Day: June 4, 2014

Queen’s Speech: ‘UK Government will continue to deliver for people across Scotland’

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This year’s Queen’s Speech contains a range of measures designed to support families, firms and fairness across Scotland, the Scottish Secretary said today. Nine of the eleven new Bills will apply in Scotland, in a speech which reiterated the commitment of the UK Government of making the case for Scotland to stay in the UK.

The UK Government’s legislative programme was announced during the State Opening of Parliament and contains measures to support families with childcare costs, small businesses with access to finance and give pensioners greater freedom to access their savings.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: “We are building on strong foundations for a prosperous and exciting future in Scotland. This legislation will help improve the lives of people across the country and lend a helping hand to working families and the businesses at the heart of our economy.

“At the same time we will further support the North Sea industry and give Scotland’s pensioners security and flexibility over their retirement funds. It is a comprehensive package for Scotland and I welcome the positive changes it will bring.”

Legislation such as the Childcare Payments Bill will see around 160,000 families in Scotland eligible for help with their childcare costs, up to a maximum of £2,000 per year for each child. Some 325,000 small and medium-sized businesses in Scotland will benefit from the Small Businesses Bill, making it easier for firms to access finance.

It also focuses on maximising North Sea resources, powers to tackle serious crime across the UK and support for Armed Forces charities.

This parliamentary Session will also see the Government affirm its commitment to devolution by commencing vital provisions of the Scotland Act 2012.

This is the last legislative programme before both September’s referendum and the General Election in 2015 and the Westminster government says it underlines their commitment to economic growth and deficit reduction.

However both Labour and the SNP say today’s Queen’s Speech was a missed opportunity – although for different reasons. Labour leader Ed Miliband said the speech failed to match the scale of the challenges Britain faces and Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said Scotland was being let down by both the UK and Scottish governments.

Ms Curran added: “We have an SNP Scottish government that is so obsessed with the referendum that they aren’t doing anything else, and a Tory-led UK government that has run out of ideas.”

The SNP’s Shadow Scottish Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The absence of any mention at all of the Westminster parties’ plans for Scotland in the Queen’s speech is extraordinary. Not even Air Passenger Duty was mentioned, even though this could be transferred to the Scottish Parliament now, as the Tories admitted this week.

“In this – the year of the biggest opportunity in Scotland’s history – Scotland hardly even gets a nod at Westminster, and not a single mention of future plans for improving government in Scotland.”

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Call for ‘living wage’ if Scotland says ‘YES’

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An expert group on welfare set up by the Scottish government has recommended a substantial rise in the minimum wage. It said the rate received by the lowest paid should go up by more than £1 per hour if Scotland votes for independence.

The recommendation from the Scottish government’s advisory group was that the minimum wage should match the ‘living wage’ within five years of independence – a rise from £6.31 to £7.65 per hour.

Responding to the latest report, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said support to get people into work, action to make work pay and the provision of a strong and decent safety net for those who are unable to work should be the focus of the welfare system in an independent Scotland.

The independent Expert Working Group on Welfare’s second report outlines a vision for a fairer, simpler and more personal welfare system and provides nearly 40 recommendations for change following independence.

The Deputy First Minister confirmed that in an independent Scotland the current government would take forward recommendations, including those to improve support for carers, restore the link between benefits, tax credits and the cost of living and abolish the current Work Capability Assessment.

She also confirmed that the Scottish Government would carefully consider the Group’s recommendations on the minimum and living wage, introduction of a new Social Security Allowance and replacement of the Work Programme with more targeted support to help people find and sustain employment.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I warmly welcome the independent Expert Working Group’s report and thank the members for their significant contribution. The Group’s report includes a wide ranging package of recommendations which would help us create a welfare system in an independent Scotland that better meets our needs.

“As part of their discussions, the Group have engaged with a wide range of people and organisations. It is clear they have listened closely not only to how people feel about welfare, but also how the current reforms are affecting their lives.

“In particular, I strongly endorse the Group’s view that the welfare system should act as a strong safety net and a springboard to a better life. They are right when they say that work should be the best route out of poverty for most people but that the rise in in-work poverty needs to be addressed if this is to be the reality.

“Following a vote for independence, we would be committed to taking on several recommendations straight away to deal with those aspects of the current system that are pushing so many people into poverty.”

The Government would:

• Increase Carers’ Allowance to £72.40 per week, the same rate as Jobseeker’s Allowance for those aged 25 or over. This would amount to an extra £575 a year for the 102,000 people in Scotland who are eligible to claim the allowance.

• Re-establish the link between benefits and the cost of living, with benefits and tax credits being increased each year by the Consumer Prices Index of inflation.

• Abolish the ‘Bedroom Tax’.

• Replace the current system of sanctions with one that is fairer, more personalised and positive.

• Abolish the current Work Capability Assessment that determines the ability to work of the sick and disabled.

• Establish a National Convention on Social Security at the start of 2015.

