Westminster moves to ban more ‘legal highs’

Two groups of dangerous ‘legal highs’ were banned by the Coalition Government yesterday.

The stimulant compound drug 4,4’-DMAR, which is linked to the deaths of more than 20 people in the UK, mainly Northern Ireland, and the synthetic opioid MT-45, have both been outlawed as Class A substances.

It is part of a concerted range of action taken by the government to respond to the challenges caused by new psychoactive substances (NPS) – known as ‘legal highs’.

General ban

This action includes developing proposals for a general ban on NPS following a recommendation by an expert panel commissioned by the Home Office.

The bans come into force on the same day as a letter was sent by the Crime Prevention Minister to summer festival organisers warning them of the risks posed by so-called ‘legal highs’ and new guidance was published for local authorities and the police on tackling NPS.

Crime Prevention Minister Lynne Featherstone said:

“The Coalition Government has taken the lead in tackling new psychoactive substances, or so-called ‘legal highs’, both in this country and internationally.

“We created the Forensic Early Warning System to identify substances previously unseen in the UK and we have banned more than 500 new drugs, including those controlled today.

“We are also developing proposals for a general ban on the supply of ‘legal highs’ across the UK. This would give law enforcement greater powers to tackle the NPS trade as a whole, instead of a substance-by-substance approach.

“I will be working right up until the dissolution of Parliament to ensure we have done as much as we possibly can to pave the way for a general ban. This will mean the next government can act quickly to clamp down on this reckless trade.

The Coalition Government has also been taking international action to respond to the threat of ‘legal highs’.

International action

On Friday (13 March), a UK-led proposal to internationally control the drug mephedrone is expected to be passed by the United Nations’ (UN) Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. Mephedrone is already controlled as a Class B substance in the UK.

If it goes ahead, this would be the first time a NPS is controlled by all UN members.

This is in addition to the UK’s continuing work with other countries and overseas agencies to share best practice on tackling NPS and to build closer law enforcement cooperation.

Commander Simon Bray, National Policing Lead for New Psychoactive Substances, said:

“The government’s decision to develop proposals for a blanket ban on new psychoactive substances (NPS) is a very positive step forward.

It highlights the government’s commitment to supporting law enforcement, including the police, in their efforts to combat dangerous drugs.

A blanket ban would make it simpler to deal with those drugs, which are unsafe but which may not yet be controlled. It will also make it easier to tackle so-called ‘legal highs’ which may contain mixtures including already illegal drugs.

We are also encouraged by further prevention and education measures which have been proposed, as NPS cannot be addressed by law enforcement alone.”

One of the drugs being banned yesterday – 4,4’-DMAR – which is known by the street name Serotoni, is usually bought in tablet or powder form, and samples have shown it being mixed with other drugs such as mephedrone and synthetic cannabinoids.

MT-45, a morphine-like drug, is not currently available in the UK, but has been linked to deaths elsewhere in Europe and the United States.

Separately, the Home Office has accepted advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to ban new types of manmade cannabis as Class B drugs.

Draft legislation is being prepared to take action against the latest generation of synthetic cannabinoids in the next Parliament.

The Home Office is also taking forward a comprehensive action plan to further enhance our response to prevention, treatment and information sharing. For example, Public Health England has published a new toolkit to help local areas to prevent and respond to the use of NPS.

The toolkit gives a broad overview of the challenges and provides commissioners with resources and advice to inform a suitable local response.

A NPS clinical network is also being established to share intelligence on NPS and drug-related adverse reactions and harms, and develop a more systematic way of sharing information.

Smith Agreement: call for halt to Work Programme extension

Holyrood Ministers have called on the UK Government to keep its promises on devolving further welfare powers and reverse the extension of new Work Programme contracts.

The move came at yesterday’s Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare, where Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil and Fair Work Secretary Roseanna Cunningham met Scotland Office Undersecretary of State David Mundell and Department for Work and Pensions Minister of State Mark Harper to discuss progress on implementing the welfare elements of the Smith Agreement.

The UK Government agreed to consider revised wording from Scottish Ministers on its planned Scotland Bill in three areas – the power to create new benefits in devolved areas, the ability to make discretionary payments on reserved areas and clauses on support programmes for unemployed people.

Ms Cunningham said: “UK Ministers took a conscious decision to extend the Work Programme in Scotland until 2017, despite Smith recommending its devolution on expiry of the current contract. Despite successive requests, vital information on the cost and impact of existing services that would enable us to move forward quickly in re-designing support, has not been provided.

“So in order to build more effective, targeted and fairer employment support services in Scotland, I have asked the UK Government to cancel the Work Programme contract extension and for the transfer of the necessary resources and legal powers to deliver an alternative service to meet the needs of unemployed Scots from April next year.”

