Day: December 30, 2020

UK releases new emergency aid to help over 1.3 m vulnerable people

  • New UN data reveals humanitarian crises are worsening around the world, with 235 million people expected to be in need of urgent assistance compared to 175 million people at the start of 2020.
  • The UK is releasing an extra £47 million of aid to immediately provide food, nutrition, water and shelter for vulnerable families in nine countries and regions.
  • The UK is also lobbying international donors to provide more funding and working to ensure conflict parties allow humanitarian access for aid workers and ensure the protection of civilians.

The UK is releasing new emergency aid to help over 1.3 million vulnerable people in some of the world’s most dangerous places, who face daily threats of starvation, conflict and coronavirus.

Life-saving food, nutrition, water, childhood vaccinations and shelter will urgently help families caught in some of the largest humanitarian crises, including across the Sahel, Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Venezuela and Mozambique.

Humanitarian crises are getting worse according to UN data published earlier this month, compounded by the pandemic, with 235 million people expected to be in need of urgent assistance next year compared to 175 million people at the start of 2020.

The UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)’s survey also shows that there are people in South Sudan and Yemen living in famine-like conditions today.

In September the Foreign Secretary announced a Call to Action to prevent famine, and appointed Nick Dyer as the UK Special Envoy on Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs to drive this effort. Today’s extra aid announcement forms part of the UK’s continued leadership on addressing this global crisis.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Hundreds of millions of people living in the world’s largest humanitarian crises are struggling to survive, threatened by conflict, starvation and coronavirus.

“This extra emergency UK aid will mean people can feed their families and prevent these crises from escalating into widespread famine. We hope to see other donors step up to the plate with some extra funding to prevent these global crises getting worse.”

The extra UK aid announced today will help continue momentum and pressure other donors to step up with additional financing.

The UK has been sounding the alarm on this growing threat to millions of lives – with the dire situation in conflict and fragile states being exacerbated by economic recession, coronavirus and climate change. This is rapidly increasing the number of people in desperate need and more people than ever are going hungry.

The UK is combining its humanitarian expertise with its diplomatic power to build back stronger from coronavirus. We are using our seat on the UN Security Council to call for life-saving humanitarian access for everyone who needs it and hold countries to account on their international legal obligations to allow aid workers to operate impartially in conflict zones and support the protection of civilians.

Which? reveals the nation’s most disappointing Christmas presents

Out of date Baileys liqueur, potato peelers and a mop and bucket are among the worst Christmas gifts consumers have received, as new Which? research reveals Londoners and younger generations were the most likely to give away Christmas gifts last year.

The consumer champion surveyed more than 2,000 members of the public in February 2020 on what they did with unwanted Christmas presents they received last year.

Around one in five (19%) admitted they had given away or sold one or more gifts they had received last Christmas.

Those from younger generations were most likely to give away presents. Which? found three in ten (28%) of those aged between 18 and 34 years old gave away or sold at least one present they received last year, compared to nearly one in five (17%) aged between 45 and 54 years, and one in 10 (12%) aged 55 years and over.

Londoners were also more likely to find a new home for their presents compared to the rest of the UK – a third (32%) of those from the capital said they gave away or sold disappointing gifts compared to the UK average of one in five (19%).

Which? found women were more likely than their male counterparts to give away or sell their presents – a quarter (24%) of women decided to find a new home for their disappointing presents last year compared to one in seven (15%) men.

The consumer champion also asked people about the worst Christmas gifts they have ever received. Among them was a carpet cleaner, a sleeve ironing board, used potato peelers and out of date Baileys Irish Cream liqueur – which was thankfully poured down the sink.

One former school cleaner told Which? she felt “very insulted” when she received a plastic bucket, mop and pink rubber gloves one Christmas. Another person was less than impressed when they received “Mr & Mrs” cushion covers from an ex-boyfriend.

