On Fri, 03 Oct 2003 15:25:29 +0100, derek
wrote:




I was wondering where the impetus for all these new regs came from,
then it struck me:

Say..

I am a qualified electrician, Dave over the back is a professional
painter and decorator employed by his own VAT registered LTD co, as I
am.

Now, Dave could do his own house wiring, but he's not qualified and
ther's be no certificate. But anyway, if he did he wouldn't pay
any tax on it.

So Dave calls me in to fix his outside lights. I want to come out with
20 quid for doing the job. but I have to charge VATat 17.5%, pay both
halves of the NI contributions, and higher rate income tax at 40%,
plus excise duties on road fuels, council tax etc etc. The effect of
all the taxation is that Dave has to pay me £100 just to get £20 worth
of electrical work done.

Dave's tax status is exactly the same as mine so to get that £100 He
has to do £500 of decorating work. £480 of which goes to the
government.

Bearing in mind the recent beurocratic meddling and restrictions
imposed on boiler replacement, installation of double glazing, and now
house wiring, anyone here see an incentive for the goverment to make
DIY as difficult as possible?

Or have I got it wrong somewhere?

DG

No, I think that you are on at least part of the money. You have our
pugilistic pal and his cronies to thank for that.

The excuse presented was that there would be a reduction in electrical
accidents and fires (when almost all come from portable appliances and
their wiring and not fixed wiring).

This is also part of a series of construction legislation whereby a
tradesman belonging to a specified trade organisation (according to
the discipline) can self certify his work. Of course the tradesman
does have to have been trained or have appropriate experience and be a
member of said organisation to do this. Such membership will be more
economically viable for larger firms than for a tradesman who might
work in multiple disciplines. Membership fees and other costs will
of course be passed on to the customer.

This of course creates the 21st century equivalent to the closed shop,
especially when your point about it making it much easier for
tradespeople to be tracked through said organisations.

There is as well a general impicit put down of DIY activity as well.
For example, on the web site of one of these unions in disguise, the
Institute of Plumbers, there is a put down to the effect that it's OK
to put up a few shelves but that plumbing requires a skilled and
approved tradesman. Yeah, sure.

Never mind though. In letters from the minister responsible for all
of this via their MPs, several people asking about DIY electrical work
have been told that all is OK - they can submit a Building Notice at
the local authority. One small snag. Most local authorities know
nothing about this impending legislation, have not been funded to
handle it and are not professionally equipped. Not to worry, though
- if they squeak, they will have their budget capped.

Yes of course, this is another infringement of personal freedom by the
nanny state and a not very stealthy stealth tax.



..andy

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