Mr Neil said: “We are committed to supporting a Bill that implements the Smith Agreement and commands broad support, but UK Ministers have watered down the proposals, given us mixed messages and stalled on progress.

“So I welcome today’s new offer to consider our proposed changes to the wording of the Bill, which we will supply as quickly as possible. I do however want to see decisions taken by UK Ministers before the election, to enable the Bill to be introduced as early in May as possible. As ever, the UK Government will be judged by its actions and how seriously they’re taking the Smith Agreement process.”

Lazarowicz backs living wage

‘Low pay is a moral scandal in our country’ – Mark Lazarowicz MP

Mark Lazarowicz MP is supporting Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy’s plan to address the problem of low pay by offering employers tax rebates when they increase their staff’s pay to the living wage of £7.85 per hour.

39,000 workers in Edinburgh who are currently paid less than the living wage would benefit and £17 million in funding would go in tax rebates to businesses that support the living wage for their staff.

Under the plans, employers would receive a tax rebate of up to £1000 for every low paid worker who gets a pay rise.

The average rebate would be £445, meaning that if every low paid worker across Scotland was given the living wage, business would get a windfall of over £180 million.

Mr Lazarowicz said that research that shows a living wage leads to:

•a 25% fall in absenteeism

•80% of employers believing the living wage has enhanced the quality of the work of their staff

•66% of employers reporting a significant impact on recruitment and retention within their organisation

Over 400,000 Scots are currently paid less than the living wage – with an estimated 39,000 in Edinburgh alone – and Scottish Labour argues the living wage is best for business and best for fairness.

The North & Leith MP said: “Low pay is a moral scandal in our country and it is also holding our economy back. This plan to extend the living wage could lift thousands of Scots out of low pay. We could give a pay rise to as many as 39,000 workers in Edinburgh alone.

“Edinburgh City Council has already led the way by becoming a living wage employer so it is committed to paying all of its staff at least the living wage. Local businesses will see a bonus too, with £17 million available for businesses in Edinburgh.

“The research shows that absenteeism and staff turnover go down whilst performance and morale go up. It means a happier, more efficient workplace.

“A lot of businesses in Scotland aren’t turning over millions. They are on the sharp end budgeting month to month, they might want to give a pay rise to their staff but the conditions aren’t right.

“That is why Scottish Labour has a plan to convince these businesses to pay the living wage. We will use make work pay contracts to incentivise better pay for staff – and better performance for business.”

Help Granton leavers have their ‘quali’

I am a parent at Granton Primary School and unfortunately the school has cancelled the traditional ‘qually’ leavers dance: we parents are now having to put this on all at at our own cost as the school is not willing to help.

We are looking for:

Businesses to sponsor us for the food in return for advertising
A piper
Any decor that fits in with Hollywood glamour theme
And any other help would be appreciated

Annie Lamb

Growing room: community plots at the Botanics

Are you a community group? Would you like to learn how to grow your own food?

Where?

The Edible Gardening Project at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

When?

We have spaces for two groups (of about 8 people each), one a Saturday from 10.30 – 12 and one on a Monday from 3 – 4.30 every week from April – October.

What?

This would involve coming to the garden accompanied by one (or more) leaders from your group. You will work alongside Andy, one of our community gardeners, on a vegetable plot and learn the basics of growing vegetables including planning, planting, tending and harvesting.

The programme is free and we can supply tools and seeds, all you’ll need to do is come along with your group and group leader each week.

If you don’t want to commit to a whole season of growing but are interested in learning new skills then please do get in touch to arrange a single visit instead.

For more details please get in touch with Jenny Foulkes at jfoulkes@rbge.org.uk or telephone 0131 248 2983

Trade waste bins to be cleared from city streets

Trade waste bins will be removed from Edinburgh’s streets as part of a citywide scheme which will begin rolling out in April. Businesses will no longer be permitted to permanently store their waste containers in public and will be required to present rubbish and recycling during timed collection windows.

The initiative, which aims to improve the appearance of the capital’s streets, has been trialled in a number of city centre locations over the last year. Participating streets Rose Street (and its lanes), Leith Walk and High Street experienced, on average, an 81% drop in the number of bins permanently outside business properties.

Now the policy will be introduced to traders across the city on a phased basis, beginning in April with around 5000 businesses in the city centre. This will be followed by areas like Leith, Southside, Fountainbridge and Portobello.

Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Keeping the city clean and attractive will benefit residents, visitors and businesses alike, and removing unsightly trade waste bins from the streets is one big step towards achieving this.