Most retailers extend their return policy during the festive period, so if you’ve received a disappointing gift you may be able to exchange it for another item or a voucher if you have a gift receipt. However, customers should carefully consider whether to accept vouchers, as they could become worthless if the retailer goes under.

The buyer is often the only one who can request a refund or exchange, however, retailers may allow gift recipients to return gifts in exchange for a gift card, voucher or credit note so long as the item was marked as a gift at the time of purchase.

If you don’t have a gift receipt, you could consider donating your gift to charity or selling it on a secondhand marketplace such as eBay or musicMagpie.

Adam French, Which? Consumer Rights Expert, said: “Whether it is out of date booze or kitchen utensils, many of us have been left wondering how to get rid of an unwanted Christmas gift – and our research shows a fifth of people choose to give their presents away.

“We’d always advise requesting a gift receipt so the recipient has the option to exchange the present if they are disappointed.

“Often only the buyer can request a refund or exchange. But if the item was marked as a gift when ordered, the retailer’s returns policy may enable a recipient to return or exchange it.”

Which? advice on what to do with unwanted gifts is available here: 

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/i-want-to-return-my-goods-what-are-my-rights

10 of the worst Christmas gifts reported in Which?’s most recent survey:

  • Carpet cleaner
  • Ironing board sleeve
  • Used potato peelers
  • Out of date Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur
  • Plastic bucket, mop & pink rubber gloves
  • Mr & Mrs cushion covers from an ex-boyfriend
  • Bejewelled bath cap
  • A second-hand bra
  • A pencil stand
  • Emoji poo bath plug

Brexit deal ‘disastrous for Scotland’

The Scottish Government cannot recommend that consent is given to the UK Government’s “inadequate and damaging” Brexit deal with the EU, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

A Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) lodged with the Scottish Parliament recognises that the people of Scotland have never given their backing to Brexit, and says that the Future Relationship Bill fails to protect Scottish and UK interests.

It recommends that consent should not be given not only because of the contents of the Brexit deal – but also because there has not been sufficient time to scrutinise the proposed agreement.

The LCM notes that the deal does not protect benefits of EU membership, some of which could have been retained through continued membership of the single market and customs union, a position supported by the Scottish Parliament.

Also lodged with the Scottish Parliament is initial Scottish Government analysis of the Future Relationship deal, which details its damaging impact on business, trade, society and security.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Parliament, like the people of Scotland, has consistently voiced support for Scotland’s membership of the EU and – since the 2016 referendum – for single market and customs union membership.

“The question before the Scottish Parliament is not about this deal or no deal, but whether this deal is good or bad for Scotland.

“The Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament consistently suggested alternatives. While recognising the UK would leave the EU, we proposed staying in the single market and customs union.

“The UK Government dismissed these ideas. It disregarded Scotland’s views, values and interests. It has agreed a deal which is disastrous for Scotland.

“The UK Government’s deal will impose costs on businesses, reduce the opportunities of its citizens, and sacrifice its own international influence  – in order to gain powers it will struggle to use.

“Even for the fishing industry – perhaps the only sector that genuinely believed that Brexit would deliver benefits – this deal represents a massive sell out and broken promise. 

“The result is a deal which is harmful for the UK as a whole – but perhaps especially harmful for Scotland. It should not receive the Scottish Parliament’s consent.”

Don’t Stop the Music!

Music provision in schools faces ‘stark challenges’

The EIS has published a new briefing highlighting the stark challenges facing instrumental music provision in Scotland’s schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EIS recently surveyed its Instrumental Music Teachers (IMTs) across Scotland, and their responses have been incorporated into the new briefing paper (copy attached).

The key issues identified include:

  • Inconsistent approaches in the delivery of Instrumental Music Tuition across Scotland, with IMTs in some areas unable to return safely to school and having to adapt and develop new approaches for practical online teaching – often with insufficient resources and support.
  • The damaging impact of the pandemic on young people’s access to music tuition, particularly those currently studying for SQA qualifications and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • Legitimate fears that any reduction in provision could lead to fewer students learning music, with serious implications for the future of instrumental music service and for IMT jobs.