The Government will also carefully consider the Group’s other recommendations. These include:

• Increasing the National Minimum Wage to equal the Living Wage and with reductions in Employers’ National Insurance contributions to help businesses make this transition.

• Replacement of the Work Programme with new initiatives developed in partnership with those out of work to help them find, and stay in, employment.

• Introducing a new Social Security Allowance that would bring together existing benefits but which would exclude Housing Benefit.

• Better supporting those with long-term disabilities and illness into work.

The Deputy First Minister added: “We are committed to mitigating the harmful effects of Westminster’s welfare reforms where we can, such as securing the transfer of powers over discretionary housing payments to the Scottish Government, allowing us to help people struggling with the Bedroom Tax.

“The report recognises the increased pressures of in work poverty and some of the difficulties in the current labour market. These are challenges all countries face but we are committed to tackling them head on wherever possible. The growing numbers of people in work but still facing poverty is extremely worrying. They need our support and one way to do this, as the Group suggests, would be through making the Living Wage the National Minimum Wage. We will be looking closely at this proposal.

“We will be considering the Group’s recommendations to replace the Work Programme with more innovative, locally-based schemes, designed to help people find jobs and, importantly, stay in work.

“We will also look at the introduction of a new Social Security Allowance, but would keep Housing Benefit separate from this.

“Our focus will be on prevention rather than dealing with existing symptoms, to develop a society that not only provides fair support and decent opportunities for all but also protects the vulnerable in our society. The only way to guarantee that is to have the powers to deliver progressive reform of the Welfare State – only with independence will we have the opportunity to create a welfare system that is fairer and works for all the people of Scotland.”

However Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said people who expected big changes to welfare after independence would be “disappointed” by the report, while Labour maintains that being part of the bigger UK economy offers greater financial security. Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie said: “Once again we have uncosted promises from the SNP. You can’t have more generous welfare at the same time as you are cutting taxes – it simply doesn’t add up”.

So, where do you call home?

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Do you live in the capital? If so, which area do you call home? This is the question that the City of Edinburgh Council is asking in a bid to help define the city’s natural neighbourhoods:

Residents can identify their local neighbourhood through a quick survey and also sketch their “home patch” online to help the Council make sure that services are being directed across the city in the best way possible.

Anyone taking part will be put forward for the chance to win from a selection of prints of beautiful old maps of Edinburgh from Our Town Stories, and can also try their hand at a fun Auld Reekie heritage quiz.

The replies will also inform consultations such as an ongoing review of Council wards, and the Scottish Government’s consultation on data zones.

They should help services to identify areas that are more meaningful to their clients. For example, if a service involves home visits, in most cases it would make sense to ensure that each neighbourhood is served by a single team – although many service areas reflect current natural neighbourhoods, some service boundaries are based on historical areas and the city has been changing markedly over the last few years.

Cllr Maureen Child, Communities and Neighbourhoods Convener, said: “Whether it’s Broughton or Barnton, Craiglockhart or Comiston, we all have some idea of which area of Edinburgh we belong to. Some of these areas are not so clearly defined though, and having a better idea will help the Council to deliver services more effectively.

“When it comes to gathering the data, there isn’t any right or wrong answer, the project aims to look at how people choose to define where they live, rather than any official definition of a neighbourhood.

“If you live in Pilrig, does that mean you live in part of Leith? Or if you stay near Lothian Road – do you live in the Tollcross area or possibly Fountainbridge? It’s the kind of thing that most people have a view on and we’re seeking to capture these views to map the natural neighbourhoods in the city.”

So when does Muirhouse become Silverknowes or Clermiston become Greater Corstorphine? It’s over to you!

New clubs for young people in Muirhouse

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Muirhouse Community (Millennium) Centre

We are pleased to announce that four new children’s clubs opened in May.

These four clubs are funded for one year by the Social Justice Fund, Total Craigroyston and CLD.Each group will have space for 16 young people and be supported by at least two professional youth workers – they will run in 3 eight week blocks with a different focus for each block i.e. getting physically active, new hobbies, joining in wider community activity and a half day outdoor adventure.

There’s more info on muirhousecommunity centre.co.uk

or call 0131 467 3578.

Peter Airlie.

Sainsburys cheque for Maggies Centre

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As voting for our new charity partner begins (see earlier [post), we now hand over the final cheque for our outgoing local charity partner.

Customers and colleagues at Sainsburys Blackhall have raised a fantastic £9,050 for the Maggie’s Centre at the Western General over the last year!

Thank you to all our customers for their support.

Gail, Sainsburys Blackhall.

Youth Employment blueprint launched at Craigroyston

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Education Working For All report

The final report by the group tasked with helping Scotland develop a world class system of vocational education and training has been welcomed by the Scottish Government and education leaders.

Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women’s Employment Angela Constance joined Sir Ian Wood, fellow members of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce and representatives from COSLA, at Craigroyston Community High School to mark the publication yesterday.

