One million Scots are living in poverty

povertyOne million people in Scotland – one in five of our population – are living in poverty, according to latest statistics published today.

The report produced by National Statistics (attached below) covers the period 2012 – 13, and takes into account welfare reforms introduced in April 2012.  The report defines relative poverty as having a household income of less than 60 per cent of the average, and this is calculated both before and after housing costs.

The largest rise in poverty was for families with children, showing:

• 19 per cent of children were living in relative poverty in 2012/13.
• This amounts to 180,000 children in poverty, 220,000 after housing costs are taken into account.
• Both have increased by 30,000 since 2011/12.

The increase in child poverty in the latest year is driven by a fall in incomes for working households with children. The reduced entitlement to tax credits has contributed to a fall in household incomes for those with lower earnings. At April 2013, there was a 26 per cent decrease in the number of households with children in receipt of in-work tax credits, compared with April 2012.

The report also shows that:

• Scotland’s poorest households have seen the largest decrease in income – with a reduction of eight per cent in 2012/13 – the equivalent of £20 a week.
• In-work poverty in Scotland increased in 2012/13. Now six in ten children living in poverty are from households where at least one adult is in employment.
• In total across 2012/13, 820,000 people were living in poverty, 110,000 more than in 2011/12.
• This rises to one million people in poverty in Scotland when housing costs are taken into account.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Scotland is one of the richest counties in the world and there is no reason for children to be living in poverty in our society.

“The fact is that the reduction in poverty seen in recent years is now being reversed. Westminster welfare reforms, such as the reduction in in-work tax credits, are reducing incomes for some of our poorest households.

“The Scottish Government has focused on doing everything we can to mitigate the harmful effects of Westminster welfare cuts – and we will continue to do so – but the impact is still being felt by the most vulnerable in our society. What is even more worrying is that 70 per cent of the welfare cuts are still to come – Scotland will see its welfare budget reduced by over £6 billion by 2015/16.

“And some estimates suggest that up to 100,000 more children could be living in poverty by 2020 if we continue with Westminster policies. In other words, the unacceptable increase in the number of children living in poverty revealed by today’s statistics could be just the tip of the iceberg.

“These figures show incomes are falling for families in Scotland. Our ‘social contract’ policies and our efforts to mitigate the impact of welfare cuts are designed to help, but we need the powers to do more. In an independent Scotland we would have the powers to provide one of the most comprehensive child care packages in Europe which would allow more parents to work.

“We would also be able to set up a commission to consider a new ‘Scottish Minimum Wage’ – which would at least rise in line with inflation – and ensure that benefits, allowances and tax credits keep rise with the cost of living.

“Today’s figures demonstrate just how vital the full powers of independence now are, to enable us to create a different approach – one that supports our most vulnerable, encourages people into the workplace and provides a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.”

NS Poverty and income inequality

Orchid extravaganza at The Botanics

Three in one: orchid extravaganza marks hat-trick at the Botanics

orchidWith a 344 year record of bringing exotic, rare and beautiful plants to Scotland, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has witnessed some stunning sights.

But nothing has ever been quite on the scale of the 2,500 spectacular orchids now gracing the John Hope Gateway visitor centre. Sponsored by the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, Edinburgh Office, this awesome month-long display celebrates three significant anniversaries and highlights the Garden’s strong research and conservation links with Taiwan.

Tropical botanist Dr Mark Hughes, the man responsible for bringing the display to Edinburgh, explained: “This exhibition arrives at a particularly special time. Not only are we celebrating the 50th anniversary of our ‘new’ herbarium building – which holds our precious archive of three million preserved specimens – two other anniversaries collide: the 150th of the first specimen to reach us from Taiwan and the 50th anniversary of Taiwan’s designation of the plum blossom (Prunus mume) as its national flower.

“This orchid fair is not only a celebration of all these events, it is a significant public demonstration of an important partnership researching plant systematics in Southeast Asia”.

Running until 20  July this display of floricultural excellence is free to the public and will include additional family events at weekends throughout the four weeks.

Orchid Events coming up:

Sunday 6 July 1 – 4pm, John Hope Gateway

Chinese Flower Painting and Face Painting

Come along to learn about Chinese flower painting, and get your face painted. Free.

Friday 11 July 2pm, Patrick Geddes Room

Life in The Trees

Everything you wanted to know about orchids but were afraid to ask!  Join Kerry Walter on his fabulous tour of the largest family of plants on earth, the orchids. What do they get up to when nobody’s watching? Come and find out! Free.

