Hoon and creative accounting!

[Could be the last?]

Check out Sky News!!!!!!

[Green Flash]

TV down. Got a link?

Edited to add
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-13515853,00.html

Sorry, brain fade

[mlc]

Nothing surprises me. He's a politician, 'nuff said!!

[Ginseng]

It sounds like an ideal target for the introduction of capped actuals. On production of the receipts, of course!

Ginseng

[Blacksheep]

...and who wrote these rules that Hoon so meticulously follows? Why, bless my soul if it wasn't Parliament itself! Nice work if you can get it, eh? ;)

Meanwhile, the March issue of Overhaul & Maintenance magazine reports that Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingrams is surprised by criticism of the decision to close the recently completed DARA facility at St Athan. Ingrams says he is 'perplexed' that the Defence Committee is recommending an Audit Office investigation of this 'extraordinary' decision. He claims that although the Superhangar cost 104 million pounds, this will be fully recovered by the time the facility closes next year(!!!!!). Lord only knows how he works that out!!!

In civilian maintenance where I work, we'd reckon on getting a minimum of 50 years out of a hangar and acquisition costs are depreciated over 25 years. Most of the RAF's existing hangars are around 70 years old, so I reckon we got our money's worth out of them. If DARA was screwing MinDef out of enough cash to pay off a 104 million quid Superhangar in less than seven years, it isn't surprising that the defence budget is under such strain...

With f**kwits like these running the country, no wonder taxes are at an all time high, while our military strength dwindles and the NHS queues grow ever longer and longer.

[southside]

Its a good tale but I think I read a similar article in the Mail on Sunday and so therefore take this report with a pinch of salt.... The article in the MoS was also spouting on about 2 Jags and Maggie Becket...and it was on the next page to an article about the Armed Forces having to "canobolise" aircraft in order for them to remain servicable....as if thats news.

Like I said....first reported in the Mail and so it has to be true...!!!

[buoy15]

Typical Buffoon
Notice how his arrogance shines through to complement his smile (grimmace)
Much like Charles I when facing his persecutors
"I have a God chosen right to be King - I am above the Law - you peasants are not qualified to judge me" - fortunately, Cromwell had other ideas
Most of this present government possess the same arrogance and they have progressively prevented another Cromwell sorting them out with their Terrorist & ID Card Bills
I would gladly pay a joiner to build a scaffold in Whitehall to see them fall 8ft (much less than the depth of sleeze and the underground gravy train they are riding now)
How come all the prime time TV comedy programmes, notably - (Bremmner Bird & Sergeant) - have cleverly targeted all their sketches at very important issues to make Joe Public understand what a sham this government is?
Downing Street would probably say " People are watching the wrong channel"
Loving many, Trusting a few, just checking there's no holes in my canoe!

[FJJP]

I thought this was supposed to be the era of transparent government?

Surely the public have a right to know the details of where our taxes are being spent, and that all claims are legitimate?

And should 2-Jags not be reported to the Standards Commission for possible favourable involvement in the loans - planning permission fiasco? After all, Parish Councillors have been banned from any discussion concerning developments in their parish because they are deemed to have a 'prejudicial interest'.

Don't the same rules apply to politicians?

[southside]

Is there any difference to this lot and the Armed Forces living in cheap Family Quarters whilst renting out their own properties?

Those who are without sin....etc etc

[Blacksheep]

Yes, there's a difference - as long as they don't have the RAF paying for 'repairs' to their own property at the same time.

[The Swinging Monkey]

southside,

There you go again, making another stupid statement.
Those that have there OWN house, pay their OWN bills for everything, including repairs blah.

I don't know how you have the stupid ignorance to associate anyone in the armed forces with politicians (perhaps with the excetion of some airships)

Politicians make their own rules up to suit themselves, hence how the BuffHoon can get away with this fiasco. Anyone in the military doing it would be court-marshalled, and probably go to jail for theft or something.

Please be a good chap and don't liken any serviceman or women to a ploitician. We are not like them at all thank God

Rant over and time for a snooooooozzzzzzzzeeeeee
Kind regards
TSM

[Siddeous]

Indeed, if i recall weren't 3 controllers at Tain range Court Martialled for something to do with allowances? I bet their combined error ;) didn't equate to something like 40 grand! How he can possibly justify himself is a joke, he should resign. How many times has the slippery so and so evaded that particular bullet though?

[buoy15]

Southsh&te - I knew you would bite
There is a fundamental difference between a serviceman - who is compulsed into a posting - and has to negotiate economic and sensible arrangements to secure a property he has worked and saved for whilst posted away, compared to an MP, who may have been elected on a whim.
A MP can claim "extraordianary" benefits (a taxpayer mortgage paid for flat in London for example) - which he can sell on with no payback - to represent his constituents, who may be 600 miles away, whilst claiming it is "within the rules"
I won't even mention the obscene pension they secure, even if they manage to serve only one parliamentary term
Lots of honest and sincere people visit this site and ask for advice on how to be a military pilot - we offer suggestions and say they must have 4 A levels , good apptitude, presence of mind, be yourself, blah blah, to earn eventually £20-50k if they are successful - then enjoy a good career, and look forward to a decent pension
Then we see the likes of 2 Jags Prescott - pie and chips - not the most eloquent DPM, seen on camera, nodding off in the Budget Speech
Perhaps we should be advising budding aviators to cut their losses and stand for Parliament - likewise, asking budding MP's to complete a tour in the Military befoe they offer themselves to the country
Sh*te, where's my canoe?