Its recommendations include:

  • Youth unemployment should be reduced by 40 per cent
  • Enhanced careers education in Primary School
  • The opportunity to prepare for a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) in the senior phase of school
  • More support for employers to take on young employees
  • Closer links between employers and schools and colleges
  • Measures to improve gender balance in training
  • Measures to remove barriers for young disabled people, care leavers and black and minority ethnic groups taking up training opportunities.

Sir Ian believes that Scottish businesses have ‘got out of the habit’ of employing young people and said schools must prepare young people better for the workplace and ensure vocational training was offered as well as academic qualifications.

He explained: “It’s all about building a bridge between school and college into business and industry.

“We’re suggesting that we set up 15 to 20 employer-led groups across Scotland. They’ll have a three-year life and will facilitate every secondary school in Scotland having a long-term partnership with local employers, to include work experience.

“We’re suggesting a really worthwhile work experience and also better advice and career information.

“Frankly, business says ‘we would like to employ more young people, but we’re not sure how to, we don’t have the resource’. We’ve tried to do something quite concrete to change that.”

The Scottish Government will respond formally to the report in the coming weeks, with £12 million budget consequentials already set aside for youth employment.

Speaking at Craigroyston, Ms Constance said: “Today’s report sets out recommendations to deliver a 40 per cent reduction in youth unemployment by 2020 and a challenging programme to transform the way we work with young people, employers, schools and colleges to ensure that all our young women and men have the choices and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

“Our young people are an enormous asset in helping us to achieve our aspiration to strengthen Scotland’s economy. Our ambitions to see significant improvements in our youth employment numbers go beyond a return to pre-recession levels when, during a period of growth, youth unemployment stood 7.7 percentage points above that of the general population.

“A substantial amount of activity to help young women and men towards employment is already in place, including our very successful Modern Apprenticeship programme, which has seen over 77,000 new opportunities in the last three years. Opportunities for All also guarantees every 16 to 19 year old the offer of a place in education or training.

“The £12 million we announced earlier this year will help accelerate progress, and we will discuss with our partners in local government how best that is deployed.

“I would like to thank Sir Ian, members of the Commission and all those who have contributed to this landmark report which both matches the scale of our ambition and clearly sets out the challenges we face in delivering it.

“There is now much to consider and we will work closely with the public, private and third sectors on how the recommendations could be taken forward. Our partners in local government have a pivotal role to play in tackling youth unemployment and will be very much part of this work going forward.”

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Minister for Learning Alasdair Allan added: “Curriculum for Excellence has been designed to equip our young people with the skills they need to succeed both in Scotland and in the global workplace, with local authorities having the freedom to shape education to meet the needs of our pupils, whatever their background.

“In order to truly give every young person the best possible chance of finding a sustainable career we need world class vocational education and training, allowing schools and colleges to join up with employers so that learning can be even more aligned to student needs.

“Today’s report builds on the steps we have already taken and I look forward to considering with our key stakeholders how it could make the difference we seek.”

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Mandy Exley, Principal of Edinburgh College, has also warmly welcomed the findings in the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce report. She said:

“The Wood Commission report’s emphasis on ensuring young people at college study courses that will lead to employment in the prevailing labour market echoes our commitment to delivering opportunities that are relevant to the economic needs of Edinburgh and Scotland.

“The report’s objectives of establishing of a world class vocational training system that puts employers at the heart of this process is positive and something we have already embraced at Edinburgh College.

“Greater involvement between employers and colleges fits well with our activity at Edinburgh College. One of our aims is to ensure most full time students have a practical work experience embedded in their course. This is already well established in some areas such as catering and hair and beauty through the college’s restaurants and salons as well as our close links with industry in areas such as creative industries, health and social care, engineering and construction. We are seeking to extend this across all the full time courses we offer, where practical and beneficial to our students.

“The South East Scotland Academies programme that we are involved in is an excellent example of education institutions working closely with schools and employers to equip young people with the skills, experience and attitude to make a difference in industry. We will continue to pursue such initiatives to ensure we provide young people with the experience and opportunities that will help them into employment.”

Cllr Douglas Chapman, COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People added: “This landmark report today by the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce comes at a time of great change for Scotland. Whatever happens in September we have already embarked upon a decade long journey of renewal in education as a result of Curriculum for Excellence. The report today by the Commission in many ways represents the next steps that we need to take if we are to have a first class system of vocational learning in schools alongside the more established route to academic success.

“The report recognises the crucial role that our schools and teachers in local authorities across the length and breadth of the country can play at expanding pupil’s knowledge about the world of work and the job opportunities that are out there.

“The report’s recommendations are ambitious and transformational but in no way unachievable. This is because a key strength is that the recommendations are based, in part, on existing good practice which has been developed by local authorities, colleges and partners”

“We look forward to considering the report in more depth with Government in order to work together to progress the recommendations, as it is essential not only to support but also inspire young people with new opportunities to develop long-term rewarding careers.”