Sunday 13 July 1 – 4pm, Patrick Geddes Room

Tea ceremony & tea tasting

If you don’t know your oolong, you don’t know tea!. Come and join Denise Leishman as she explains how the climate and geography of Taiwan produce some of the finest teas in the world, and taste them as prepared by her expert hands. Learn how the tea ceremony still has a place in today’s culture, and discover the stories behind our tea-related gems in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s herbarium and archives. Free.

orchidsWith Taiwan Floriculture Exports Association and the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, Edinburgh Office.

Fracking hell: new report ignites energy debate

 ‘No place for fracking in Scotland’s energy future’ – Patrick Harvie

frackScotland is sitting on enough shale oil and gas to meet our energy needs for the next half-century, according to a new report by the British Geological Survey – but environmentalists are warning that ‘fracking’ to get at shale gas deposits would have serious consequences for local communities.

The British Geological Survey’s report of the resources in the Midland Valley, Scotland, suggests a ‘modest’ amount of gas and oil in place. The central estimate of shale gas in place is 80 trillion cubic feet, the central estimate for shale oil in place is 6 billion barrels of oil.

However ‘modest’, the Department of Energy and Climate Change believes ‘ the complex geology of the area and historic mine workings means that exploratory drilling and testing is even more important to determine how much can be recovered.’

Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon said: “Making the most of Britain’s home grown energy is crucial to keep job and business opportunities, widen tax revenues and reduce our reliance on foreign imports.

“We know that shale gas alone won’t be able to supply all of our energy needs, but the environmentally responsible exploration of shale gas could contribute to our energy mix.

“Only the broad shoulders of the United Kingdom can attract investment in new energy sources and maintain the UK’s position as one of the world’s great energy hubs – generating energy and generating jobs.

“The UK’s energy security is among the best in the world, backed by a large consumer and tax base that can afford to support our world-leading energy industries and make us such an attractive place to invest.”

Professor Mike Stephenson, Director of Science and Technology at the British Geological Survey said: “The central estimate of shale gas in place is 80 trillion cubic feet and the central estimate for shale oil in place is 6 billion barrels of oil but reserves cannot be calculated at this stage before drilling and testing take place. The Midland Valley of Scotland has complex geology and a relative lack of data compared to the previous DECC-BGS Bowland-Hodder and Weald Basin studies”

However Green MSP Patrick Harvie says the study by the British Geological Survey shows that ‘potentially modest’ reserves of shale oil and gas prove that  fracking shouldn’t figure in Scotland’s energy future.

He pointed out that the estimated 80 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in central Scotland is just six per cent of the reserves thought to be present in northern England and said a huge swathe of Scotland – from Argyll to Aberdeenshire and from Ayrshire to East Lothian – has been earmarked as ‘ripe for fracking’ by the UK Government.

Mr Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow and Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said: “This study puts paid to all the hype we’ve been fed about a shale bonanza. Not only would fracking divert attention from our undoubted renewables potential but any economically viable extraction would be modest and short-term. Greens want a long-term energy plan for Scotland, and we have abundant clean sources to do this.

“As communities across Scotland realise the risk to their local environments from the prospect of fracking, and as climate science tells us we must start to leave unburnt fossil fuels in the ground, it’s clear that any such developments will face strong opposition.

“It all serves as a reminder that Westminster controls energy policy in Scotland. The chance to pursue clean, long-lasting power rather than polluting, finite fuels is a compelling reason to vote Yes in September.”

Have you seen Kirsty?

missing-person-kirstie-heggiePolice officers in Edinburgh are appealing for information to help trace a woman reported missing from the Leith area. Kirsty Heggie, who is 23, was last seen near to Holyrood Palace at around 9.35am on Sunday (29 June).

She was wearing a brown/black blazer jacket, a black vest top, black trousers and black trainers. She was carrying a black bag that had pink/orange flowers on it and may have in her possession a purple blanket with flower stitching on it.

Described as white, 5ft 6in, of slim build and with short curly blonde hair, Kirsty resides in the west of Edinburgh and often busks in the city centre.

Inspector Murray Tait said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned about Kirsty as she has not made contact with friends or family since 29th June. If anyone has any information that can assist with our enquiries, they are urged to contact Police Scotland immediately on 101.”

Anyone for tennis? Murray mania to hit Muirhouse!

Tennis is popping up in Muirhouse!

tennis racquetMuirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG) has been selected as part of a nationwide programme to bring Pop Up Tennis to disadvantaged young people.

