Cameron is considering tax breaks

Prime minister David Cameron is considering proposals under which working mothers would be given tax breaks for employing domestic help such as cleaners, babysitters or gardeners.

The scheme, which is already used in Sweden, would be designed to reduce black market or cash-in-hand domestic work by making it cheaper to employ them officially. The scheme was presented to Cameron during his visit to Stockholm for the Nordic-Baltic summit.

A similar system is apparently already used in the UK for employing a nanny.

Sounds like a good idea? Yes/No?

what about working dads?

or childless men and women?

Speak to Dave!

Agree completely with Minnie.

Fsx

No its not a good idea. Just because it works in another country doesnt mean it will work in this one.



Isnt it time the governments of this country got some ideas of their own, instead of just trying to steal somebody elses?

Comedians pinch each others jokes.

I think it is a great idea. Might increase the demand for these services increasing employment, and assists the working mothers or dads - I am sure they will iron out the details. I struggle working full time with 2 children to keep the house as tidy as I would like it to be and any help in this regard would be great. I spend weekends and holidays doing this or stressing about it lol !! Would certainly work for me xx

However, mothers who wish to stay at home and do their own cleaning and gardening, and look after their own children, will receive nothing and very possibly be branded benefit scroungers into the bargain.

What ever happened to the idea that we should raise our own children and do our own housework and be valued for that contribution to society? I'm all for mums working if that's what they want to do - but the current system seems to be forcing mums to go out to work so they can pay someone else to do the housework and look after their children - thereby artificially creating paid jobs to make the economy look good, without any consideration for traditional family values.

If the Government accepts - as this proposed scheme seems to indicate - that people should be paid for doing cleaning, gardening and child-minding, why not pay them for doing their own rather than doing other peoples? Oh no, wait... wasn't that the welfare state...?

Something is terribly wrong somewhere in our societal values I think.

Bliddy stupid idea, whatever next... surrogate birth for everyone perhaps !

Perhaps I could have a personal shopper. Hmmm yes, I might like that.

( No I wouldnt) - a chauffeur maybe

Silly idea. Like many, i live alone, work fulltime plus overtime. Keep a tidy place, cook my own meals, do any diy jobs etc. And did the same when i was bringing up two young girls on my own. Its called being a parent.

Hi Solstice

I wish I could stay at home with my children, and so do they. I feel I miss out on so much, but I dont have any options in this regard. If I was a stay at home mum I would ofcourse need to be kept by somebody and I dont have somebody to do that. Further I certainly would not require a cleaner in that case as I would have the time unlike the situation I am currently in, where not only do I not have the time, but I am absolutely exhausted at the end of each working day. I am not complaining, I am fortunate to have a job, but having worked full time since I left university with 3 months maternity leave when I had my children (that is what was available at the time) I really dont think a tax break for having someone in once a week for 2 or 3 hours is as big an ask as it sounds and the benefit to my health and welfare I am sure would be substantial :) I also then get to spend more time with my children which we value - erm when I am not on MSE lol xx

Hi Happy -

I think your situation is exactly the point I was trying to make.

It seems crazy to me that here you are (like many others, I imagine), wishing you could be at home raising your children and keeping your home, but forced through economic necessity to go out to work and perhaps having to pay someone else to do those things which you could do so much better yourself (because it is your home and your family) if you only had the time and energy.

It's a ludicrous system, which seems only to place value (or at least, financial reward) on the going-out-to-work parents and not the staying-at-home-to-raise-family parents. I think both positions are of equal (though different) value, and should be equally rewarded, and the choice made possible for all.

I certainly wasn't having a pop at working parents - far from it! I've been in your situation myself, and it is both heart-breaking and back-breaking. Respect to you - and to all single parents who take on the multiple roles of breadwinner, homemaker and caregiver with very little extra support or even recognition.

I just think people should have a choice - and under the present system, they don't.

I am not a fan of Cameron's quick fix ideas but I think copying something that works is a sign of praise for Sweden's system and no reason why it might not work here.

I think there is far too much "them and us", where if one part of society gets help, it somehow has to push down or offend another. I really don't see any connection between someone like happy2be benefiting and this not only creates an affordable job for a cleaner to earn what might be the minimum wage within the tax free threshhold anyway, but to also keep tabs on those who would otherwise fiddle the tax system paying cash in hand who can afford it.

I only had a similar conversation with my English friend now living in Sweden who wanted a decorator, but finds he has to use an kind of agency to use one. Although decorating and other trades has not been mentioned by Cameron, I think we do need to stop all the tax due leeching out of the system in cash under the table payments. It is only shooting ourselves in the foot in the long run as we do have to pay taxes like it or not, to fund all the benefits people want to be entitled to.

My ex was a "man with van" but we kept everything straight, on an invoice and it was a struggle, but it was gauling, the amount of people who wanted a discount for cash and no receipt. We never succombed even once, yet all around us people were offering services and taking services for cash in hand. There must be billions not declared.

My son is unemployed due to his disability of autism, but the odd weeks he does web design for someone, it is all declared and he loses his JobSeeker's allowance. This is right, though I do think some small gain should be had, He doesn't even get to claim expenses on his travelling to do voluntary work with the Salvation Army.

Its because they're trying to appeal to women voters.

So now all you hard working ladies can have youre own butler/footman. whatever next!

MiB,

I've recently got rid of mine, it's no fun you know!