“It is extremely encouraging to see such positive results from the pilot areas, and there is no doubt the scheme will continue having an impact on our environment as it rolls out across the city.”

After being approved by councillors in October 2013, the Trade Waste pilot was introduced to trial areas between January and March 2014, and has since seen bin numbers reduced from 390 to 103 on Rose Street, 116 to 12 on Leith Walk and 37 to eight on High Street.

Throughout the process, officers have worked with businesses to ensure compliance with collection windows, which were agreed after consultation on suitability, and to address difficulties over storage space, timing and cooperation from trade waste companies.

Gordon Minnis, owner of Rose Street North Lane restaurant Calistoga, is delighted with the impact of the Rose Street trial (before and after, above). He said: “The lane looks a lot smarter with only a dozen or so small bins whereas before there were over 40 large containers. It’s also led to a reduction in litter and fly-tipping.

“Our customers are delighted as they have a much better view when dining and don’t need to navigate their way round large waste containers to get to our restaurant.”

Andrew Watson, owner of the Princes Street franchise of McDonald’s, was also part of the Rose Street lanes trial. He said: “The overall cost of the process is more or less the same as it was before, only now it’s much easier to manage and looks a lot better on the street. My city centre store is in such an iconic location, sitting in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, that keeping the streets around the stores clean and tidy is hugely important to the business.”

As the scheme is rolled out, Environmental Wardens will continue to support behaviour change, helping businesses to adapt and ensuring enforcement, in order to gain the maximum benefit.

Businesses will receive letters to inform them when the changes are being introduced to their area.

Find out more about the Trade Waste pilot on the Council website, including guidance, a map of phase one and more case studies.

Getting funny for money at Sainsburys!

This Friday (13 March) is Comic Relief Day. Colleagues at Blackhall will be painting their faces funny for money and at 2pm will be taking part in a 15min Zumba experience. Why not come along to Sainsburys Blackhall and support our event?

Gail, Sainsburys Blackhall

Johnstone: Government must get tough on TTIP

TTIP: ‘an assault on public protections’ – Alison Johnstone MSP

Questioning the Minister for Europe at Holyrood today, Green MSP Alison Johnstone called on the Scottish Government to broaden their stance on TTIP, the free trade treaty currently being negotiated between the US and the EU.

She highlighted figures contained in a new report from Westminster’s Environmental Audit Committee (1) on the difference between chemicals regulation in the US and EU. 1300 chemicals are restricted for use in cosmetics in EU countries, whereas only 11 are in the US.

The Minister, Humza Yousaf, replied that while the Scottish Government has raised a number of concerns with the UK Government, TTIP as a whole is “difficult to oppose without seeing the final agreement”.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP said: “This deal risks much more than our precious public services. There is a real risk that important environmental and public health protections will be weakened by this treaty, which would undermine decades of political progress towards a more sustainable world.

“Overall the components of TTIP add up to an assault on public protections with little evidence of any reward, and it should not be so difficult for the Scottish Government to oppose this.”

What’s all that noise, then?

If you live in North Edinburgh you couldn’t have helped hearing the helicopter circling over the area last night. What was it all about? Police Scotland explain all:

HELICOPTER ACTION

Last night the Police Helicopter was out conducting planned police activity in the Pennywell Road area.

This activity was part of Operation Quarterlight our initiative aimed at tackling motor vehicle crime. Officers from across Edinburgh were deployed, including dog units and of course the chopper.

A 22-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman were arrested and charged with a number of offences. They will both appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

So there you have it – no hiding place for criminals …

Chess: The Musical takes to the Church Hill Stage

Edinburgh Music Theatre took to the stage last night (10 March) to present the first performance of a week’s run of Chess: The Musical.

EMT will be performing the musical theatre classic, best known for the popular duet “I Know Him So Well”, at the Church Hill Theatre in Morningside until Saturday 14 March.

The musical follows the story of two of the world’s greatest chess masters as they battle it out at the world chess championships, but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman. Amidst political intrigue and international conspiracies, the American and the Russian fight to win her heart in a romantic triangle that mirrors the heightened passions of the Cold War.

Performances of Chess will take place in the Church Hill Theatre from 10-14 March at 7:30pm, with a matinee performance on Saturday 14 March at 2:30pm. Tickets are available through the Usher Hall website and booking line 0131 228 1155.

Listing Details:

Edinburgh Music Theatre presents Chess: the Musical.
The Church Hill Theatre, Morningside Road, Edinburgh.
7:30pm (Saturday Matinee 2:30pm)
Tickets: Wed – Sat £14 (£12 conc.). Sat Matinee – all tickets £12.