Wandering Off Topic

[Eleanor]

Not directly, more to do with the right-wing attitudes of the readership.

There is a very strong attitude of - 'if I can't have something then I don't see why others should' in England, which applies to things like benefits and the like.

That is a cop out.  I have to prove my lack of income.  I don't just get access to The Food Bank for the asking.  And I have to reapply every six months with proof.

This is never going to be a problem for me.  My Basic British State Pension is never going to get any better.

[G-Unit]

What was the cause of malnutrition...too much McDonalds?. Is it poverty or is it poor parenting

I expect you and your wife could meet your food, clothing, household bills, entertainment, travel and other expenses from £116.80 plus £21.05 for the eldest child and £13.95 for any others. My state pension (just for me) is more than the benefit paid to a couple on benefits.

[Vertigo Swirl]

I expect you and your wife could meet your food, clothing, household bills, entertainment, travel and other expenses from £116.80 plus £21.05 for the eldest child and £13.95 for any others. My state pension (just for me) is more than the benefit paid to a couple on benefits.

How much do you think a couple with two children should be paid to live on benefits out of interest? 

[G-Unit]

That is a cop out.  I have to prove my lack of income.  I don't just get access to The Food Bank for the asking.  And I have to reapply every six months with proof.

This is never going to be a problem for me.  My Basic British State Pension is never going to get any better.

In England there is no entitlement to food from the food banks. Those on £74.35 per week are supposed to manage. If they have a crisis they can be given a voucher for 3 day's worth of food (if they can persuade someone to give them one), but that's not available regularly.

[G-Unit]

How much do you think a couple with two children should be paid to live on benefits out of interest?

A couple on State Pension are deemed to need £265.20 income. If they have less than that they get Pension Credits to top it up. I can't understand why a couple on benefits are deemed to need £116.80.

[Eleanor]

What was the cause of malnutrition...too much McCdonalds?. Is it poverty or is it poor parenting

It has to be Poor Parenting.  No one in Britain needs to be starving or malnourished.  The whole idea is ridiculous.

No proper food?  Why not?

[Eleanor]

In England there is no entitlement to food from the food banks. Those on £74.35 per week are supposed to manage. If they have a crisis they can be given a voucher for 3 day's worth of food (if they can persuade someone to give them one), but that's not available regularly.

Goodness me, that is a disgrace.  Thank God I live in France.  Where everyone has always been kind to me.

[G-Unit]

It has to be Poor Parenting.  No one in Britain needs to be starving or malnourished.  The whole idea is ridiculous.

No proper food?  Why not?

Do the sums, Eleanor. There is a cultural element too, however; in my opinion far too many families have no idea how to shop and cook these days. I was surprised some of them got through lockdown without their takeaways. We have a national obsession with cooking, but budgeting and cookery is no longer taught in schools.

[Eleanor]

Do the sums, Eleanor. There is a cultural element too, however; in my opinion far too many families have no idea how to shop and cook these days. I was surprised some of them got through lockdown without their takeaways. We have a national obsession with cooking, but budgeting and cookery is no longer taught in schools.

This is an excuse, is it?  This is not the fault of The Government.

What Cultural Element?  No one ever taught me how to cook because I am useless?  And no one ever taught me how to feed my children?

How do you think the rest of us managed?

[Vertigo Swirl]

A couple on State Pension are deemed to need £265.20 income. If they have less than that they get Pension Credits to top it up. I can't understand why a couple on benefits are deemed to need £116.80.

Perhaps to encourage them not to retire at the age of 25? 

[Vertigo Swirl]

Do the sums, Eleanor. There is a cultural element too, however; in my opinion far too many families have no idea how to shop and cook these days. I was surprised some of them got through lockdown without their takeaways. We have a national obsession with cooking, but budgeting and cookery is no longer taught in schools.

Well I totally agree with this.   You could eat quite healthily for a tenner a week per person if you had to, knew how to cook the basics, shopped around and weren't lazy. 

[Eleanor]

Well I totally agree with this.   You could eat quite healthily for a tenner a week per person if you had to, knew how to cook the basics, shopped around and weren't lazy.

Gosh, as much as that.  I managed on less.  And my children were never Malnourished.

[Mr Gray]

Do the sums, Eleanor. There is a cultural element too, however; in my opinion far too many families have no idea how to shop and cook these days. I was surprised some of them got through lockdown without their takeaways. We have a national obsession with cooking, but budgeting and cookery is no longer taught in schools.

cookery is still taught in schools

[Eleanor]

cookery is still taught in schools

Is it?  I don't know.  But there are more than enough programmes about it.  How to Cook a Carrot.

[barrier]

Is it?  I don't know.  But there are more than enough programmes about it.  How to Cook a Carrot.

I prefer mine roasted.