It was picked up in an article in the FT when the new funding system was first out (can't find the link, sorry), by Alasdair Smith, the ex Vice Chancellor of Sussex University.

He wrote a half-joking article pointing out the fact that there would be a large market of people coming to retirement age, that have not yet had student finance and are therefore eligible for it, and that universities could simply target curriculum towards degrees that the older generation would like to do, and the government would be obliged to fund them under a repayment system that would mean in reality they didn't pay anything, or only paid a pittance, back.

It sounds fanciful but some people will do it. You could get say a bloke in his 60s approaching retirement that is a military history enthusiast, tell him he's eligible to get his fees paid by a 'loan' that he won't have to repay and he can go and do a BA in Military History or War Studies and that's the next three years of his life planned out pursuing his hobby....

Superb idea. That's my retirement plan sorted.

Bloody hell, me too.
Not Military History though, I'm thinking more Plantagenet.

But [url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/asda-unveils-plans-to-create-5000-jobs-6293344.html?origin=internalSearchAsda are going to "create" an extra 5000 jobs[/url and Cameron thinks it's smashing. He's absolutely thrilled that "eligible employees" will be given the opportunity to train for a City & Guilds apprenticeship. Although I'm struggling to see just what benefits, other than a training bung for Asda, there would be gained from such apprenticeship schemes.

According to the Fair Pay Network's recent report [url=http://www.fairpaynetwork.org/uploadedPDF/Face-The-Difference.pdfFace the Difference[/url many of those new jobs will be subsidised by the taxpayer in the form of housing benefits and working tax credits.

I thought this lot were trying to reduce the benefits bill?

a) You are quite right to use inverted commas around the word "create". These are not created jobs, they are simply shifted from some other retail area. No-one buys more milk, apples or bread etc just because a new Asda has opened.
b) I've been banging on about the iniquity of subsidising supermarkets through benefits and tax credits for quite some time ... what we need is a minimum wage that is more realistic ... it wouldn't completely eliminate the need for tax credits or benefits but would make the employers pay a bit closer to what they should be paying and hence reduce the amount claimed in tax credits etc.

The difficult bit is that tax credits and benefits vary according to individual need and you can't really legislate that employers should pay according to need.
But you could legislate that the minimum wage should be higher (the stats must be available to set it at the right level) ... then check to see how much the eligibility for tax credits has reduced.

It makes economic sense too ... money paid in higher wages will be spent boosting the economy, which is what we need right now ... whereas money saved through low wages will be sucked-up into profits and squirrelled away offshore to avoid tax (all in the name of boosting the share price).
Most people on minimum wage (who let's not forget, do most of the actual work in Supermarkets to produce those profits) don't have a huge pension pot and gain very little from increases in share price.

Too bloody right I will, my dad would never let me go to Art College because he thought it was full of "bloody weird hippies" and he was right, it was why I wanted to go, so I had to go get a "proper job" instead.

This is brilliant news, beard, sandals, incoherent mumbling and lots of "groovy man" and an end of term show of paintings that no-one understands which way up they hang, all for £9000 a year of unrepayable debt - where do I sign up ?

£27000 of debt at 68 years of age plus the student living allowance, HMRC are going to hate me

We're getting a new Asda in Worcester. They recently advertised for 300 vacancies and got 3000 applications. I guess the 2700 unsuccessful applicants will all be feckless wastrels set on an easy life on benefits, eh?

The one (not insignificant hurdle) that the retirement undergrads will have to go through is that whilst the government will provide you with a fee loan you still need to meet the entry requirements for the course. However if you don't already have suitable qualifications you can probably enrol at a local college and do a one year "Access" course to get that.

Can you get a student loan for the Open Uni or Open College



I don't want to do the work I'm just liking the idea of tossing it off for three years at the governments expense like a young person



Do you think I could get a room at the Opal accomodation ?

Not through the student loan company, though I understand this is changing. They have their own bursary and student hardship scheme at the moment though. And, bizarrely, you can pay in Tesco Clubcard points.

