That Won't Be Anything To Be Proud Of Mr Osbourne.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2642728/Prostitution-drug-dealing-add-10billion-economy-bizarre-rules-mean-crime-boom-good-news-Osborne.html

/// Bizarre new European rules mean that for the first time illegal activities must be included in the official estimates of the size of the economy. ///

[jno]

well, it's all economic activity, and I suppose those involved pay at least as much tax as Amazon.

[sandyRoe]

If you glances at a site like Vivastreet you might think that the entire centre of London is populated by sex workers. I hope they're all paying their taxes.

[Old_Geezer]

I concur, if it has an effecton the economy it would have to be taken into consideration. And both drug supply and sex trade services will have an effect. I'm sure many a dark cloud hides a silver lining.

[sandyRoe]

Yup. Imagine the tax a sex worker who had a sideline in drug dealing would pay.

[Farriercm]

Illegal activities? How about starting with MPs expenses.?

[jno]

of course it will mean immigrants undercutting our jolly English street gals and traditional family-run drugs businesses, but it will keep them off benefits, which is so important.

[Gromit]

The GDP calculation measures our economic activity. It should not be censored or bits omitted because they may not be pretty. The fact is £10billion worth of transactions take place in the black economy, and to not measure them does not reflect the true level of prosperity in this country.

I could equally object to money made in the city dealing in commodities such as mining in third world countries should be omitted. Thousands die every year extracting these minerals for a pittance of a wage, and then trades made in the City of London earn £millions to our GDP. Not sure that is any worse, but you wouldn't get the Daily Mail and its supporters saying profits made from trades with the third world should be omitted.

The main thing is we get true, accurate and reluable figures produced, even if that includes some dubious activity.

[sp1814]

Am loving the term 'sex worker'.

So much more classier than 'prozzie'.

[kvalidir]

It is their preferred monicker of choice Sp, and most of em are taxed on their earnings, which might surprise some people.

[sandyRoe]

It's OK, then? Not too PC?

[jno]

sex workers aren't just prostitutes; it includes lap dancers, phone sex people, maids, whoever -anyone in the sex business.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_worker

[mushroom25]

phone sex people.

I don't get why anyone would want to listen to some woman talking dirty to them while she's doing the hoovering or peeling the potatoes. but I guess it takes all sorts.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// Am loving the term 'sex worker'.///

/// So much more classier than 'prozzie'. ///

You are the last person I expected to be making fun of the use of the correct term instead of any offensive usage.

[anotheoldgit]

mushroom25

/// I don't get why anyone would want to listen to some woman talking dirty to them while she's doing the hoovering or peeling the potatoes. but I guess it takes all sorts. ///

Yes I bet it would make one's hair curl to know what went off being closed doors of some matrimonial homes, :0)

[Farriercm]

How will the tax man calculate their earnings?-- bedroom tax, or bed tax?