[pjc50]

I suppose that's how you keep the chain of economic coercion through threat of starvation going.

"We are giving you this free lunch, because we're uncomfortable with people starving to death in a first world country, but in order to maintain the strict ranking that citizens are only allowed happiness in proportion to their income, we're going to inflict useless activity on you. Don't have a nice day or it'll come out of your benefits."

(Current debt is being issued at 0.5% interest rates, a historic low)

[areyousure]

Though you are correct that interest rates are very low, I believe it is disingenuous to quote the rate of a gilt with a maturity under 10 years. (You have mentioned the 2-year gilt.)