Loads? Tons? Really? Sounds like the ****e the Daily Mail defecates upon its readership on a near daily basis. Even if it were true it's not people claiming a few extra quid illegally who got us into the financial ****e is it?
It's a complicated thing to work out as many countries have different limits for when you pay the upper tax rate - for instance in Malta it's 35% on anything over €20,000, which is a kick in the baws to average wage earners rather than actual high earners. Also the rate of VAT and special taxes on Fuel and Alcohol increase the cost of living in different places.
The welfare states been in a state for years...it's one area that needs tackled as too many people use it without contributing to society at all...
It's terrifyingly expensive Trev - I was paying 8 quid a pint in Oslo in 2011 so it was a rather sober evening........ £25 for a lasagne and a glass of water
I'm not blaming the welfare state for the UKs financial problems as a whole but the fact is it haemorrhages cash, then it needs fixed... Stricter controls, stricter means testing, stop people seeing as a right/lifestyle choice
[TABLE] [TR="class: prices_row"] [TD="align: right"] [/TD] [/TR] [TR="class: tr_standard"] [TD]Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) [/TD] [TD="align: right"] 1,500.00 £[/TD] [TD="align: right"] 2,488.03 £[/TD] [TD="align: right"] +65.87 % [/TD] [/TR] [TR="class: tr_highlighted"] [TD]Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly [/TD] [TD="align: right"] 4.00 [/TD] [TD="align: right"] 3.60 [/TD] [TD="align: right"] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
They also have a low unemployment rate at 3.5%. Plus every hoose is fitted with a sauna - ****in result.
I didn't bother reading the full thread so I don't know if it's been mentioned but if we can't afford the welfare state how can we afford illegal wars and a nuclear deterrent that we are never going to use ?
