Alex Salmond’s final submission to Wednesday’s committee inquiry has been published.
It’s quite a document, and on reading it you can understand why some people have done their damndest to make sure it never saw the light of day.
Take this, for example:
“I leave it to others the question of what is, or is not, a conspiracy but am clear in my position that the evidence supports a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort among a range of individuals within the Scottish Government and the SNP to damage my reputation, even to the extent of having me imprisoned.
“The individuals, for the avoidance of doubt: Peter Murrell (Chief Executive), Ian McCann (Compliance Officer) and Sue Riddick (Chief Operating Officer) of the SNP, together with Liz Llloyd, the First Minister’s Chief of Staff.
There are others who, for legal reasons, I am not allowed to name.”
Morrisons steps in to help struggling British Pig Farmers
– EU pork exports have collapsed in recent weeks –
– Morrisons slashes its pork, sausage and bacon prices to help farmers sell their products –
– Pork loin to cost just £4 per kilo and gammon just 90p per 100g –
Photo credit: Jon Super/PA Wire
From today, Morrisons is offering cuts of pork, gammon, sausages and bacon at knockout prices, to help British pig farmers.
Britain is a significant exporter of pork. However, for the last six weeks the EU has taken substantially less British meat. As a consequence, a pork mountain is building up on British farms, and pig farmers are struggling to find a home for their produce. Morrisons has stepped in by slashing pork prices for 10 weeks from 22 February. It hopes the offers will boost demand and play a part in helping the farmers out.
The prices of all of Morrisons British pork products will be cut. A pork shoulder – normally costing £4.20 per kilo – will cost just £2; a pork loin – normally costing £6 per kilo – will cost just £4; and a pork tenderloin – normally costing £7.50 – will cost just £6.
The majority of Morrisons The Best Sausages and Bacon will also be on offer at 2 for just £4, and all of Morrisons British gammon will be cut by one third to just 90p per 100g.
Morrisons is also offering bacon or sausage sandwiches and a hot drink to take away from their cafes for only £3. Customers can pre-order their take away for pickup by calling 0330 808 9733.
Photo credit: Jon Super/PA Wire
Sophie Throup, Head of Agriculture at Morrisons, said: “Britain produces some of the finest pig breeds and pork products in the world. But pig farmers are currently facing difficult times.
“We’re British farming’s biggest supermarket customer and feel it’s our duty to help. So we’re introducing knockout deals across our store – and hope this will encourage our customers to help farmers by buying more pork.”
Morrisons is British farming’s biggest supermarket customer. And has its our own expert Livestock and Produce Teams, who work directly with farmers, and take meat, fruit and vegetables direct from farms to its 18 meat, fruit and vegetable preparation sites.
A new campaign celebrating the wide range of produce grown and made in Scotland has been launched with the help of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ winner, Peter Sawkins.
‘Scotland brings so much to the table’, a joint campaign by the Scottish Government and Scotland Food & Drink, encourages shoppers to explore Scotland’s vast natural larder and try more of the world renowned produce available on our doorstep.
The campaign, which has a dedicated website onthetable.scot for people to find out how they can get involved, forms part of the Scottish Food and Drink Recovery Plan to support the industry to recover from coronavirus (COVID-19) and Brexit.
With fewer opportunities to eat out over the past year, more people have been cooking meals at home from scratch – but many aren’t actually aware of how our shopping habits can directly benefit the Scottish food and drink industry.
Lots of supermarkets, local retailers, farmers’ markets and online delivery sites stock a huge range and selection of affordable, health, locally grown, made and sourced Scottish produce that the campaign encourages people to try more of.
A recent survey carried out by the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership revealed that there has been an increase in people who have bought more locally sourced foods since the start of the pandemic.
The survey revealed that of those adults in Scotland who are red meat buyers, 14% started to buy local or bought more local red meat since the start of COVID-19 pandemic and 17% of adults started to buy or bought more locally grown and sourced vegetables.
The research also showed that people who were buying more locally sourced products did so to show support to local farmers and producers, knowing that they were helping the local economy. They also felt the products would be fresher and of greater quality.
Peter Sawkins uses and champions Scottish products in his cooking and baking every day and is encouraging us all to follow suit.
Commenting on the campaign, Peter Sawkins said: “Scotland has so many products that go beyond the classic haggis and salmon, from everyday staples such as eggs, milk and vegetables to the more unusual celeriac, nori and scallops.
“When I’m cooking at home I try to cook with seasonal local Scottish products as much as possible. Although most foods are available in the shops all year round, it’s important to buy locally sourced food when they are in season as they are never beaten on taste.”
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “Scotland is renowned globally for our amazing natural larder and we must do all we can to protect and promote our successful food and drink sector. From farm to fork, from pier to plate, there is something for everyone to try. And much of our seasonal produce is affordable and readily available.
