At the beginning of February, readers of confused.com sent in political questions in the run-up to the general election to put them to various political parties in the UK. Those taking part in the Q&As include the Labour Party, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. There are questions and answers to Vince Cable, Treasury spokesman for the Liberal Democrats….

On Europe…

Q: Do you have any plans in the future for Britain changing over to the Euro, and would you consider public referendum to make the decision?

A: We have no plans for Britain to join the Euro in the foreseeable future. Any entry to the Eurozone would have to be approved by the British people in a referendum and would have to be based on a test of economic conditions, in particular with a competitive exchange rate.

On the NHS…

Q: What is going to be done to improve both patient and staff experiences with the NHS? More funding needs to be put into the NHS to improve the service to the population - would we see this under a Liberal Democrat government?

A: In the current, serious, budgetary crisis there is no scope for promising additional funding. The NHS has enjoyed big increases in funding in recent years, which have undoubtedly improved services - though much has not been spent as effectively as it could. There is far too much money spent on a bureaucratic, target-monitoring culture.

Where savings can be made from improved efficiency, the first call would be on services like mental health, which have been neglected in the past and [where] patient experience is poor.

On Pensions…

Q:Pensioners receive one of the worst state pensions in comparison to other European countries and still have to pay tax on their pension income. Do you have any plans to stop taxing pension income and help pensioners in other ways, such as cheaper council tax?

A: The objective should be to improve the state pension so that there is no means testing, as with pension credit, creating powerful disincentives to save for retirement. Liberal Democrats are committed to a rapid move to indexing pensions by earnings rather than prices.

We would like to see taxes cut on small savings by lifting the income tax threshold (to £10,000). We would help occupational and private pensioners by removing compulsory annuitisation, giving pensioners freedom to spend their savings freely.

On Banking…

Q:Despite the banking crisis and the bailout of major institutions, banks continue to treat their consumers unfairly. For example, some credit card rates are subject to interest in excess of 30% and rising, and you can find loans with interest of over 50%.

Is there a need to introduce further regulation of the banking system to ensure customers are treated more fairly and that providers do not get away with making too much money to the detriment of the public?

A:Banks which have benefited from taxpayers’ help should be acting responsibly in the national interest. The main regulatory requirement at present is that the banks should be lending on reasonable terms to their small and medium-sized business customers, which are the backbone of the economy.

What has also become clear is that banks constantly take advantage of their customers through unfair charges. The only answer in the long run is more genuine competition and, in addition to new banks entering the market, the big existing banks will have to be split up to secure this objective.

On Energy…

Q: When are we really going to get to grips with implementing alternative sources of energy generation? What measures do you have planned to provide reliable, efficient and cheaper sources of power to Britain?

A: Britain has fallen well behind other European countries in promoting new renewable sources of energy, and we are committed to raise their share of energy supply significantly using feed-in tariffs and encouraging distributed power systems.

There will be a continued large demand for gas, which is cheap and cleaner than coal, though growing amounts have to be imported - albeit from safe (like Norway) or diverse sources.

The key to greater energy security is bigger storage capacity in case of emergencies. We are not in favour of new nuclear power, around which there are large hidden costs - notably decommissioning. A key element in energy policy is conserving energy, which is highly cost effective and reduces home heating bills, particularly for the elderly. We have an ambitious plan to insulate large numbers of homes and public buildings, creating jobs as well as saving energy.

On Tax…

Q: What are your plans for taxation? Bearing in mind this country is now in debt, owing billions after bailing banks, what are your plans for Income Tax, National Insurance, Inheritance Tax and VAT?

A: Our main tax proposal is to raise the tax threshold to £10,000, lifting millions of low earners, workers and pensioners out of tax and cutting the income tax bill by £700 a year for average earners.

This tax cut could be fully funded by removing some tax loopholes favouring high earners (in particular, higher rates of tax relief on pension contributions and capital gains tax levied at a lower rate than income tax). We would also raise revenue to finance the tax cut through a 1% levy on the value of mansions over £2 million.

On the Housing Market…

Q: Currently the costs involved in moving house are extortionate, with stamp duty, legal fees, mortgage fees, Home Information Packs (HIPs), valuations and more - if you are lucky enough to get on the property ladder at all (even by a shared ownership scheme). How do you intend to help with the growing costs of moving house?

