Dos_Box Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 Government raid on pension funds to rescue schools building scheme - Times Online And if you're really unlucky you'll pay to make yourself redundant too!
tech_guy Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 Government raid on pension funds to rescue schools building scheme - Times Online And if you're really unlucky you'll pay to make yourself redundant too! Great. Whoopee. Brilliant. I hate this government even more now.
somabc Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 (edited) Partnership for Schools, the government body responsible for the £55 billion building programme, has approached several local authorities to ask for emergency cash from pension funds because private finance has dried up. I can think of few pension schemes I would rather see raided first, MP's, The Teachers' Pension Scheme? Should be a few billion in each. How about we don't give them the money and cancel the programme? Or even more radical, if you are going to pay for the schools with state funds why use PFI at all? Edited February 23, 2009 by somabc
PEO Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 I can think of few pension schemes I would rather see raided first, MP's, The Teachers' Pension Scheme? Should be a few billion in each. How about we don't give them the money and cancel the programme? Or even more radical, if you are going to pay for the schools with state funds why use PFI at all? already ahead of the game... canceled my pension over a year ago... I don't have any trust in the goverment anymore.
webman Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 Like PEO, I don't trust them either. I'm beginning to think I'll be better off cancelling my LGPS and paying the same amount into a savings account each month. Anyone else do the same?
Gatt Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 Think I'll have a word with my union rep about this little brainchild...
somabc Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 I imagine you are giving up a lot by not paying into the LGPS, you will miss out on employer contributions, there are tax advantages, its a final salary scheme etc.
Oops_my_bad Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 Hang on, how is this different to say the likes of Robert Maxwell who propped up his companies using the pension funds??
Gatt Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 If they are going to use OUR money then I want a say in how that money is spent - like what happens with ICT...
somabc Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 Hang on, how is this different to say the likes of Robert Maxwell who propped up his companies using the pension funds?? You better watch yourself, there will be some armed security officers round to re-educate you soon no doubt.
Dos_Box Posted February 23, 2009 Author Posted February 23, 2009 You better watch yourself, there will be some armed security officers round to re-educate you soon no doubt. Oooh! A free course. I'd take that if I were you! 1
somabc Posted February 23, 2009 Posted February 23, 2009 (edited) After we have paid for this will there be any money left for schools? BBC NEWS | Business | Taxpayer may get £500bn liability note: somabc is just upset that changing jobs seems to have landed him a large unpaid tax bill Edited February 24, 2009 by somabc
localzuk Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 If they go ahead with that, I could see it being challenged in court. A LA can't just suddenly decide to use up pension funds because they're short elsewhere - they are a protected scheme... ie. the money is there for a reason.
Michael Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 The first line says it all Dos_Box: Billions of pounds could be taken from council staff pension schemes to bail out the Government’s PFI school projects, The Times has learnt. All these big numbers are simply making my head hurt and as time goes on, I find it increasingly more difficult understanding where money is coming from and going to and visa versa. I can't believe the Government would even consider valuing education (especially BSF) over someone's pension. It's just plain wrong! ---------------------------------------------- BBC business editor Robert Peston says that if the deal is completed it will take the total support by British taxpayers to the banks to £1.3tn £1.3 trillion = £1,300,000,000,000 These numbers really are absolutely crazy. It'll take decades at this rate to pay it all back. A very sad day!
somabc Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 (edited) £1.3 trillion = £1,300,000,000,000 These numbers really are absolutely crazy. It'll take decades at this rate to pay it all back. A very sad day! Not if we have hyper-inflation then £1.3 trillion will buy you a loaf of bread so all our debt is wiped out! Woohoo! I don't know it would be very easy to paint a gloomy picture just now. I don't know what to believe on the news front. eg. UK Taxpayer paying out £1.3 trillion, British banking system nearly nationalized, American banking system looks like it could be nationalized, US Stocks at 12 year low, IMF running out of money, Increasing Drought & World food production down?? oh well, cheer up eh? The Associated Press: Major stock market indexes fall to 1997 levels Citigroup turns to US government for help | Business | guardian.co.uk Police warn that Britain faces summer of rage due to recession | UK news | The Guardian FT.com / Global Economy - Source of extra IMF funds unclear Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production Edited February 24, 2009 by somabc
