bridge too far

It's due to something called 'weighted capitation targets'. In other words, funding to each region takes into account the demographics of that region. For example, if a region has a disproportionate number of elderly people or very poor people, it will require more funding to cope with the problems and challenges that demographic can bring. I found out today that the annual average spend per head of population is about £1,700 (as at 2009 - the most recent published figures).

Judge ye not, lest ye be judged! Does Ponty stand for Pontius Pilate by any chance? Oh hang on - pont is french for bridge. Are you me in disguise?

Oh I do stuff like this too! One of my worst traits was to make sure I looked at a clock at 7:37 so I could sing 'Travellin' Band' by Creedence Clearwater Revival! Sad, eh?

Dangerous territory there, methinks. If billionaires could fund referenda that delivered results the government of the day would, in your words, 'have to abide by' then that would ring the death knell for democracy.

There have always been ward sisters / charge nurses (male equivalent). The last government said it was going to re-introduce matrons and, by and large, this has happened. With regard to 650 managers earning more than the PM. Two points - 1) those who believe in a market economy should understand that you pay what you need to to get the best available (at least, that's the argument the bankers put forward) and 2) the more pertinent question should be 'shouldn't the PM be paid more?'

It wouldn't be possible to have a 'UK National Day' now would it. However, we do have St Patrick's Day, St Andrew's Day and St George's Day (although he was a foreigner, I think).

But isn't this what old Chin Chinnery is doing down the road?

Do you think this Covenant will cover the sort of help that H4H gives? I imagine there's not a lot of work done at the moment to address the mental health issues that are, I'm sure, of as much significance as the physical issues, if not more.

I can understand the point about housing. I also think it must be quite tough for forces' children, maybe having to change schools a lot. But health treatment? I thought there was already specialist health provision. Isn't there a department at a Birmingham hospital specifically for wounded personnel? Set up a couple of years ago in recognition of the fact that it was best to have dedicated experts in the field of battle wounds in one place? Once all interventions have been completed (and specialist physio done) then surely ANYONE who is an amputee should be entitled to further treatment according to individual need?

I wasn't sure when I typed that post so I've been back to check. I learned this from an interview Sandi Toksveg gave on the Andrew Marr show this morning. More armed forces, serving in the Falklands War, committed suicide than were killed in the actual conflict itself. http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Uk/uk.media.tv.misc/2011-05/msg01179.html

I think the most important thing that needs to be addressed is the treatment that should be available to those who have psychological / mental problems once they come home or leave the forces. I was staggered to learn today that more forces personnel have committed suicide than were killed in the Falklands War! That's a dreadful indictment of the way we treat people who fight on our behalf, regardless of whether the fight was justified.

1 - 1 now

But, in such a case, it would be a write-down of asset value, wouldn't it? In the same way that you get a write-down on, say, company cars. That's not the same as income (from whatever source) being compared with expenditure (all wages / overheads etc.). Or am I wrong?

We've got a Lexmark 3600. Don't know if it works with an iPad though. It was cheap - because we'd actually gone into the shop to replace cartridges and it was cheaper to buy a new printer (crazy!).

We must have crossed swords at some time then Maybe I'm thinking more of the council rather than the constituency being more 'red'? My long-term memory is usually quite reliable (it's yesterday that's the problem)!

Actually yes, I remember now. I think his daughter has just started rowing.

I had the good luck to meet him, and his lovely wife, many years ago when my dance group did a display at Marlow Fayre. They were both very chatty and friendly. I don't know if they still live in Marlow Bottom.

Thanks Wes - I didn't realise it was THAT long ago that Eastleigh went blue! I was very politically active in that constituency in the early 70s and it was at that point that the Liberals (as was) started to make inroads. But there was still a strong Labour faction at that time.

One of my daughters is an IT PM and she has PRINCE2 (as well as a Maths degree).

Go to Brugges and stay here http://www.hotelterbrughe.com/index.htm (Go into the pictures link and see the photos of the 'renovated room'. We stayed there - it overlooks a canal, very romantic )

A great-uncle of mine used to be able to do this! He also used to be able to stand with both feet together, one pointing to 12 o'clock and the other to 6 o'clock. He's dead now.

Did you hear him on Breakfast TV sports bulletin this morning, whingeing on about how 'of course Man City will be in the Champions League sooner rather than later 'cos they can buy their way in'? Like he'd never do that

I would take issue with you on this statement. You may well be right about parties once they're in government / opposition but I think you'll find that the grass roots activists have VERY different ideological views. But I do agree with you re multinationals. It's unsettling, isn't it, when money and power have more control and effect than the electorate?

I don't know the answer and I don't live in the area any more but I would guess that a lot of the workers in the local manufacturing firms moved away to find jobs and were replaced by more *sigh cos I hate the words* middle class families working in the service sector.

Was just discussing this with Mr TF only this afternoon. I used to be a very active Labour party member in Eastleigh back in the day (even stood for the local council but didn't stand a chance, standing in Chandler's Ford lol). In those days, the railway carriage building works were still flourishing as was Pirelli's to name but two large local employers. With their demise, I suppose the makeup of the electorate is different. Don't know so much about Portsmouth but maybe again local manufacturing industries aren't so much in evidence?