[Margaret Pilkington]

Eric....you prove my point for me very nicely.
The fact that corporations can avoid paying their social dues and do it legally is also down to the system.
In the recent budget it was said that government would name and shame these businesses...but why do that? They have the power to close the loopholes that let the big flies break through....while the little flies(us pensioners) get intimidating letters demanding the return of money to the taxman that we didn't know we owed(because they got their calculations wrong - and we are supposed to be able to spot this, but they couldn't).

It appears to me that no-one has a social conscience anymore.

As for countries doing the job for less.......we exported the jobs to them (Do you remember the Queens Award to Industry for Export?)....they have lower overheads
it cost less to live in some of those countries.......and NO, I do not condone the slave like working conditions....but what can you do about them(Many of us do not have the luxury to be able to afford home produced goods...that is if you can find them)...we have enough problems to solve in this country(not that our 'Honourable MP's seem to want to apply themselves to these).

Perspective is a great thing Eric...and because you live so far away from the problems here...you have it in spades.