CB Saint

Sounds like the Echo trying to wind up Cortese and Warnock providing them with the ammo. I heard that Ian Murray was recently bemoaning the lack of access to SMS, funny way of going about rectifying the situation.

Aha - record number of a to c grades but less overall passes.

many lorriettas ?

BBc says here that it is another record year http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14661746

Brilliant!!

It is an interesting point in Apple's development. Jobs has a unique grasp of what the market wants which will be almost impossible to replicate.

21 days at Disney - are you mad (yet)?

True, perhaps NI should have said all benefits stop and we will pay up in full the value of them as part of the settlement agreement. Of course if the settlement agreement was agreed prior to him getting the job, how would they overcome that as the agreement would be legally binding on both sides. It is obvious that the appointment of Coulson was a poor one, but I think that for the media to insinuate that NI were making payments to Coulson for anything other that his contractual settlement is misleading at best.

On the second point, the settlement are usally paid outside of the employment period. So you get paid as usual for the last month and then issued with a P45. You then receive your settlement under basic rate deduction and given a second P45. You then have to settle up with HMRC as part of the normal tax return process. If I were to hazard a guess thenl I would guess that the value of the car lease was included in the settlement amount so that tax was deducted and then reduce the net amount paid accordingly. As to why Conservative Central Office didn't pick up on it - perhaps they assumed it was his personal car.

I have been close to a situation where the value of all of the benefits in the notice period were totalled and added to the comp out including life, health, company car (or allowance in that case). Perhaps they agreed that he could keep the car on lease as it was more beneficial to do this for everyone. At the end of the day, at that level it is how well you negotiate that determines was is in and what isn't.

This sort of deal is pretty common at the higher end of business. It probably comprised of something like a year's notice, pension contributions, foregone bonuses, pay up of share options under a good leaver clause plus a sum to make sure that he didn't sue them for wrnogful dismissal or any other cause. Why do you think these CEOs who are sacked get big pay off? It is the same thing. The fact that the payments happened after he had joined the government is purely down to timing. Lawyers get involved in these things as it can often take an age to hammer out the details. This is not to say it is right, but it certainly doesn't suggest wrongdoing on either Coulson or NI's part.

So was I. In fact just three weeks before the Geman woman got munched, I was snorkeling and diving off the same jetty at the same hotel. Still going again this year though.

How many people are killed each year on holiday in road traffic accidents? They are never reported on the news. Sharks attacks are widely reported because they are uncommon enough to be news.

thanks phil. Caffeine hadn't reached the synapses when I posted the first response

Actually I think I f*cked up here. Certainly part of our facilities is leased but I think some is recognised in our balance sheet. Re the trust - it is an old family trust (not mine unfortunately!). I know one of the trustees.

We don't, we lease it from a trust.

You missed out kelvin. About time he started to chip in, idle git.

This has just reminded me why maths and I parted company after A level

Well done. By the way, what is an EPQ?

The sentencing does look excessive when you compare with these other crimes, however the question I would ask is are the sentences for the other crimes appropriate or in fact too lenient. The sentencing for the facebook two does appear to be over the top, however I still think a custodial sentence is appropriate for inciting a riot, the fact it didn't take place just means they are p1sspoor rabble rousers.

Hang on, the courts are still sentencing within the guidelines, they are just at the higher end on the scale at the moment. Nothings has changed in that respect.

Perhaps the appeal courts will increase one or two sentences- that might make people think twice about launching spurious appeals.

This. Has me pmsl when on holiday.

Kill 'em all - insidious little feckers