The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Winter fuel payments,no decisions yet ..[ 1657 ]

Winter fuel payments 'may be cut'

Standard co. uk.,18.08.10
 
The qualifying age for winter fuel payments could be raised under government plans to cut the welfare bill, it was reported on Wednesday.
The qualifying age for winter fuel payments could be raised under plans to cut the welfare bill
The qualifying age for winter fuel payments could be raised under plans to cut the welfare bill
 
Rather than being eligible for the annual handout at 60, people could have to wait until they are at least 66, the Daily Telegraph said, with talks apparently under way to impose an even bigger rise.
And the paper said the payment - worth £250 or £400 for the over-80s last winter - could be cut by £50 for new recipients and £100 for the oldest.
But a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokeswoman said the story was "speculation", saying no decisions had yet been made ahead of the autumn's spending review and subsequent white paper on welfare reform.
The Times also suggested that winter fuel payments might be cut, perhaps along with child benefit and other universal allowances, as part of a £13 billion reduction that could be used to pay for radical welfare changes proposed by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
The spokeswoman said the DWP was "not going to provide a running commentary" on what was being considered.
Winter fuel payments, introduced in the winter of 1997, cost around £2.7 billion a year.
David Cameron pledged to keep the winter fuel allowance during the general election leaders' debates, but the Liberal Democrats campaigned on a platform of reforming the payment by raising the age-related threshold to 65 to extend them for severely disabled people. The coalition agreement pledges to "protect key benefits for older people such as the winter fuel payment", but does not rule out reform.
Chancellor George Osborne was challenged on whether winter fuel payments to older people would be protected at the same level as under Labour, replying: "The commitment on the winter fuel payments is there in the coalition agreement and was made during the election campaign and is there for all to see."
According to the Government's website Directgov, the qualifying age for winter fuel payments is already rising in line with the increase in women's state pension age - set to equalise at 65 by 2020. Ministers have proposed speeding up plans to raise the state pension age for men to 66, possibly by as early as 2016.
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