A: The main problem in moving house at present is the non-availability of mortgages. The semi-nationalised banks must, as part of their lending agreement with the government, maintain a steady flow, on reasonable terms (mortgage lending terms must in future be regulated to exclude 100%-plus LTV [loan-to-value] mortgages and discourage 90% LTVs). We favour scrapping HIPs other than the energy test.

On the Global Economy…

Q: What will you do to get stability back into this country? We have a diminishing manufacturing base and exports and are drifting further from China and Europe. How can you make Britain a strong and productive country again, and in what sectors will you focus your attention?

A: Britain’s credibility in the wider world does depend on having a strong economy. That is partly about putting the public finances in order. It is also about creating a better balanced economy, less dependent on London and banking. Britain has a strong reservoir of entrepreneurs, innovators, highly educated and creative people which must be supported.

A better balanced economy will have a bigger role for modern high-tech manufacturing, creative industries, pharmaceuticals, information technology and environmental services and industries. One specific step is to help create an Infrastructure Bank which will fund better human and physical infrastructure (rail, digital, ports) around which wealth-creating activities can grow.

On Unemployment…

Q: How are you going to bring back down the unemployment rate and the claimant rate? Young people are particularly affected, alongside all the people made redundant in the recession. How will you tackle this to get more people back to work?

A: The most important step in tackling the unemployment problem is to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses can grow. At present they are being held back by lack of bank credit with even the semi-nationalised banks failing to meet their legally binding lending obligations.

It is important, too, that the necessary tightening of the budget deficit and spending cuts do not begin prematurely with the ‘slash and burn’ approach favoured by [Conservative Shadow Chancellor George] Osborne; leading to deepening recession and higher levels of unemployment. There is also scope for the government to support specific job creation schemes - a big home insulation programme and refurbishment of empty homes.

On the ‘care question’…

Q: There is obviously a hot debate on the UK’s ageing population and how their care will be paid for. If you get into power, how will you address this problem? Is ‘death tax’ the answer, or non-compulsory/compulsory payments?

A:All parties now agree, in principle, that with an ageing population it is no longer financially realistic to offer unlimited free care for all. There will have to be contributions for those who benefit. We do not have a dogmatic approach, but any form of long-term insurance can only work if all parties sign up to a consensus. There has to be an element of compulsion, since voluntary schemes overseas raise nothing like enough.

Payments must also reflect ability to pay. No sensible approach can rule out obtaining payments from a deceased estate; but there are other approaches, including equity release and the use of pension lump sums and insurance premiums levied in various ways.

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Vince Cable answers your political questions was produced by confused.com, the credit cards comparison website.

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When consumers are shopping for a cell phone, how much does price have a play in features and quality? Is it just the name or the fact that the cell phone has just come out that makes it so expensive? Many people have questions about whether buying a cheaper cell phone is somehow going to give them trouble. There are several high priced cell phones and cheap ones and the comparison between the two is interesting.

The Samsung Gravity 2 is on the higher priced side. It is a cute phone with a side slider full keyboard for comfortable texting. It comes equipped with a 2MP camera and it is it Blue-tooth ready. With a built in music player and a micro SC slot for added memory options, this phone gives a lot to whomever is buying it.

The Blackberry Bold 9700 is a nice looking phone with a bright red screen. It has a touch pad navigator to help you speed through the phones menu system. A 3.2 MP camera is a nice touch and so is the Wi-Fi and GPS system. This phone also has a microSDTM slot that can be equipped to hold up to 32GB of upgradable memory.

The HTC Maple is a great looking phone as well. It has a full keyboard and comes with Windows Mobile 6.1. It also features a 2 MP camera, GPS and Wi-Fi.

On the cheaper side of cell phones, there is the LG 160. This phone is pretty small and easy to fit in the hand. It has blue-tooth and two way speaker options. This phone also comes with the internet and it is downloadable for applications and more. This phone appears to give you allot for the price.

Samsung m230 is another sporty looking phone. It is enabled to give Blue-tooth and the internet. It also features a 2 way speakerphone. It is also clever enough to sit in the palm of your hand comfortably.

The LG Rumour is a phone that is loaded with features. It comes with a 1.3 MP camera and camcorder. It has a full keyboard and a microSDTM slot for adding memory cards. With a Blue-tooth and a MP3 player you will be sure to feel like you have a more expensive phone.

The comparison between cell phones and their prices might have something to do with look. The look of the more pricy models is more trendy, stylish and popular looking. They have more of a box shaped look with big interface. The multi-coloured faces somehow make the phones look more glamorous if that is what you are into.

