02/04/2014 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Carmichael welcomes income tax changes to help ‘hard working Scots’

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has welcomed changes to income tax that will see thousands of Scots workers taking more of their pay home. Mr Carmichael said Scotland is benefiting from being part of the ‘fastest growing economy on the world’.

From this weekend, 242,000 people in Scotland will be taken out of income tax altogether thanks to UK Government policy which sees the tax free personal allowance increase to £10,000 in 2014-15 – and that means that from overnight on Sunday an extra 19,000 Scots will no longer pay any income tax.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: “I am extremely proud to be part of a Government that has ensured that every hard working Scot will not pay any income tax on everything they earn up to £10,000. This is a key measure in our long term economic plan and one which every single Scot will be able to see and benefit from in their pay packet this month.

“Scotland is doing well because it’s part of the UK. We are benefiting from one of the fastest growing economies in the world which is creating jobs and ensuring certainty and security for families and individuals across the country.”

Over one million women in Scotland will directly benefit from this increase which comes as Scottish female employment levels reach near record highs.

This year’s Budget also confirmed that the personal allowance will increase again to £10,500 from next year helping even more Scottish families.

Across the UK, Government measures are cutting tax for over 26 million people. This includes taking over three million out of paying any income tax at all – 200,000 of these from this week.

The Sunday 6 April changes also mean that:

Someone working full-time on the October 2014 minimum wage (£6.50/h at 35hrs a week) will pay over 50 per cent less income tax in 2014-15 than a than someone on the national minimum wage in 2010.
Someone working for just under 30 hours a week on the October 2014 minimum wage will not pay any income tax at all.

Three sought following Glenogle knifepoint robbery

Police appealing for witnesses after a 15 year old boy was robbed at knifepoint on Glenogle Road on Monday afternoon.

The incident took place around 4.45pm when the victim was walking along Glenogle Road towards Stockbridge. As he walked past Glenogle Swim Centre, he was approached by three men.

The first man presented a knife and demanded he hand over his belongings, the victim complied and handed over a quantity of money. The second suspect then lifted a pair of blue and orange Adidas trainers from the victim’s sports bag and the three men then made off towards Brandon Terrace while the victim continued on to Stockbridge.

The first suspect is white, 5ft 10in 5ft 11in, early 20s, skinny, brown shaved hair, clean shaven, black Reebok jogging bottoms, grey canvas shoes.

The second suspect is white, 5ft 9in, skinny, early 20s, black not quite shoulder length hair, acne, clean shaven, dark blue or navy Kappa tracksuit.

The third suspect is white, male, 6ft 2in, heavy build, early 20s, black neat reasonably short hair, stubble, left ear pierced without an earring, and black hoody and tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Sergeant Lynsey Thomson said: “This was an alarming incident for the victim and we are keen to trace anyone who was in the area at the time or recognises the description of the suspects.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

1 April was ‘devolution landmark’

1 April marked a major milestone in the continuing road of Scottish devolution, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said yesterday. He said that as part of the United Kingdom, Scotland has ‘the best of both worlds’

Major financial changes introduced as part the Scotland Act 2012 will begin to take effect on 1 April next year, increasing the accountability of the Scottish Parliament to the voters who elected it for raising revenue, and making decisions about how it is spent. These changes will mean that the Scottish Parliament will be responsible for funding around a third of devolved spending – roughly double the amount it currently funds.

Mr Carmichael said: “The Scotland Act provides the largest transfer of financial powers to Scotland in over 300 years. The Act received the unanimous support of both the UK and Scottish Parliament building on and strengthening the great success that is devolution.

“The Scotland Act devolves significant tax powers including the ability to set a new Scottish rate of income tax and gives the Scottish Government access to substantial borrowing powers. New powers bring new accountability and new responsibilities. To the people of our country, Holyrood will be more responsible and more accountable than ever before for the money it raises and for the money it spends.

“Today marks a major milestone in the continuing road of devolution. As part of the United Kingdom, Scotland has got the best of both worlds: a strong Scottish Parliament with financial powers that can take decisions on those things that affect our everyday lives, like our schools and hospitals and we can pool our resources ensuring we benefit from a strong UK economy that is growing and creating jobs.”

