The problem with governments is the hoops and loops one has to go through to obtain information for either research purposes or to make an informed comment. I have been trying for some time to obtain information on the governments Direct Operating Railway and its staffing levels.

Since the ECML debacle, the DOR in the five years it has controlled the ECML has made a profit of £600,000,000. Yet here we are, a so-called coalition government which is supposed to be good for the country selling off the ECML. WHY?

We are in austere times so a government department making profits year in year out should be for the good.

The problem with HS2 is that even though it really is an excellent idea, it has been badly handled and in certain aspects, badly thought out.

One issue I have not seen in any report regarding HS2 is WHO will be controlling it once it has been built?

The DOR or a private franchise? If franchised, it will not benefit the country as stated for the simple reason is that the fares will be too high for ordinary people to use as the cost of it will have to be recovered and added to that will be the profits for the fatcats running it.

So just where will the benefits for the country be?

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I doubt it, it was in the Daily Mail.

The report probably doesn't exist, so when it isn't published, the DM will say it's been suppressed.
It's like the old conspiracy theorist fallacy, when they fail to find any evidence to support their conspiracy, it's because the government has suppressed the files.

Nope, other media outlets are also reporting this.

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/fa1605d6-89b8-11e3-abc4-00144feab7de.html#axzz2ruHBwRps

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10607255/Critical-HS2-report-blocked-by-ministers.html

Seems legit to me.

I honestly don't know at the present moment Nick. But I'll look into it and report back.

Blocked report

Appeal

HS2

DAMNING HS2 REPORT
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2548813/Damning-HS2-report-says-project-danger-failing-kept-secret-government-decide-not-public-print-it.html

....Is this true, Chris??

I doubt it, it was in the Daily Mail.

The report probably doesn't exist, so when it isn't published, the DM will say it's been suppressed.
It's like the old conspiracy theorist fallacy, when they fail to find any evidence to support their conspiracy, it's because the government has suppressed the files.

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

DAMNING HS2 REPORT
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2548813/Damning-HS2-report-says-project-danger-failing-kept-secret-government-decide-not-public-print-it.html

....Is this true, Chris??

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The Kite Fliers

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Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet
belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes.

Generally speaking most canned goods are good 25 years after canning date. Ask anyone who was in forces up till ~1970 they were still eating compo rations, when on exercise etc. that had WW2 packing date.

I don't think you could make laws to that effect, but the principle is fine. Maybe something for the charities to look into, assuming of course that they don't already do something like this.

I just checked, apparently (at least in the Netherlands) its already in the law that supermarkets can sell food thats past its date, as long as they inform the consumer and they take over responsibility from the factory in case something goes wrong (doesn't apply to all food though).

Hmm, I wonder why its not more encouraged to sell this or give it charity. Because I know my supermarket never sells anything thats past its date, although it does give a 35% discount on products that are nearing their date.

There are a few online stores (ApprovedFood.co.uk for example) that sell things past their best before date. I buy quite a lot of stuff from there.

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

I don't think you could make laws to that effect, but the principle is fine. Maybe something for the charities to look into, assuming of course that they don't already do something like this.

One could make laws making it possible for supermarkets to donate their out of date food to food banks, or for stores to sell out of date food for reduced prices but with a clear warning that its out of date so buyer beware.

I agree that food labeling is a nightmare. You have

Best before
Display until
Sell by
Use by

All meaning different things.

Generally speaking canned goods that haven't been pierced or dented can be good up to 6 months later. Packet goods unopened can be up to 3 months. Shrink wrapped vegetables maybe 48 hours. The point is that the public will not buy any item where a date on the packaging has been passed, and stores can't and won't sell them. Therefore they are effectively written off. Hopefully if the stores ordering procedure is robust enough, they don't overstock, neither run out of goods either, but it happens.

A little story here. A local off licence a few years ago had a thriving business selling out of date beer and wine in bottles and cans. The owner went round all the supermarkets, shops, cash & carrys, and trade outlets, and buying up all out of date stock for minimal money. The retailers were happy because they got at least something back for stuff that otherwise would just be dumped. We as customers could buy bear and wine at less than half price and it tasted just fine, even if it was 6 months or a year old. Occasionally he got a duff batch in which he just wrote off.

The outlets were happy, we were happy, he made a good living. What was not to like about it? It is different with foodstuffs though, and manufacturers put dates on merchandise for good reason, usually to protect themselves in law against court cases. I do agree though that if perfectly eatable food gets dumped when disadvantaged people have to go without, then on the face of it it, it is basically wrong. But how do you manage that situation?

As I said earlier, most large retail chains will offer out of date stock to staff at the end of each day at a large discount. I did part time evening work stacking shelves for a large corporate some years ago, and they had a whole trolley full of tins where the labels had come off at 25p each. But you didn't know whether it was soup, peas, beans, sausages, or fruit. Pay a £1 and take a gamble, which usually paid off!

It should be noted though that the date that you find on a lot of products is not actually a date that shows when it becomes dangerous to eat food. That is usually weeks, months or years after the date shown on the product. It does affect the taste of the food so thats why they are no longer sold by then.

Of course this does not apply to all things, certainly not stuff that is 'fresh' or perishables like uncanned vegetables or fruits. Still, its a huge waste of food and a shame really when there are so many people that can't afford food, while we are throwing it away.