For someone who doesn`t mind what a phone looks like, or for those where it doesn`t matter how trendy the phone is, going cheaper might be fine. The quality of the phone might be better with a more expensive one, where it might last longer and have better sound quality. But for anyone who just simply wants a phone that looks decent and has similar features then going for a cheaper one is an alternate option.

Some cell phone distributers will offer cell phone plans that include the phone. That means that you pay for some of the phone or nothing at all, and sign on for a plan with the cell phone provider. It is ideal for anyone who wants an expensive phone and who knows that a locked two or three year plan is fine with them. The only downside is that you have to lock into a contract, which sometimes people tend to regret somewhere down the road.

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You can have access to articles about cell phones in Portuguese language from page Cell_Phone

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil

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The Bank of England Base Rate has been at 0.5 per cent for a year now. The only way is up, but the question on everyone’s lips is when will rates rise, and how quickly?

For mortgage borrowers and savers the future of interest rates directly affects your monthly repayments and the interest you receive on your hard-earned cash. Unfortunately, interest rates have never been harder to predict than in the current economic environment, but many experts are willing to have a stab.

Question is, who do you believe?

Set to rise

As the economy gains strength and inflation rises, some believe the Bank of England will be forced to hike interest rates. Indeed, December’s inflation report showed a massive jump in the Consumer Prices Index to 2.9 per cent, leading many pundits to hastily revise their rate predictions upwards. This is because moving interest rates up and down is one way that the Bank of England can control inflation. As a very general rule of thumb the Bank might increase interest rates to control increasing inflation, or keep them low to avoid deflation.

However, The Bank of England also this month said in its inflation forecast that although it expects inflation to rise above 3 per cent in the near term, it thinks it could fall below 2 per cent later in the year. The Bank stressed there was a high level of uncertainty in medium-term inflation predictions, so the picture is still very unclear.

Ian McCafferty, chief economic adviser at the Confederation of British Industry, reckons they could rise in a matter of months: “As the economy recovers the Bank will have to think about returning monetary conditions towards more normal levels. We expect this to lead to a small rise in interest rates around the middle of this year.”

Ben Thompson, director of mortgages at Legal & General agrees: “More bullish elements within the Bank of England have been hinting that interest rate rises are to come later this year and this is looking increasingly likely.”

Simon Ward, chief economist at investment managers Henderson New Star predicts rates could rise in April hitting 2.5 per cent by August. And Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reckons they could shoot to 1.5 per cent by the end of 2010.

If they are right, anyone currently enjoying low mortgage repayments on trackers, discounts and standard variable rates - which move up and down in line with Base Rate - are at risk of significant hikes in their monthly outgoings. (See: Is it best to opt for a fixed or variable rate mortgage.)

One way to avoid getting caught out is to lock into a fixed rate mortgage, where your rate is set for an agreed period, no matter what happens to rates. You will currently pay a premium for such a deal compared to cheap trackers, but you could end up quids-in if the experts above are correct.

But what if they’re not?

Low for longer

Plenty of esteemed economists think that the Base Rate will remain low for the rest of this year, if not longer. Some argue we’ll remain in a low interest rate environment for up to five years, and if the Bank of England is right that inflation will drop in the medium term, this is more likely.

Ray Boulger, senior technical manager at advisers John Charcol says rates won’t need to rise because inflation will drop again: “Despite the much bigger than expected increase in inflation in December the indications that it will fall back to 2 per cent within a year negates the need to take corrective action. With interest rates likely to remain low for some time we continue to recommend tracker mortgages to most clients.”

Melanie Bien, director at Savills Private Finance reckons Base Rate will remain at 0.5 per cent for the rest of this year, before slowly rising to 2 per cent over the following two years.

And highly respected economist, Roger Bootle predicts rates could remain below 1 per cent for five years.

If they are right it might not be worth paying over the odds to fix your mortgage rate when you could save hundreds, or thousands, of pounds with a far cheaper tracker deal.

What about savers?

Record low interest rates have cruelly punished savers with pitiful rates of interest - a problem augmented by high inflation.

According to financial research company Defaqto the average interest rate for a £1,000 balance in an instant-access account is 0.88 per cent - well below inflation, which means your money is reducing in value in real terms.

But with savings rates available at over 3 per cent, it’s more important than ever you shop around for a great deal.

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Read more about mortgages at http://www.confused.com

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