The programme was established by national sports charity, StreetGames with one hundred Pop Up Tennis Clubs across the UK being funded by Lawn Tennis Association. This activity will enable the young people of Muirhouse to emulate the excitement of Wimbledon and get involved by playing tennis this summer.

Last summer, Andy Murray became Britain’s first men’s winner in 77 years and the country exploded with Murray-mania. This partnership aims to harness that excitement and help disadvantaged young
people get involved by creating clubs that are fun and vibrant. By holding the sessions on their doorsteps, the programme aims to help encourage a sporting a habit for life.

The programme follows on from the success of the 2013 partnership between StreetGames and the Lawn Tennis Association where 25 Pop-Up Tennis Clubs were created, engaging 720 young people from around the country. This year, the LTA has backed StreetGames to extend the programme so that thousands more will get the chance to play the sport with the Lawn Tennis Association funding the activity taking place in the UK, including young people from MYDG.

This partnership is a continuation of StreetGames’ work to make sport more accessible to young people living in disadvantaged communities. Currently there are 1.6 million young people who live in disadvantaged areas of the UK; recent research shows lowest-income households are most likely to have least active children, with the poorest households spending less than £2 a week on sport. StreetGames hope to combat this by getting young people engaged with Wimbledon and developing a sporting habit.

Ali Grant of MYDG said, “We’re really excited to be given a StreetGames Pop-Up Tennis Club. We now have a ‘sport-in- a- bag’ that we can take out onto the streets and green spaces of Muirhouse. Our Pop-Up Tennis Club has all the kit we need to get young people started playing tennis. So, look out for us over the summer holidays. Who knows, we might find the next Andy Murray right here in Muirhouse!”

Jane Ashworth OBE, CEO of StreetGames said, “Andy Murray’s triumph showed how sport can bring the nation together, we aim to take that inspiration and ensure disadvantaged young people can experience it on their own doorsteps. We know that the Pop-Up Tennis Clubs makes tennis fun for all and bring the excitement of Wimbledon to Muirhouse, Edinburgh.”

Michael Downey, Chief Executive of the LTA said: “Last year the StreetGames Pop-Up Tennis programme was a resounding success, bringing tennis to the doorstep to hundreds of young people across the country. We want to see more people playing more often which is why we’re very excited to extend the programme further, so even more young people can enjoy tennis this summer.”

Babolat, a leading global manufacturer of premium tennis equipment is also helping bring the Nadal touch to the young people’s lives by supplying rackets, balls and mini tennis nets for this year’s Pop Up Tennis programme.

Come on, Andy …!

tennis

MP acts to resolve parking deadlock

cars

Edinburgh North and Leith Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz is launching a new Private Members’ Bill this week to resolve the deadlock which has delayed new legislation in the Scottish Parliament to ban irresponsible parking.

Inconsiderate parking can be a major headache for people like wheelchair users, the visually impaired and parents with children in pushchairs, and the Bill would end uncertainty as to whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate on this issue after a Bill to introduce a Scotland-wide ban was delayed due to conflicting legal advice.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “This Bill would ensure that the Scottish Government has the power to make a real difference to our streets by tackling irresponsible parking that can block pavements, kerbs and crossings and choke the flow of traffic.

“It can be dangerous where for instance it pushes people into the road to get past or impedes a wheelchair user from crossing a street because someone had thoughtlessly blocked a dropped kerb.

“A Bill in the Scottish Parliament has had its progress delayed because of conflicting legal advice as to whether the power to legislate to tackle irresponsible parking is still reserved or not.”

“I want to cut through that with this Bill which would specifically devolve this power once and for all to make a practical difference to the streets in our towns and cities in Scotland.”

Sandra White MSP has proposed a Bill to introduce a Scotland-wide ban on irresponsible parking. The Bill has support from a wide range of organisations such as Guide Dogs Scotland and Capability Scotland and has cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament.

Mark was one of 20 MPs who won the right to introduce a Private Members’ Bill in the draw for Bills which recently took place. He will introduce the Responsible Parking (Scotland) Bill tomorrow ( Wednesday).

The Bill has already won the support of MPs from other parties and Mark’s move has also been welcomed by Sandra White MSP.

The North and Leith MP must now wait to see if his Bill will go through. He said: “Although the fact that there are controversial Private Members’ Bills ahead of mine in the queue this year will make it a challenge to get mine through, my Bill has all party support which I believe gives it a reasonable chance of making progress.”