I'm sitting here watching the Oscars and thus getting utterly distracted from making Politalks, so I decided that I would finish off this post I've had for a few days that asks what we could perhaps spend the money that is potentially to be spent on the highly illiberal and unpopular ID card system on instead. The list isn't exhaustive, and I've left out plenty of examples where existing systems could be given more funding to be made more efficient and effective, but it's a start. Anyone else got any other examples?

1. Fund 38 years of subsidising all kids under the poverty level to be able to take trips to Auschwitz.
2. Fund a 4 year pilot of giving every pupil at school a free piece of fruit every school day.
3. Reduce VAT from 17.5% to around 14% while retaining current economic returns, reducing the cost of living and nurturing the economy in times of hardship.
4. Reduce the base level of tax (being the new 20% level) by 1-2%
5. Add around £20 to the basic state pension with a guarantee of it not being reduced for 10 years, finally bringing the average pensioners salary out of the poverty zone for the next decade.
6. Increase the winter fuel payment by £100 for the next two years (assumes the government actually tells OfGen to get off of its arse and actually do something before the next election).
7. Fund a number of pilots for youth engagement through local public and third sector organisations with the aim of taking kids off of the streets and engaging them with positive activities and amenities that they have ownership over, in areas worst affected by youth and violent crime.
8. Build at least six new large hospitals.
9. Readily increase the student loans for the poorest 50% of students by £400 for 5 years to alleviate the need for the lowest social demographic to need to work to get through a degree.
10. Repay at least 84% of the money diverted away from good causes, grass roots sport development and community projects to fund the London Olympic games.
11. Use as a top up fund to ensure that child benefit payments continue to rise above inflation every year for at least the next 10 years.
12. Double the amount paid in child trust fund vouchers for approximately the next 10 years.