[southside]

But the point is, they are doing nothing wrong. It is perfectly legal and within the HofC rules....likewise it is also in the rules for you to live in a MQ and own your own property or 2 or 3 like a lot of RN people do...and then let them to Countrywide who then sub let them back to the military....Nothing wrong with it and its easy money....

It may seem immoral but then so does getting paid £60k a year plus boarding school allowance for 3 kids all adding up to an annual salary of £96k just to have the fun of your life flying helicopters around. But ultimately it is within the rules and so if you can't beat 'em, why not join 'em.

[JessTheDog]

Is there any difference to this lot and the Armed Forces living in cheap Family Quarters whilst renting out their own properties?

Cheap? Not any more (13%-19% rises in charges)

[southside]

You don't have to live in a Family Quarter....you can go out and rent a 4 bedroomed house with a garage in the local area if you'd prefer...

[The Swinging Monkey]

Do you know what Southside, some of the comments you make are the most stupidist (if thats a word) and pathetic I've ever heard. What was that last nonesence posting you made...................'You don't have to live in a Family Quarter....you can go out and rent a 4 bedroomed house with a garage in the local area if you'd prefer...'

It just proves what we all think here, you are an utter fool. You desperately need to get out more and find a life, 'cos you don't live in the same world as the rest of us do.

Pleeeeeeeeease dont submit any more drivvle, theres a good chap.
TSM

[Truck2005]

Blacksheep,

I think we are all puzzled by this dodgy situation but to say that DARA was screwing MinDef out of enough cash to pay off a 104 million quid hanger is a little amiss.

At the time of the Business Appraisal the MOD concluded that it should go ahead. A quite robust investigation was carried out and it was deemed that there was a business case for it and the services needed it. The E2E study was begun around the same time as the hanger was going up and the decision to move the work was made around the time it was nearing completion! As the initial board of inquiry into the turnabout stated, 'what has changed in 18 months to turn a perfectly good BA 180 degrees around?'

If you read the transcript of that inquiry you will see how tongue-tied the Generals and AVMs were with their answers.

It is not DARA that is screwing us tax payers, it is the MinDef. I think we should make that distinction.

[Cambridge Crash]

In spite of my Socialist leanings, I rented out a property whilst living in SFA and made the appropriate tax adjustments in my annual IR return - all quite legal. What Southside said is factually correct, and the comments of others (TSM) demonstrate a naivity of the real world that is all too obvious to those who have left the Service and have to fend for themselves. There is little obligation on Service personnel these days to live in SFA - so, go and rent on the economy if it is an anathema to expolit benefits in kind that so many of the posters decry are being lost.

[jindabyne]

southside old chap,

I'd like to invite you to a squadron re-union later this year. Could you PM me with your name, address and contact number. Should be a good do ----

[southside]

Do you know what Southside, some of the comments you make are the most stupidist (if thats a word) and pathetic I've ever heard. What was that last nonesence posting you made...................'You don't have to live in a Family Quarter....you can go out and rent a 4 bedroomed house with a garage in the local area if you'd prefer...'

It just proves what we all think here, you are an utter fool. You desperately need to get out more and find a life, 'cos you don't live in the same world as the rest of us do.

Pleeeeeeeeease dont submit any more drivvle, theres a good chap.
TSM

Good argument. To counter my suggestion that you rent locally, you came up with a well phrased counter argument. Well done. You framed your altercation superbly, batting one wrangle after another and your resultant case is strong and robust.


Now to explain to the monkey in words that hopefully he may understand. My argument was formed due to a comment from a Prooner who was suggesting that Family Quarters were too expensive. I countered his argument that he could compare the cost of living in a Family Quarter by comparing the price he pays with that of a suitable local residence. I was pointing out that he would probably find that Family Quarters are generally a good 50% cheaper than a similar property of the same value.




Jindabyne.....You know me, just drop me an E-Mail.

[Ali Barber]

Going back a few years, I was posted from Coningsby (living in excess rent accomodation in Woodhall Spa for £425 a month) to MOD where no quarters were available. I asked what rent ceiling I should look at for excess rent and was told they wouldn't bat an eyelid at anything up to £1,500 per month. Anything more than that would need the Land Agent to come and check it, but didn't rule it out. Luckily a MQ became available (for the MOD budget). This was all in about 1995 before the price boom.

Rent in the local market? Maybe in Stornoway, otherwise S........ is talkingout of his rear end again!

[southside]

I'm not suggesting that you rent in the local market. Im saying that you cannot complain about the price of a family Quarter when you only need to look at the local rag to see how cheap they are.

In Somerset, the going rate to rent a 4 bedroomed detached with a Garage is at least £1000 - £1200 a month. How much is it to rent a Family Quarter?

[jindabyne]

southside

'fraid I've misplaced it ----