Latest Articles By Simon Collyer

The ABC has complained to the DWP about a scheme operated locally by the Colchester Jobcentre Plus that buys all clothing and shoes from Matalan via the Flexible Support Fund. The funds management does not seem to very flexible in our view, and by ma...

Pay slowdown set to continue Risk that real pay could fall back below 2 per cent for first time since February 2015 Official figures published later this week are expected to show that average wages grew by 1.9-2 per cent in November, representing a...

The Western Front Via Sacra Walk - 2016 - Could we get a an ABC team together? From the event website: Inspired by a letter from a soldier in WW1, Historian Sir Anthony Seldon will undertake a walk across the Western Front, as it was in 191...

Chris Grayling seems to be preparing to lead the EU BRITEXIT faction in the Conservative Party. If we left the EU it could cause the break-up of the United Kingdom as Scotland would almost certainly want to stay in the EU and so would Wales. If the f...

Work and Pensions Committee launches major new inquiry on “intergenerational fairness”.    The Commons Work and Pensions Committee is today launching a major new inquiry on “intergenerational fairness” – the qu...

House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee EVIDENCE SESSION: Bereavement benefits  9.30am, Wednesday 13 January, Wilson Room, Portcullis House The Committee is holding the second of three evidence sessions in its inquiry into Bereavemen...

The debate over women’s pensions, those born in the 1950's has created a hot debate.  Over 100,000 people have signed a petition. You can sign too. Just click on the link. Petition Make fair transitional state pension arrangements for...

The Work and Pensions Select Committee announces publication of a response from the Financial Conduct Authority to its report on Pension freedom guidance and advice and the Government response to its report on Welfare-to-work.  Th...

All the European chatter is about migrants currently, Germany — refugees no magic labor market solution: Germany desperately needs more workers, and the German government hopes Syrian refugees will fit the bill. There are problems, notably...

According a BBC article today: The UK faces a "cocktail" of serious threats from a slowing global economy as 2016 shapes up to be one of the toughest since the financial crisis, George Osborne is to warn. The chancellor will later on T...