torledo Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 Not if we have hyper-inflation then £1.3 trillion will buy you a loaf of bread so all our debt is wiped out! Woohoo! I don't know it would be very easy to paint a gloomy picture just now. I don't know what to believe on the news front. eg. UK Taxpayer paying out £1.3 trillion, British banking system nearly nationalized, American banking system looks like it could be nationalized, US Stocks at 12 year low, IMF running out of money, Increasing Drought & World food production down?? oh well, cheer up eh? The Associated Press: Major stock market indexes fall to 1997 levels Citigroup turns to US government for help | Business | guardian.co.uk Police warn that Britain faces summer of rage due to recession | UK news | The Guardian FT.com / Global Economy - Source of extra IMF funds unclear Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production first of all, with regards to your previous post, i was under the impression that not all LGPS were final salary schemes. secondly, re the whole inflation/deflation thingamy. At the moment all the indicators are deflationary.....deflation is the big concern for monetary policy makers hence they'd like to avert it at all costs......although rock bottom intrest rates don't appear to be having the desired effect so expect a new policy every day to combat the deflationary spiral. i wouldn't worry about hyperinflation, but high inflation (note, not hyperinflaton) is certainly a possibility a few years down the road. Basically it is very complicated, and some of the information appears to be contradictary but basically if you've got cash and if you've got job security your sitting pretty. If you've got equities they've taken a battering (our own FTSE is bobbing along below 4000) and if you've bought a house in the last few years, well your mostly likely in negative equity.......and that isn't going to change anytime soon. nice to see that one or two of you are now distrustful of the govt....but HELLO!! Where have you all been for the last seven years. Our economy was shouting bubble bubble bubble in big, red neon letters from about 2002 onwards. the dotcom bubble was replaced by a massive housing and consumer spending bubble.....you could argue also a public spending bubble. Our public spending commitments on things such as BSF never looked realistic or sustainable. These commitments would be fine if the govt. got value for money and could produce meaningful outcomes from this expenditure, but value for money and nulabour....well, let's just say never the twain shall meet. It should be no surprise to anyone that the govt. are busy dreaming up ways of screwing us out of money to make sure they can pay the consultants and architects fee. Ofcourse the govt. will argue that they absolutely must find the money to pay for BSF because it's a stimulus to the economy. Well, i've got an idea for a stimulus that Mr G. Brown might like to consider. How about he gives us all 50 grand each to 'stimulate' the economy. Rather than pi$$ it all on grand ego trips. I could use that money to give my offspring a few years of a half-decent education in the private sector (well, it beats sending them to an academy) and what's left over, well I promise i won't buy any imported junk, i'll make sure i buy british. to safeguard british jobs for, erm, EU workers
torledo Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 Like PEO, I don't trust them either. I'm beginning to think I'll be better off cancelling my LGPS and paying the same amount into a savings account each month. Anyone else do the same? that's one of the most sensible things i've ever read on edugeek. in the current financial turmoil... cash is king.
broc Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 that's one of the most sensible things i've ever read on edugeek. in the current financial turmoil... cash is king. Yes, but where will you put your cash? Banks are seriously out of favour at the moment, and most of the banks seem to be underpinned by the Government now anyway ...... Perhaps deposit it in one of the last remaining mutual building societies? You won't get much interest but it ought to be safe there.... but is it really? Or do you keep it in a suitcase under the bed, where some low-life might come along and nick it? How about buried in the garden at dead of night? Just hope one of your neighbours is not watching
torledo Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 Yes, but where will you put your cash? Banks are seriously out of favour at the moment, and most of the banks seem to be underpinned by the Government now anyway ...... Perhaps deposit it in one of the last remaining mutual building societies? You won't get much interest but it ought to be safe there.... but is it really? Or do you keep it in a suitcase under the bed, where some low-life might come along and nick it? How about buried in the garden at dead of night? Just hope one of your neighbours is not watching i think cash is safe in the bank for now. certainly turned out to be a lot safer than buying bank shares. my point is that having savings and having liquid funds in the form of cash (i've got my money in a mutual not in a suitcase )is a sensible thing to do in the face of depreciating asset values and equities, taking money out of the lgps isn't necessarily a prudent thing to do if you take the longer view. the thing about the lgps is that it does indeed appear still to be a final salary pension scheme (answered my own question there), and ofcourse depending on length of service and other details in the fine print, it will in theory provide financial security at 65 and then there's provision for retirement through ill-health before 65. But, and this is a big but, for how much longer can it be a final salary scheme for NEW members......as it is the councils collectively have billions of pounds in pension deficit. so paying into it now, plus the benefit of emloyer contributions and the ability to transfer the pension in the event of change of circumstances is useful....but there's a serious debate as to whether the whole thing isn't a bit of a timebomb - and questions about who's going to foot the bill to pay the shortfall and ensure a final salary for the retirees. No doubt the council tax payer will pony up to pay for it in the end through council tax increases.....just as the income tax payer will pony up to pay for all the spending commitments and blackholes. nobody will notice as the tax bills don't come itemised.
broc Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 i think cash is safe in the bank for now. certainly turned out to be a lot safer than buying bank shares. I agree with you..... with the nagging thought that cash is only safe in the Banks if UK Plc doesn't go bust... I think that it is important to spread the risk; don't put all of your cash into the hands of one organisation or one type of asset, especially if you are lucky enough to have more than the Govt safety net allows.
