Social Security in UK and China

In UK, the department of Work and Pensions agencies is in charge of managing social security system which can provide benefits for British people. The social security is to give benefits to workers who pay contributions to the National Insurance Fund and income tax system. Furthermore, the contributory system gives relatively low state retirement pensions for employed women at 60 and men at 65; maternity pay for pregnant working women; sick pay or incapacitybenefit for people who are absent from work because of illness or other reasons. However, the young unemployed between 16-18 are now ineligible for benefits until they are 18 and must follow training or education programmes. For British government, social security is very expensive and will become more so as the population ages and as the numbers of the sick, poor, disadvantaged and unemployed persist.

On the other hand, in China, Government provides the sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, pension benefit and housing benefit, however housing benefit is not compulsoty benefit. As usual, people can receive their pension for employed women at 55 and men at 60.

These benefits are better for people to work in China and UK.

British Media

There are three main components about British Media which include TV, radio, newspapers and magazines.

Television：





1 The BBC networks (Channels: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News 24 and BBC Parliament)


2 The commercial networks


3 Cable


4 Digital


5 Teletext and interactive services 6 Regulation





British National broadcasters：





1 BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)


2 two national television channels (with national and regional sub-divisions)


3 five national radio stations


4 Cable and digital TV channels


5 40+ local radio stations


6 Global enterprises in both television and radio, a broadcast monitoring service 6 Europe's most visited content web site





The most popular British radio stations:





1 Clare FM


2 Anna Livia


3 Live 95


4 Welsh Radio International


5 Imperial College radio


6 Capital FM7 BBC Radio





Newspapers :





mass market tabloids: (e.g. The Sun)


middle-market tabloids (e.g. the Daily Mail)


quality broadsheets (e.g. The Times)

Education in UK and China

There are some similiarities and differences for education system in UK and China. This piece of blog will compare and contrast them in terms of age, examination, school terms and types.

One obvious difference is the school terms. In China, we only have two terms and two holidays per year which include spring festival holiday and summer holiday. However, there are three terms and holidays in UK which also have Eastern holiday. I prefer three terms to two terms, because I feel that time is quicker than two holidays.

Other difference is school types. In China, parents always choose public school, because it charge cheap tuition fee and is near with home. In contrast, most parents would like to choose private school in UK, because they think private shool has higher reputation and better education.

In spite of these difference, there are two similiarities for age and examination. Pupil can start primary school when they are 6 years old not only in UK, but also in China. Furthermore, they can find job after 16 years in UK and China.

A final similarity is that both UK and China have the same examition which provide access to further and higher educaion. "A" level in UK are the same as university entrance examination in China. Students choose their ideal university according to this marks, therefore, it is very important for students to study hard before exam.

Although there are some differences education system between two countries, they all have higher quality and reputation in education area.

British Food and Pub

I am keen on British breakfast which may contain such as sausages, bacon, kippers , black pudding, scrambled or fried or poached egg , mushrooms, fried tomatoes, baked beans, hash browns and toast. It is wonderful and nutritious. However, we always eat Chinese cake or bun with soya milk. It is very quick for cooking.







Sometimes I do not like British lunch, because potatos and beef are always provided in every meal. Nevertheless, Chinese lunch always offers many kinds of different vegetables and meat with rice which is really delicious and various.






In Britain, pubs are where many British people meet to talk and have a drink. The most common pub names in Britain are:

(1) The Crown – represents the king or queen. Many pubs are named after individual kings and queens (see examples below).
(2) The Red Lion – the pub name became popular after James the First ordered a red lion to be displayed outside all public places.
(3) Royal Oak – the king Charles the Second escaped the Roundheads (at the time of the English Civil War) by hiding in the branches of an oak tree.
(4) Swan – a heraldic symbol, used in the "coat of arms" of powerful families.
(5) White Hart – the white hart (stag) was the heraldic symbol of the king Richard the Second.