The place to go is Lupton residences just behind the Headingley Arndale, thats where I lived in my first year. If you are a 'mature' student then just apply to be a warden, this means you will get subsidised rent in exchange for having the powers to fine students for being noisy or doing drugs on premises.

Alternatively if you fancied a more upmarket experience then Leeds Uni has a residence at Clarence Dock where its too expensive for most people in the real world to rent the private sector apartments, but you can live there at affordable prices as a student.

And yes if you wanted one you would be as eligible to apply for a room as any student.

History of Prussia for me. With some lower-level language studies so that I can read some of the original texts better.

I think one of you should do something like criminology or forensics, that way we'd know where the Wigan gobe had vanished to...

I know this isn’t my personal blog. But I do feel I should give you all an update since it’s relevant to this thread. I’ve got the backing of two very credible organisations in Leeds to carry out a project that could have me employed for six months at least. It just needs the financial backing now.

Hopefully Rob Da Bank and Alan Raw of BBC will champion this project as they’ve both given me critical acclaim for my brief work in radio.

Things are really looking up and all I need to do now is pitch this the idea to potential investors. I’ll be starting tomorrow morning. Unfortunately I have a trip to the job centre in the afternoon so that’ll mean less time to knock on doors. The only bright side of that visit is I’ll be seeing my favourite advisor who have given me every support other than support into a job.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... payer.html This has to be the most progressive article the Daily Mail have ever done on the behalf of the unemployed.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... payer.html This has to be the most progressive article the Daily Mail have ever done on the behalf of the unemployed.

You have to pay the top rates to get the best person for the job look at Fabio Capello, its easy to walk away if you aren't satisfied.

Actually never mind that article from the Daily Mail, look at this: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... twalk.html a models dress falls down and shows her tits, now that is worthwhile journalism.

Actually never mind that article from the Daily Mail, look at this: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... twalk.html a models dress falls down and shows her tits, now that is worthwhile journalism.

Quote ="sally cinnamon"Actually never mind that article from the Daily Mail, look at this: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... twalk.html a models dress falls down and shows her tits, now that is worthwhile journalism.'" And, as that nice Mr Dacre made clear on Monday, during his first appearence this week at Leveson, he's so proud of his paper – and its online version.

Quote ="sally cinnamon"Actually never mind that article from the Daily Mail, look at this: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... twalk.html a models dress falls down and shows her tits, now that is worthwhile journalism.'" And, as that nice Mr Dacre made clear on Monday, during his first appearence this week at Leveson, he's so proud of his paper – and its online version.

Quote ="sally cinnamon"Actually never mind that article from the Daily Mail, look at this: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... twalk.html a models dress falls down and shows her tits, now that is worthwhile journalism.'" Personally, I prefer this: www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... issue.html

Quote ="sally cinnamon"Actually never mind that article from the Daily Mail, look at this: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic ... twalk.html a models dress falls down and shows her tits, now that is worthwhile journalism.'" Personally, I prefer this: www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... issue.html

Finally Private Eye can refrain from referring to The Wail as "Tits by (next) Christmas"

And in more news, [url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4121098/Tax-break-plan-for-families-with-cleaners.htmlthe PM considers giving tax breaks to those employing domestic servants, as a way of getting women back to work ...[/url

This is possibly beyond parody.

I could go with that suggestion, providing we had the same levels of income tax, NI and the consequent improved social benefits that Sweden enjoys

There's value to that suggestion. And I'd suggest a proper legal, living wage for those cleaners and child minders.

And if he wasn't trying to spin it as a boost for women: 'oh yes, let's help female employment levels by getting more women back into domestic service roles'.

Their other corker from chief crack pot policy king Halpern is work until you die to avoid being lonely. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16980361

Their other corker from chief crack pot policy king Halpern is work until you die to avoid being lonely. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16980361

Quote ="Sandra The Terrorist"Their other corker from chief crack pot policy king Halpern is work until you die to avoid being lonely. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16980361'" I actually think that's sensible.

Quote ="Sandra The Terrorist"Their other corker from chief crack pot policy king Halpern is work until you die to avoid being lonely. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16980361'" I actually think that's sensible.