And they want doctors, medicines and treatments created by graduate scientists, machinery designed by graduate mechanical engineers, roads and bridges designed by graduate civil and structural engineers.
Now what about mothers and carers, you seem to be avoiding that one?
I'm not avoiding anything - Carers, etc. currently get proportional contributions towards their state pension and I believe that should remain the same. Now can you answer my question as to whether or not
most students actually pay tax and NIC (pay anything into the pensions system) if they do a part time job?
Professionals such as Doctors usually have a substantial NHS and/or private pension, which they can contribute more towards as a tax free benefit from their significant salary (up to a certain level), so would probably regard a state pension as spending money or a holiday fund, rather than rely upon it pretty much as their only source of income in retirement, as many manual workers who have been on minimum working wage over the last 30 or 40 years will probably have to.
We know Medical Drs are an important profession, but put it this way, I've relied on the services of the local bin men a lot more times than I've been to see my Dr! And I know who, on average, will probably be in better physical condition when they reach 65! Your original question was would I like to see a 72 year old Dr? Well, probably as much as I'd like to see some poor old 70 year-old hobbling down the street pulling two heavy wheelie bins!
Can you imagine what it would be like for business too? You've got to keep your workforce until they're 70. "Nah, sorry mate, you're car's not ready... You see, Bert our gearbox technician put your car on the ramp, removed the gearbox and stripped it down to repair the fault, but that set his lumbago off and he won't be back in to work to finish the job until at least a week on Wednesday". Or, "Yes, your car's ready, but we've had to up our labour rate by a third because we've had to employ an extra mechanic to do the heavy work when it gets too much for our two elderly employees."
Statistically, UK residents may be living longer on average (although in some regions that trend has started to reverse), but are they still able bodied and fit for full time manual work into their late 60s and early 70s? Can you see my point now? Not everyone has worked a 40 hour week in a climate controlled office environment, and only started work in their mid 20s. As we've discussed, many manual workers have been out in all weathers keeping the country running. I believe it is inherently unfair to expect people who have started work at an earlier age and done a hard, physical job all or most of their working life to keep on working until they are 70.
Anyway, you've read my suggestion; so what's yours, Chris; bearing in mind we are talking about the situation now, not with the benefit of 20 or 30 years lead-in time?