Do you have an suggestions that might stimulate the economy / cut unneccesary public expenditure, etc?

Here's my first 3, the first and possibly second would need to be phased in:

1. Put a cap on the number of retail outlets any chain can have across the country. Say, 25. That would allow entrepreneurs to build up a reasonable empire and quality establishments to survive in big cities. It would mean that the big supermarkets and chains being broken up providing more choice, less dowward pressure on wages and ultimately create more jobs.

2. Have an annual tax on the value of homes that are not a persons main residence. Say 5% on the annual value of a second home, 10% on a third home, etc. Combined with the imposition of rent caps this could free up alot of buy-to-let property, force prices down and be beneficial to society and the real economy.

3. To legislate that British forces can only be deplyed into action in the event of a direct threat to British sovereign territory / waters / airspace or for humanitarian reason backed by a clear UN resolution.

I suggest that the army be deployed to forcibly repossess non-main residences, and all >25 retail outlets, be tasked to guard them, billeted at the ex-residences, and the dole scroungers be made to work in the outlets for nothing.

There, 3 birds, 1 stone, genius.

A benefits cap. I have just had a conversation with a German doctor who simply cannot get his head round how generous the UK benefits system is.

It is perverse that there are a substantial amount of people who do not work, have no intention of working, and are still financially better off than many people who work full-time.

We could set it at a figure of, say, around £25,000 p/a.

A huge increase in social housing provision. New build social housing should have a lease that prevents the council selling them on and sales of any existing social housing (still left!) the proceeds must be used to build new properties.

Land to build compulsory purchased at possible less than market value in high value areas such as part of the South East so the houses are built in areas where people need to live to get to work.

The whole idea is to get the construction industry working and in time to reduce the housing benefit bill as increased supply reduces demand. In the meantime introduce a rent cap as occurs in several of our EU neighbours to stop the ever increasing housing benefit bill. If that causes buy-to-let landlords to default on mortgage payments any repossessions to be transferred into the social housing stock. As repossessed properties usually get sold at auction for relatively knock down process compared to their so-called value, payment for such houses to be at that kind of level as opposed to some estate agents over-inflated view.

If your German doctor was educated by you on our benefits system he probably thinks the state buys everyone on benefits a BMW 5 series such is your total lack of understanding of the subject as clearly demonstrated by the above post.

The cost of renting in the UK is higher than in Germany so when you hear these big figures quoted in newspapers for "benefits Britain" a large chunk of that is in housing benefit in rent in expensive areas to rent. That benefit money doesn't go to the claimant it goes to the landlord. The claimant just gets to live there but they could probably live in a better quality house in Germany at lower cost to the German taxpayer.

You'd be better off in real terms on the dole (or as a pensioner) in Germany than the UK.

Which raises the point as to why as members of the EU we don't relocate housing benefit recipients to Germany of somwhere even cheaper like Bulgaria or Rumania? That would reduce the deficit and at the same time stimulate the economies of new EU members thereby reducing the need to subsidise these regions via EU grants. Everyone a winner.

Paying benefits to people in other countries sounds too ridiculous to be true.

Nevertheless the UK is one of only about 4 EU countries that allows migrants to claim child benefit for offspring not domiciled in the host nation.

We already do.

Also as so many people love the EU it is perfectly sensible. Indeed, possibly more sensible than shipping Londoners to Hull.