I would raise questions with Iceland as to why they were throwing away apparently serviceable cheese, tomatoes and cakes in the first place.

WE don't have enough information to make any concrete judgements in this matter. It is most likely that the food in question was past it's sell by date on the labels, in which case it is an offence to let it remain on the shelves. Usually foodstuffs going "just" out of date, i.e. by the end of the day, are offered to staff as greatly reduced prices as a perk. But some foods can go "off" very quickly so it would only be sensible to dump them.

This type of case comes up time and time again, as technically while the contents of a waste bin remain on a company's site, anyone removing the contents is guilty of theft. Again a company cannot offer free out of date food in case someone gets food poisoning, then the company gets sued.

The men denied charges brought under the 1824 Vagrancy Act, so it looks like they may have been local dossers or winos, that the police actually wanted to move on, rather than prosecute for theft.

Until recently it was believed that the Vagrancy Act 1824 had largely withered away in England through lack of use. However, in recent years the number of homeless people sleeping out has risen, and the use of the Act has increased dramatically, especially in the Metropolitan Police district (most of Greater London).

I would raise questions with Iceland as to why they were throwing away apparently serviceable cheese, tomatoes and cakes in the first place.

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

With having to endure mindless bumbites over the next 16 months, those of us in the real world really do wonder at some of the stupid mindsets of those within our system.....

Iceland food case dropped by CPS

"Iceland founder and chief executive Malcolm Walker tweeted: "Delighted @cpsuk has agreed to drop the Kentish Town prosecution - though it's hardly the 'Iceland Foods case' as we knew nothing about it!"

"Mr Schwarz criticised the CPS for coming to a decision "so late... in the light of media exposure".

"The supermarket said: "The store in question is next door to a police station. Iceland staff did not call the police, who attended on their own initiative.

"Nor did we instigate the resulting prosecution, of which we had no knowledge until the media reports of it appeared yesterday evening."

Seems the tabloid press is achieving much more than the likes of Nickerless Clegg and his ilk.

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Why British politics is entering a quagmire.....

Less Kissy-Kissy

"Some argue that a four-year fixed-term - which is the norm in many countries and the devolved assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland - would fit in much better with the natural rhythm of British politics and give voters more opportunity to hold politicians to account for their mistakes."


"Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg pushed for five years for UK-wide elections, arguing it provided greater stability."

Really? Greater stability? Putting the electorate into a position where they give up on politics altogether? Nice one Nickerless, more time at the trough for you it seems.....

"What seems more likely is that we are in for 16 months of steadily escalating electioneering. Lucky us."

So instead of a month or so, we have to put up with their crap soundbites and false promises for 16 months!

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As you correctly stated on many an occasion, the UKIP is just a protest party. However, they are doing an excellent job of scaring all three main parties into looking more closely at their own policies.

As for constantly reminding all with examples like this: -

And your UKIP Councillors seem to court controversy everywhere they go.

This comes to mind: -

Ever heard of the phrase "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" ?

When examples like this is seen on a more regular basis than anything the UKIP does: -

Rennard accused of bringing the Lib-Dems into disrepute

"Ms Harris, who has quit the party, told the Observer the episode was a "classic Lib Dem fudge"."

"Nick Clegg should have kept an entirely neutral position in this matter, from beginning to end."

"On the one hand they say the report has cleared him; on the other hand he shouldn't do what the report says. He can't have it both ways."

"BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Clegg was facing the prospect of further division in the run-up to his party's spring conference and difficult European elections."

Without any outside help, the Lib-Dems are doing just brilliantly at alienating the very people they need to retain power at the next election.

Well done chaps. You'll go into the history books in cocking up the country even further for another five years in handing the country to the Tories/Labour. If that happens, will you still retain Nickerless Clegg as your leader?

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You deigned to pop into this thread and still cannot refrain from making snide comments. The static I was referring to was not yourself but the reference to a hatchet man from 51 years ago.

The question was why sell off the ECML. You've answered it sufficiently. That's good enough.

Unfortunately, I do not have the time to sit in front of a screen, see a comment I dislike, so search the net for answers.

I much rather make comments based on my own knowledge and experience. Should that knowledge be lacking or incorrect, have a peer correct me. You are not such a peer and never will be.

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Quite a lot of static here and all over 50 years old.

And your age is? I know it, gonna admit it?

I don't think that the East Coast Mainline should be sold off. Preferably it should be part of a re-nationalised British Railways, showing how it can be done properly if you try hard enough. Nationalise it, yes, put profits into lower fares.

I may meet certain colleagues at the Spring Conference in York, or the London Region Spring Conference, but I expect there will be more important things to discuss than your personal bee in the bonnet, and certainly at a more intellectual level. Perhaps you might ask your local MP for his views, or is he too busy in the High Court? Then again your local UKIP PPC which we assume you are voting for, seems more interested in religion in another country than politics here. And your UKIP Councillors seem to court controversy everywhere they go.

Ever heard of the phrase "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" ?

Hi Iona, glad to see I tempted you out, sorry about the static.

Quite a lot of static here and all over 50 years old.

The government can't afford to buy out all the private shareholders.

So why sell off one in their control especially as it's been making a profit every year since taken over?

How about asking your boss Nickerless Clegg for his views on this?

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