Simple ways for the govt to save money.

[highway]

I've been reading about creating 'wealth taxes' on another thread. I've got some simple ideas how the government could save money by implementing legislation the majority would surely support.

Firstly, everyone accepts that when parking your car in a pay and display council run car park or space, you will face a fine or court appearance, if you overstay the time you have paid for. Thus people generally pay for a ticket in the first place and pay the fine if they are late. Why don't doctors surgeries charge people who fail to turn up for appointments or are say 15mins late? My GP surgery state each week 60 plus people fail to attend appointments, minimum. Why aren't people held to financial account for that? Apparently same goes on at hospitals with people failing to attend for booked operations. This must cost the nhs a tidy sum in wasted resources and could easily be reduced with a fine system. Society already accepts this with regard to parking a car. Surely the reasonable would accept the same principles in the NHS?

Secondly and remaining on an NHS note, why is food free for those in hospital? The food served in very poor. So much so I had family bringing food in for me from outside. I appreciate many don't have that luxury but- you would have to pay to feed yourself whilst at home so why should you be fed cost free on the nhs?

Would allowing outside firms to provide hospital food not increase standards and choice and relieve the nhs of running a catering arm? Seems insane that once admitted to hospital all your grub is free.

My final idea stands to save the most money but would also be most difficult to implement. There is a massive problem in London and I suspect across the UK with regard to council and housing association tenants sub letting their properties. The London boroughs are well aware of the problem but have neither the resources or inclination to robustly identify exactly who is living in properties they own. It's massively lucrative to sub let and penalties in the event you are caught seem slim enough not to be a deterrent. Perhaps making people aware that if they are found out they wouldn't be eligible for a council property for a decade might focus the morning mind.

How do we save money fairly without punishing the sensible?

[highway]

For me savings have to pass a nominal test of "is it reasonable". Saving money and by introducing a penalty charge is not unreasonable. As I said, why should people be allowed to miss or be late for a doctors or hospital appointment without comeback?

I don't see the administration should be a barrier either. The system with chasing down motorists seems to work and be cost effective. It also provides a deterrent. Crucially, it's clearly reasonable to hold people to account who are costing the nhs time and money.

Hospital food is poor quality. I suggest allowing private contractors to supply food whilst ensuring costs are capped. Paying for people to eat whilst in hospital should not fall to the nhs. Someone posted about prisoners being required to contribute for their keep. This is a good idea. What could they be required to do whilst imprisoned that would be worthwhile and preferably earn a few ££ for the state. You would literally have a captive workforce, albeit largely unskilled.

Another idea is wholesale conversion of empty office buildings which can be found in and around every town centre, to shared accommodation blocks for those who have had children with no means to provide for them. Chop buildings up to bedrooms with shared kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms. If you say your parents have kicked you out and you have nowhere to live you shouldn't become a housing priority over others who haven't made the same choices. You would still have your own room and would live in a community with others in a like situation thus engendering a sense of community and desire to get on.

This has to be a better alternative than giving someone, usually in their teens or early 20's the key to their own flat or house JUST because they have had a child. The current system fails that test of reasonableness by some margin. I'm patently NOT advocating a return to some form of workhouse. If you want to stay at home with your child that's a wonderful thing. Many would like to do just that but can't afford to. They have a mortgage to pay for. Thus gifting a property to people who have had children they cannot provide for must fail the reasonable test.

[highway]

As much as the amounts saved via changes, charges etc I'm interested in the fairness angle. I haven't read a valid critique of why those who are late/skip doctors appointments, shouldn't be charged. It's reasonable and fair. A suggestion that it would cost more to administrate than it would deliver can't be the case as a similar system has worked for years re parking fines.

I don't understand why significant public funds to the opera and arts compared to how many people use them. I don't grasp why museums aren't free to those presenting a UK passport but charged for tourists. Anomalies and savings are hard to miss yet no one seems to care.

I mentioned the problems with council properties being sublet earlier, a massive issue which no one has commented on. Not reasonable or fair and ripe to be dealt with. Apathy....

[highway]

You are getting to see a skilled professional at your request who is there to help you. I don't see that waiting 15 mins is an issue. Besides, if people turned up on time maybe the doctors could see people on time.
People here are pedantic beyond belief. For me there can be few reasonable excuses to simply NOT turn up to an appointment with a doctor. How people manage to 'forget' they have an operation in hospital scheduled is inexplicable. Yet people here suggest that fining these people is somehow unreasonable or not cost effective.