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On direct.gov.uk, the section ‘Debt advice services' is one of only three sections on the ‘helping people in financial difficulty' page. The section states that: ‘The government is committed to ensuring that any family facing debts which they can't manage can access free impartial debt advice to help them get back on track.'
It also says that ‘The Pre-Budget Report announced additional government funding of £5.85 million for an extension of telephone advice services, and £10 million to extend face-to-face advice services, to ensure everyone has access to free debt advice when they need it'.
Whatever the economic climate, debts can always be a problem if the borrower can't keep up with the repayments. In other words, debt advice always has an important role to play, helping people learn to budget, negotiate with their lenders, plan ahead – and one day get out of debt altogether.
At a time like this, however, with the threat of deflation hanging over the economy – and the threat of unemployment hanging over many individuals – debt advice is more vital than ever. Already, borrowers everywhere are finding their budgets stretched to the limit: any decrease in their income could easily push them over the limit.
In other words, now is – for many people – the time to start really working on paying off their debts. Some people, like bankers and estate agents, were ‘hit' by the economic troubles last year. Others are worried about their job security in the near future. Still others are working in industries which so far don't seem to have been hit by the country's economic problems, but which could be eventually. But whether they're worried about coping with a lower income in six months or in two years, their debt could be much easier to deal with if they can pay off as much as possible in the meantime!
Which explains why the Government is spending over £15 million extra to ensure people can access the debt advice they need. However, the Government-funded services are by no means the only ones providing debt advice. Various companies also provide free debt advice and debt help.
Many of those companies also provide websites that contain all kinds of debt advice. This kind of online debt advice can be helpful, providing people in debt with anything from ‘do-it-yourself' guides and budget forms to useful addresses and phone numbers.
Even so, it's no substitute for the personalised, back-and-forth debt advice that can only come over the phone or face-to-face. Basically, everyone's debt problems are different, and the best way of tackling them is to talk to someone who knows what questions to ask so they can build up a complete picture of their debt situation and advise them on the best course of action, whether that means a professional debt solution or just a few lifestyle changes.
Chancellor Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report (PBR) caused shockwaves throughout UK PLC and has been heralded as one of the most extraordinary packages of measures presented by a Chancellor in a long time. It seems that the government really does understand just how serious things are outside the hallowed halls of Parliament and has reacted accordingly, giving the country an economic shot in the arm with a plethora of measures, all designed to pull the country out of recession as quickly as possible.
The PBR announced a massive investment in the country's infrastructure, with £3billion worth of proposals initially set for 2010-11 being brought forward to 2009. One of the main beneficiaries of this cascade of financial aid has been the rail industry, with the government committed to ploughing millions back into the rail system. This is good news for railway jobs and vacancies within the industry, as more rolling stock and more trains will obviously need more staff to maintain and operate them.
Network Rail published its interim financial and performance results recently, and it was revealed that punctuality was at its highest levels since records began in 1992. The improvements are the result of continued investment in the infrastructure of Network Rail's system, meaning a better service for both passengers and freight operators. The report revealed that £2,200million had been invested in the British rail network over a six month period, amounting to a 25% increase in capital expenditure compared to the same period in the previous year. In the face of what seems to be economic meltdown generally, that's a massive investment in an industry many thought was dead on its feet. It seems that the rail network has turned a corner.
The PBR also boosted this rosy picture by bringing forward an increase in rolling stock originally destined to go into production in 2014. The Department of Transport had been expecting to pay for 1,300 new carriages, but with the announcements in the PBR it now looks like plans for at least 200 new trains will be fast-tracked. As well as easing passenger congestion and updating an ageing rolling stock, this decision to inject cash into the rail system will boost one of the country's remaining heavy industries, giving a much needed lift to skilled manufacturing and supplier's jobs. Rail vacancies will increase as a consequence of this investment, giving those seeking rail jobs more opportunity to join an industry that is set to move forward in the next few years.
Campaigners are also hoping that this shift in government policy – from mothballing many major projects just a year ago to reviving them as a means to boost the economy – will also mean that plans such as the new north-south high speed line will burst back into life, again boosting jobs within the rail industry. The Chancellor has pledged to invest £20billion into the UK economy, with at least £3billion of that earmarked for key infrastructure projects. The Crossrail project will cost the government £16billion but yield up a long-term return of £66billion, adding fuel to the old adage that to make money, you have to spend money.
This financial manoeuvring is good news for rail jobs, as skilled people will be needed throughout the industry to take part in one of the biggest overhauls of the rail network in years. Despite the media stories of a country in meltdown, behind the scenes there is a great deal to be positive about, including better opportunities for foundation industries and infrastructures, a greater development of an overall UK PLC strategy and long-term solutions rather than short-term quick fixes. All of which will lead to a more stable job market for those looking for rail vacancies and careers within the rail industry.