The powers which come into effect on April 2015 are:

The full devolution of stamp duty land tax and landfil tax from April 2015. The Scottish Government has taken forward legislation to replace these taxes in Scotland with the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Landfill Tax. It is also taking forward legislation to establish Revenue Scotland as the tax administration responsible for the collection of the new taxes.
Extended current borrowing powers of up to £500m and creation of a new Scottish cash reserve to help manage the new tax receipts.
A new £2.2bn capital borrowing power for the Scottish Parliament, with a limited version of the power in place from April 2013 to enable the Scottish Government to fund £100m of pre-payments for the Forth Road Crossing.

The powers which come into effect from April 2016 are:

A new Scottish rate of income tax. The basic, higher and additional rates of UK income tax will be reduced by 10 pence in the pound for Scottish taxpayers. The Scottish Parliament will set a new Scottish rate – with no upper or lower limit – which will apply equally to all of the reduced main UK income tax rates.
For example, a UK basic rate at 20 pence would be reduced down to 10 pence, and a Scottish rate of 9 pence would see Scottish taxpayers instead paying 19 pence per pound at basic rate.
The block grant to Scotland will be reduced by an amount corresponding to the 10 pence in the pound reduction on the UK rate of basic, higher and additional tax. This will mean that a Scottish rate of 9 pence would see a reduction in income for the Scottish Government, while a rate of 11 pence would see an increase as compared with current arrangements.
The Act also introduced a power to create new devolved taxes, by a process of agreement between the two governments. This power has been in force since May 2012. The Scottish Government has not yet made any proposals to create new devolved taxes using this power.

Autism services in Scotland: ‘great strides being made’

Progress is being made in improving Scottish autism services, according to Public Health Minister Michael Mathieson. Today is World Autism Day, and Mr Matheson said said ‘great strides’ had been made in improving access to autism services.

Mr Matheson highlighted in particular the establishment of six new one-stop shops since the Scottish Strategy for Autism’s launch in November 2011, where people with autism and their families can get support and information. These centres, in Dunfermline, Inverness, Motherwell, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Perth, are added to those already in operation in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Services are provided by Scottish Autism, National Autistic Society Scotland and Autism Initiatives.

The new centres are funded as part of the Strategy which sets out 26 recommendations for improving the quality of life for people with autism and their carers.

Mr Matheson said: “The new one-stop shops really demonstrates what we are trying to achieve in our Autism Strategy. They bring local services closer to those who need them most, helping people to get support and build up networks. We are now into year three of a ten year plan. Some great strides have already been made, but we’re under no illusion that there’s more work to be done before we get to where we want to be.”

Many initiatives have been funded under the Strategy since November 2011, and some of the key ones include:

Working with the British Institute for Learning Disability – a Scottish edition of the Institute’s Good Autism Practice Journal has been produced, showcasing examples of innovative autism good practice work in Scotland. This was launched at a successful event in November 2013 and is available for free online
A ‘Menu of interventions’ has also been developed in collaboration with autism professionals , people with autism and their parents and carers. The Menu gives an overview of different interventions and techniques, and sets out the referral and assessment process that can be applied across the country. This will be launched at a special event in May and disseminated via a series of road shows across Scotland throughout the summer
A mapping project has also been carried out to establish what autism services are available in each locality. A Service Map was provided to each local authority to help them plan services and identify priority areas for action. Strategy funding was also given to each local authority to develop a local Autism Action Plan and the Service Maps have been helpful in informing the development of these

Mr Matheson added: “Our vision when setting out our strategy was that people with autism should be respected, accepted and valued in their communities, and that they should have services that enable them to have meaningful lives. There is no room for complacency, but I think we are well on the way to achieving that goal.”

World Autism Awareness Day has been a designated United Nations day since 2007 and is celebrated every year on 2 April.

The Scottish Government has been working with Autism Network Scotland to pull together a schedule of various activities and special events happening locally across Scotland to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. Event information will be posted on the Network’s website and a link to this provided on the Strategy website at

www.autismstrategyscotland.org.uk.

There’s lots going on in Edinburgh to mark World Autism Day – see our 23 March post (City set to mark Autism Awareness Day) for details.