emmie]

i actually don't think it is at all fair that the Scots get free prescriptions, university tuition and care for the elderly, how do they pay for it? And when push comes to shove will Scotland if it gains it's independence continue on with those benefits.

[douglas9401]

The prescription charges thing's a bit of a red herring as under 16s, pensioners, some chronically ill and most benefit claimants were already exempt at the time this was introduced. Couple that with the offer to buy a pre-paid certificate for a year then the expenditure is relatively negligible when compared to, say, housing benefit to slum landlords in big cities (in England) charging inflated prices because they've known that until relatively recently, it would be paid without question.

[chaptazbru]

maggiebee in England the over 60's get free bus passes too.

[emmie]

they might do, but in many places there are now restrictions on times they can be used. London is ok so far i think, but older relatives out of town have to wait till after 9.30am, not much use if you need to get to your doctor, hospital appointments.

[plautus]

Chapta is right, although the age is gradually being raised to 65. I can travel the length and breadth of England (not sure about Wales) for nowt, but should I ever in a moment of insanity ever wish to go to Edinburgh I would have to pay from Berwick onwards (sniff).

[chaptazbru]

I've not heard of any restrictions in my neck of the woods and I have an elderly neighbour who uses hers all the time.

[chaptazbru]

Didn't know the age is gradually being raised to 65, probably abolished altogether when I reach retirement !

[plautus]

Re em10; I don't know about other parts of England but in Tyne and Wear you can travel free before 9.30 on production of a doctor's/hospital appointment card/letter.

[plautus]

FAO chapta: In 2010 the Labour government raised the limit. For every month you were born after a certain date in April 1950 you have to wait an extra month to qualify for the bus pass and free prescriptions and, for women the State pension, so that by April 2015 the qualifying ages for both sexes will be 65.

[venator]

Three cheers for good old reliable Gromit, turning everything to his lefty liking!

Is he sure Maggie wasn't involved?

The truth is that Scotland keeps the Labour Party in power, and over the years, funding from London has kept the Scots happy.

[chaptazbru]

Thanks plautus ...

[plautus]

As an example, people who turn 60 this month will have to wait until they are 63 and 7 months before qualifying.

[venator]

I'm English, but have a free travel pass I got in Edinburgh...