somabc Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 (edited) first of all, with regards to your previous post, i was under the impression that not all LGPS were final salary schemes. The LGPS is still final salary. I think we will see the government soon deciding that even people who are in a final salary scheme will not reap the benefits. The problem is Pensions are largely a big Ponzi scheme. You think you are paying in to save for your retirement. Wrong! You are paying so that the current members can receive their pensions just now. The only way the pension scheme will make any money is by recruiting more members in the future who can pay for you. Pensions schemes used to try and mitigate this by investing in the Stock Market / Hedge Funds but as all they have done is lose Billions, they are even worse off than before. secondly, re the whole inflation/deflation thingamy. At the moment all the indicators are deflationary.....deflation is the big concern for monetary policy makers hence they'd like to avert it at all costs......although rock bottom interest rates don't appear to be having the desired effect so expect a new policy every day to combat the deflationary spiral. i wouldn't worry about hyperinflation, but high inflation (note, not hyperinflation) is certainly a possibility a few years down the road. I'm not convinced on deflation, yes RPI is 0.1% but CPI is still 3% (1% above target). Inflation is only a general measure anyway, how do you decide which goods and services to include? My own personal inflation rate is already 7-10%. Many goods and services are going UP in price. Food, Tax, Water Rates, Transport Costs etc. The poor exchange rate will also make all imports more expensive so that's clothing and electronics up as well. BOE Base rate is 1% but it is impossible to borrow money at that rate. For Example if I wanted to take a Mortgage through Northern Rock with a 15% deposit (the smallest deposit widely available but still more money than most could save in a few years) it would be a 7% interest rate. If I wanted a loan it would likely be 10-12%, Credit Card 15%+, Overdraft 20-30% etc. All much higher than the base rate. BBC NEWS | Business | Personal inflation calculator Edited February 24, 2009 by somabc 1
gshaw Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 Like PEO, I don't trust them either. I'm beginning to think I'll be better off cancelling my LGPS and paying the same amount into a savings account each month. Anyone else do the same? Never paid into a pension, opted out in each job I've been in (all Local Government places). Don't believe in pensions in general tbh, the whole idea just doesn't work for me... a) don't wanna sound morbid but who knows if you'll be there to collect the money for starters? b) if you leave and the £££ you've paid in is a decent amount but nothing enough to live on it's stuck in limbo for years c) I'd rather have cash in my hand then decide what to do with it rather than wait till I'm old and past it when I can't enjoy it anymore I'm not stupid with monies and make sure it goes in savings as well as buying shiny stuff so no pension worries for me Whole thing stinks with BSF, wonder how many of these Government officials have shares in the BSF companies that we don't know about
Butters Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 When did Robert Maxwell rise from the grave?
torledo Posted February 24, 2009 Posted February 24, 2009 The LGPS is still final salary. I think we will see the government soon deciding that even people who are in a final salary scheme will not reap the benefits. The problem is Pensions are largely a big Ponzi scheme. You think you are paying in to save for your retirement. Wrong! You are paying so that the current members can receive their pensions just now. The only way the pension scheme will make any money is by recruiting more members in the future who can pay for you. Pensions schemes used to try and mitigate this by investing in the Stock Market / Hedge Funds but as all they have done is lose Billions, they are even worse off than before. I'm not convinced on deflation, yes RPI is 0.1% but CPI is still 3% (1% above target). Inflation is only a general measure anyway, how do you decide which goods and services to include? My own personal inflation rate is already 7-10%. Many goods and services are going UP in price. Food, Tax, Water Rates, Transport Costs etc. The poor exchange rate will also make all imports more expensive so that's clothing and electronics up as well. BOE Base rate is 1% but it is impossible to borrow money at that rate. For Example if I wanted to take a Mortgage through Northern Rock with a 15% deposit (the smallest deposit widely available but still more money than most could save in a few years) it would be a 7% interest rate. If I wanted a loan it would likely be 10-12%, Credit Card 15%+, Overdraft 20-30% etc. All much higher than the base rate. BBC NEWS | Business | Personal inflation calculator you make some good points, and that's why some of the information appears to be contradictary but i'm still on the side of deflation.... also, your mortgage info is a little bit out of date. Certainly 90% LTV is the absolute minimum that you can expect from most lenders, and that's a 10% deposit and last time i checked plenty of fixed rates deals at 90% LTV were lower than 7%. most trackers at that LTV will now track at upwards of 3% above the BoE base rate. sure some lenders will start offering 7% deals for 5% deposit down at some point in the future, but the 7% and upwards deals are strictly for the subprime. You'll definitely get a better deal with 85% LTV, and you don't need to go to northern crock either. don't forget the issue of mortgage availabiltiy isn't so much a liquidity or scarcity issue, lenders are in part pricing in anticipated falls in the value of UK housing. In other words they are pricing in risk and being risk averse. We've already seen a 17% fall Year on Year according to the major indices, if someone had bought with a 15% desposit in early 2008 they'd run a real risk of staring at negative equity if they hadn't paid down several thousand off the principal. so house prices are clearly deflationary. and large deposits are a factor of a sharply deflating housing market. And our housing market is the key to our economy in a sense.
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