Cable Forum - View Single Post - Will Wales leave the UK? Will it be reduced in size if it does?

**Chris** · 07-05-2019, 17:02

Scotland has some properly remote communities and a demographic mix that means it does actually cost money to provide free prescriptions; more than the cost of collecting charges. It would have cost a whole lot more to means test prescription charges (although the exemption cards for those on low incomes are still distributed in Scotland, so those with the dearest need could always get them free). It isn’t a socialist ideal here either, it’s an electoral bribe that forms part of the SNP’s strategy of differentiation.

Oh, and the first evidence since the introduction of minimum unit pricing in Scotland is that it doesn’t work. Grog consumption hasn’t gone down. In fact it’s gone up slightly, though of course the hardliners will claim that without the policy it might have gone up by more.

Oddly, I just checked in two Dutch people at my B&B who were bemoaning British alcohol licensing laws. In the course of the conversation they revealed that they had heard the Welsh were the hardest drinkers in the UK. Make of that what you will ...

07-05-2019, 17:02	#50
Chris Trollsplatter Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 36,928	Re: Will Wales leave the UK? Will it be reduced in size if it does? Scotland has some properly remote communities and a demographic mix that means it does actually cost money to provide free prescriptions; more than the cost of collecting charges. It would have cost a whole lot more to means test prescription charges (although the exemption cards for those on low incomes are still distributed in Scotland, so those with the dearest need could always get them free). It isn’t a socialist ideal here either, it’s an electoral bribe that forms part of the SNP’s strategy of differentiation. Oh, and the first evidence since the introduction of minimum unit pricing in Scotland is that it doesn’t work. Grog consumption hasn’t gone down. In fact it’s gone up slightly, though of course the hardliners will claim that without the policy it might have gone up by more. Oddly, I just checked in two Dutch people at my B&B who were bemoaning British alcohol licensing laws. In the course of the conversation they revealed that they had heard the Welsh were the hardest drinkers in the UK. Make of that what you will ...