Category Archives: Top500

• The idea of a sales tax on internet sales has already been considered, but seems to prefer international cooperation. However, the elimination of business rates means this is not a internet tax per se, but rather a tax independent of location Issues: • Business rates are paid to local councils. It will be necessaryContinue reading “Proposal 2: Replace business rates with a sales tax”

The Spring and Summer saw schools moved online. This worked moderately well for some, and very badly for others. Unpublished analysis of Renaissance Learning cross-school testing is reported to show that primary pupils typically made about half the average progress in English, and no progress in Maths. Poorer children were most likely to do badly:Continue reading “How a proper National Curriculum can make online schooling work”

The current guidance for Sex and Relationship Education (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/908013/Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education.pdf) at secondary school level requires that schools provide education on the different types of relationships (families, online, caring) and sexual relationships in particular. Schools must define a ‘safe’ relationship, and educate students about what an unhealthy relationship looks like. However, the current guidance includes no mentionContinue reading “Introduction of communications and conflict skills to secondary school Sex and Relationship Education curriculum.”

I think that the new Nightingale hospitals built in response to the pandemic should become rehabilitation hospitals for recovering hospital patients who are not yet fit enough to go home, or who have no care home place finalised. These patients do not actually need medical care, and few of them require nursing care. A step-downContinue reading “Nightingales become Recuperative Hospitals. More carers are trained.”

I would approach the problem from two angles. Firstly, I would hold social media platforms account for the spread of information using the same regulations applied to TV broadcasting advertising. If a TV channel is found to broadcast an advert with false claims, they can be penalised. Social media platforms could face similar penalities forContinue reading “Public data law and advertising standards”

During the Covid pandemic, and to a lesser extent, a Winter health crisis, the NHS is faced with 2 major problems. Increase in patients, and the decrease in staff resources, mainly due to sickness absentees. This can be alleviated to some extent, by using military personel, trained volunteers, and retired staff. However, this does notContinue reading “A UK National Medical Reserve – NHS assistance when it is needed most!”

I realise this is a delicate area, with all sorts of scope for unintended consequences. One issue seems to me to be that among those who reach a certain level where they can directly or indirectly influence their own pay, the tendency is always to “round up”, thereby steadily, even if unconsciously, widening the gapContinue reading “Expose and discourage excessive personal gain.”

The problem to date has been the inability of British representative democracy to create a harmonious and balanced perspective that a majority can subscribe to (not very different in that respect from the US). With the changes of the current government compared to those of the past it is now apparent that the careers ofContinue reading “More harmonious political debate”

Most of us can name the few main sources of this problem. We can probably also describe the colours and logos they use in their packaging – we see it often enough on the ground when we walk in the countryside for it to be very familiar. They must take some responsibility for how theirContinue reading “Deal with the problem at its source.”

This potential for increased efficiency on the railway will not be realised without action from policymakers and railway managers to capitalise on it and adapt to the new situation. As the shape of the new daily demand curve emerges in the years following the pandemic, the timetable should be rebuilt around it. As this happens,Continue reading “With the right approach, Britain’s railways can come out of the pandemic stronger”