There are also serious concerns that the growing practice of charging for Instrumental Music Tuition is having a direct impact on pupil participation and on equity of provision.

27 local authorities have now introduced some form of charging regime, through the introduction of tuition fees, instrument hire charges or a combination of both, leaving only 5 Councils across Scotland, where there are no costs associated with access to Instrumental Music Tuition.

Even more worrying is the dramatic increase in the level of charging which we have seen in recent years. In some areas of Scotland, annual charges are now in excess of £300 per pupil, with charges reaching £524 per annum in one authority.

The result is that while non-charging local authorities have seen an increase in pupil numbers of 31.4% since 2012/13, charging authorities have had an overall decline of 12.7% in pupil numbers over the same period.

Commenting, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “Scotland is rapidly moving towards a scenario where only children from well-off families can learn to play an instrument.

“This is unjust and unacceptable. We must reverse the trend of charging to allow free access to music education for all, particularly those for whom the poverty-related attainment gap has widened as a result of COVID-19.”

The briefing can be read in full here.

click here to download an audio clip.

Nine charged over Edinburgh cannabis farms

Nine people have been charged following a police operation in Edinburgh and Falkirk which has resulted in plants with a potential value of at least £1 million being seized from private rented properties.

The eight men, aged from 17 to 35, and a woman aged 39, appeared at Edinburgh and Falkirk Sheriff Courts between 17th November and 16th December 2020.

Detective Inspector Paul Greig said: “This operation to investigate the cultivation of drugs in properties highlights our determination to tackle drug activity at all levels. It sends a clear message that drugs have no place in our communities.

“We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our enquiries which are ongoing. Officers will continue to speak with members of the public and work in the community and alongside specialist teams to detect and deter this type of criminality.

“I would also urge landlords in the private rented sector to make sure they carry out thorough checks on prospective tenants. In particular be aware of tenants who are willing to pay in cash, and make regular checks on your property.

“Anyone with information about drugs, including cultivation and supply, is asked to speak to officers if they see them out and about, to call Police Scotland on 101, or make a report anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”


Further information and advice for private sector landlords is available via the Police Scotland website:

https://www.scotland.police.uk/spa-media/lv3azrpb/cannabis-cultivation-what-i-should-know-as-a-landlord.pdf

Covid: Second vaccine approved

Oxford/AstaZeneca vaccine gets the green light

The UK Government has this morning accepted the recommendation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to authorise Oxford University/AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine for use.

This follows rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of the data by experts at the MHRA, which has concluded that the vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) will also publish its latest advice for the priority groups to receive this vaccine.

The NHS has a clear vaccine delivery plan and decades of experience in delivering large scale vaccination programmes. It has already vaccinated hundreds of thousands of patients with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and its roll out will continue. Now the NHS will begin putting their extensive preparations into action to roll out the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Health Minister Matt Hancock hailed the news as ‘a real British succes story’.

Throughout this global pandemic the UK Government says they have always been guided by the latest scientific advice.

Having studied evidence on both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccines, the JCVI has advised the priority should be to give as many people in at-risk groups their first dose, rather than providing the required two doses in as short a time as possible.

Everyone will still receive their second dose and this will be within 12 weeks of their first. The second dose completes the course and is important for longer term protection.

From today the NHS across the UK will prioritise giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk groups. With two vaccines now approved, we will be able to vaccinate a greater number of people who are at highest risk, protecting them from the disease and reducing mortality and hospitalisation.

The JCVI’s independent advice is that this approach will maximise the benefits of both vaccines. It will ensure that more at-risk people are able to get meaningful protection from a vaccine in the coming weeks and months, reducing deaths and starting to ease pressure on our NHS.

