Fax your MP

[Rote 8]

Pi55ed off with the CAA, the scrapping of NVQ relief on genuine professional flight training or generally want an easy way to moan at your MP?

The idea of carping at our respective MP's has been endlessly discussed on this forum by disgruntled wannabes but I imagine very few of us have ever taken the time to put pen to paper.

For those who are not already aware of it how about making use of this sterling website, which sends a fax to your MP free of charge?

<a href="http://www.faxyourmp.com/" target="_blank">FaxYourMP.com</a>

Now there is no excuse for more of us not to make our opinions heard in Westminster.

I’m not saying any of them will take action, but it might make you feel better, and is costs nothing.

Cheers all

CDTA (and cross checked)

[Dimitri]

touch&go read the goddamn message!!! cabinDoorsToAutomatic is not blaming everyone else, he is offering a service which might be useful to a lot of people, maybe you should read, then think before you reply.. . Also this is a democratic world, if you allow the government to do as it pleases this wouldnt be a democratic world, and we wouldnt be where we are now. with your kind of attitude we might as well be nazis. Its not a matter of blame its a matter of how you want your world to be, if enough people beleive in something then the government must seriously consider how to tackle the problem. Maybe when you have read this and the above article properly you might reply with some sense rather then like a ******.

[Wedge]

Cheers cabin doors - I think it's a very good idea.

Touch&go - we elect our politicians to be accountable to us, it is their job to listen to us. Or maybe you would rather pay all that tax for them to live the high life at our expense. There's always one moron and in this case it's you.

[davidpowell]

Looking at the response, perhaps Touch&Go IS an MP?

[Rote 8]

Touchy & go

Did I say anything about blaming anyone?

[Megaton]

Yeah, right. :)

[henchman]

It's well worth writing or Faxing your MP and asking him to get a response from David Jamieson (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State who is at the DTLR as support for John Spellar the Minister for Transport).

These gentlemen are in charge of Aviation (and the CAA).

In addition to the loss of Vocational Tax Relief I'm going to point out:

- that the self-sponsored student has to pay fees out of taxed income

- that we have no allowance for the cost of training against future or other earnings

- that VAT is charged to the unregistered individual

Its very unfair as an Airline can recover VAT and does get training allowed against tax!!

These are all Treasury matters.... so do stress that you are writing to the DTLR as they represent the interests of Aviation and should make representation on our behalf to Gordon Brown.

There is a perception that anyone learning to fly has to be rich... I think its worth pointing out that most self-sponsored students don't fall into that category.

Please spread the word beyond PPRune and get as many as possible to write.... it might even have an effect if enough of us do it!!

[Dimitri]

Here, here. I completely and utterly agree. I've allready sent a fax along similar lines, but couldnt quite put it as well henchman did, well done. Even if just 30 people do it, its still better than none. There isnt a lot to write, its easy just do it. I think it would make a big impact and help a lot of people who wish to move to an aviation based career. Come on, even if you arent in a position where this will affect you, think about others, not everyone is as lucky as you may be. Everyones view counts.

[boss man]

Touch & Go I think you should be getting the general idea by now! I just need to add what I’m sure you already know you’re a complete A***hole.

Henchman is right all wannabes and any pilot that been though the self-improver route should write and keep on writing.

BE HEARD. . <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[mjkukin2]

HENCH MAN AND BOSS MAN good points and ill sure ill be writing to my mp. as i am a student and wanting to be a pilot i am sure that by the time i have finnished i will be in at least 75-80 grands worth of debt to pay back to the students loans company and the bank for my atpl training.

now for any 20 year old this is a nightmare even especailly if you want to be 30 thousanf ft up.i am allready dreading it..

for that other guy who thinks we are and quote; . ."Get on with you life and stop looking to blame everyone else"

WE R GETTING ON WITH IT..... S T U P I D, BUT SEE YOU WONT UNDERSTAND COS YOUR AN A*** hole "touch and go"

now where was i....Dear Mr MP...

[distaff_beancounter]

Vocational Tax Relief (VTR) was available on training for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). The student paid the Training Provider (in this case the flying school) net of base rate tax. This was at 24% when the scheme started & 22% when in ended on 31st August 2000. The Training Provider claimed the tax back from the Inland Revenue. In the first years of the scheme, higher rate tax payers, could also claim the balance up to 40% tax relief, via their tax returns. It was only available to students who where resident in mainland UK for tax purposes.

[Tosh McCaber]

And was closed by the Government, due to their own maladministration of the scheme in allowing it to be used for other purposes than assisting with professional training- ie people training for a PPL were allowed to take advantage of the scheme.

Rather than close the loopholes, much easier for the scheme to be closed (also, the MP's rationale probably is that it saves the country a lot of money, at the expense of the trainees who should rightfully be entitled to the tax break.) It still is a scandal that such a tax break is not now in operation. . . . .And paying VAT on training, when no Government courses are availale, is just as bad.

[ 30 January 2002: Message edited by: Tosh McCaber ]</p>

[Megaton]

Douglas Hogg MP should receive a fax with my views on JAR adoption and the loss of VTR sometime this afternoon.

Don't waste bandwidth here; let your elected representative know you're dissatisfied....NOW!

[henchman]

The nett result of the Treasury removing VAT on professional training might not cost them any money.

Bear in mind that many Wannabes choose to go countries like Spain and USA because they don't charge VAT....and probably would rather train in the UK if VAT was removed.

The extra income to HM Government from the increased UK business would probably mean that there was no loss of nett revenue.... and we would all benefit!

Mention 'that the revenue cost of removing VAT from Professional Training would be neutral' when you write to your MP but above all write NOW!!

[Megaton]

Unfortunately, Douglas Hogg's fax machine was either switched off, unplugged or disconnected (lucky for him).

[henchman]

If you can't reach your own MP then try John Spellar (Minister of State for Transport) or David Jamieson Secretary of State with responsibility for Aviation.

Both are at the DTLR but Fax your MP will have their individual contacts.

[foghorn]

Alternatively post your comments to your MP address format:

Mr. Fred Smith. .Member of Parliament for Little Dunny on the Wold. .House of Commons. .London. .SW1A 0AA

Commonwealth citizens living in the UK note that you also have the right to vote, so you also have the right to badger your MP... get writing it's a part of the democratic rights!

cheers!. .foggy.