To aid the success of the vaccination programme, it is vital everyone continues to play their part, abides by the restrictions in their area and remembers hands, face, space so we can suppress this virus and allow the NHS to do its work without being overwhelmed.

News of the second vaccine is timely – yesterday’s coronavirus figures were particularly grim. 53,135 new cases were reported across the UK on Tuesday. 1895 of these were in Scotland – our worst daily figure since the country was first hit by the virus back in February.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will make a statement later today. She is expected to welcome the Oxford/AstraZeneca announcement but will appeal to Scots to strictly adhere to current coronavirus guidelines over the New Year period.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has welcomed news that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the UK.

This means we can now proceed with arrangements for doses of the vaccine, which is the second coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to be approved for use after the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, to be made available to our distribution centres throughout Scotland.

The vaccine has been procured on behalf of the four nations by the UK Government, who have ordered 100 million doses, of which Scotland will get 8.2% based on its population. We will begin to roll the vaccine out from 4th January, in the settings we have already been delivering in, moving out into more community settings from the 11th January.  

For this vaccine as for Pfizer, the intention is to provide an important layer of protection to all adults but particularly those most at risk from serious illness and death from COVID-19.  With age as the greatest risk factor, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have retained the same phase 1 priority list. 

The priority now is to vaccinate as many people with their first dose as quickly as possible, working through that priority list and the advice that the second dose for both vaccines can be given up to 12 weeks after the first means we can maximise this protection quicker than planned.  The second dose remains critical for longer term protection and to complete the course.

Ms Freeman said: “At the end of a very difficult year this is a truly excellent piece of news. Oxford AstraZeneca has the major advantage of being much easier to store and transport, which means it is easier to administer in local settings. We are also expecting to receive it in significantly larger quantities than the Pfizer vaccine.

“With the four Chief Medical officers agreeing with the advice that we should prioritise delivering first vaccine doses to as many people on the JCVI Phase 1 priority list in the shortest possible timeframe, we are now able to maximise the impact of the vaccine programme in its primary aims of reducing mortality and hospitalisations for those at greatest risk.”

“When it is your turn to be vaccinated you will be contacted by your local health board and I urge you to please take up the offer.

“Vaccination is one of the most important tools we have as we work our way out of this pandemic.  But as we vaccinate as many people as quickly as supplies allow, we have a new more transmissible strain of COVID-19. 

“That makes it vital that we all continue our  work to suppress the virus in Scotland, rigorously complying with the restrictions where we live and making sure we continue to wear face coverings, maintain 2m distance from others outside our own household and wash our hands regularly.

“These three strands – following all we need to do to suppress the virus, using our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and rolling out vaccination as fast as supplies allow- are the three critical actions that will see us move, step by step, to a brighter spring and summer in 2021.”

Supporting new parents: 40,000 Baby Boxes delivered this year

More than 40,000 Baby Boxes have been delivered to expectant parents this year. It brings the total number delivered since the start of the scheme in August 2017 to 163,397.

The most recent available figures indicate that around 93% of expectant parents are taking up the opportunity to receive a Baby Box.

Children’s Minister Maree Todd said: “The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has been challenging for all of us, and particularly so for expectant parents and new mums and dads.

“Face-to-face support from family and friends has had to be restricted for safety reasons and the pandemic has added to financial worries for many families.

“Supporting new parents this year especially has been vital. The Baby Box, which ensures that every family with a newborn has access to essential items, is part of our commitment to giving every child the best start in life.”

Jackie Tolland, Chief Executive of Parent Network Scotland, said: “Having been involved in the Baby Box since its inception, I am really pleased that the feedback has been positive. We need to do everything we can as a country to ensure that all children receive the opportunity to have the best start in life.” 

Each box contains a large number of essential items for parents and babies, including a selection of clothes from newborn up to the age of six months, a digital thermometer, and bath towel. The box itself comes with a mattress and can be used as a safe sleep space.

Find out more at Parent Club Scotland