“We know the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit have both had a huge impact on the way people shop, eat and drink and it is more important than ever to show support for our local producers and everyone working in our food and drink industry. The Scottish Government is committed to doing just that and I am pleased to launch this campaign, which can help the sector recover from recent challenges.
“Whether you are a self-confessed foodie or a busy parent looking to make a budget-friendly family dinner, there is a wide range of Scottish ingredients and produce for every taste, budget and diet. I encourage everyone to explore what Scotland brings to the table.”
James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Scotland’s food and drink sector is underpinned by farmers, fishermen, food and drink producers with a passion for what they are producing matched by their talent and ambition.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for them to have their hard work and passion seen by consumers. Our industry has an amazing story to tell and this our chance to tell it.
“We have always had the ingredients for success but after a tough 12 months, our food and drink businesses need the support of the Scottish public now more than ever.
“From our award-winning meat and seafood to innovative bakeries and dairies, it is great to showcase the breadth of fantastic local producers and encourage Scots to appreciate the unrivalled larder that we are so lucky to have on our doorstep.”
To find out just how much Scotland brings to the table and how to support the Scottish food and drink industry, tuck into onthetable.scot
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service says there is no room for complacency
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service mobilised firefighters to a total of 2,491 incidents of deliberate fire-raising between March and April 2020 compared to 3,658 incidents in 2019 – a 32 per cent reduction.
The figures were released as the Service launches its annual Spring Safety campaign.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Alasdair Perry, SFRS Head of Prevention and Protection said: “While any reduction in the number of deliberate fires is welcomed, we simply cannot be complacent.
“Deliberate fires have the potential to cause injury and even death or cause devastating damage to our environment and properties.
“One deliberate fire is one too many – they are a needless drain on emergency service resources at a difficult time.”
The data shows how deliberate fires in Spring last year included 379 in the city of Glasgow (a decrease of 42%) 329 in North Lanarkshire (a decrease of 41%) and East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire 188 (decrease of 43%).
Most reported fires took place outdoors and were set in either grassland or rubbish and refuse, however some incidents also included vehicles and even buildings.
The significant reduction also coincided with Scotland’s first Covid-19 lockdown which introduced restrictions on movement which continue into Spring 2021.
DACO Perry said: “Last year we saw restrictions put in place on social movement, and this year is no different as we continue to tackle this pandemic.
“As well as limits on how far people can travel, we also know that schools, clubs and community groups are affected or unable to open due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“Our firefighters and community action teams have been and will continue to work extremely hard to engage with the public and promote safety messages.
“But as we cannot conduct school visits or engage with young people directly through clubs and groups, I would ask parents, guardians and carers to help by making sure that children and young people are aware of the risks and consequences of deliberate fire setting.
“It is vital we continue to remind people that deliberate fire setting is a crime and a criminal record can affect future life and job opportunities – a price that can be easily avoided.”
Anyone with information about deliberate fire-raising should contact the free and confidential Crimestoppers helpline on 0800 555 111.
COSLA is calling on all political parties to acknowledge the rightful role of Local Government in their manifestos ahead of this year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections.
The organisation, which represents all 32 Councils in Scotland, hopes parties will reference its recently launched Blueprint in their manifestos and make a commitment to its aspirations.
Commenting today, COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison said: “This last year has been like no other, the forthcoming elections to the Scottish Parliament will be like no other and Local Government is the sphere of Government at the heart of our communities like no other.
“The COSLA Blueprint provides a narrative around the kind of country we want, and about the changes that could make a real difference to communities across the country – the election this year offers the chance to make this a reality.
“The value of Local Government can be seen in our response to Covid-19, where Councils have taken decisive action to support communities, people, and businesses.
“For too long now Local Government has been given a poor diet – and that is why we developed the Local Government Blueprint, which is our menu for change that we want to see.
“The new Parliament provides the opportunity for us to reiterate our value – for too long Scottish Local Government has not had its rightful place at the top table.
“Our response during the pandemic has been remarkable, our Communities have appreciated what we have done on their behalf and realise that only Local Government comprises all of the various ingredients that can truly deliver for our communities
“Therefore we call on all parties to make a commitment to the COSLA Local Government Blueprint in their forthcoming Manifestos.”
Aldi has been named the UK’s favourite in-store supermarket in Which?’s annual satisfaction survey, while Ocado slipped down the online grocery rankings after shoppers struggled to secure delivery slots during the coronavirus pandemic.
The consumer champion surveyed more than 3,000 members of the public about their experience with supermarkets, asking customers to rate their shopping experience in a range of categories such as in-store appearance and layout, quality of produce, availability of online delivery slots and value for money.
German discounter Aldi emerged as the top in-store supermarket in the UK after receiving a five-star rating for value for money – the only supermarket to achieve this in the survey – and a 73 per cent customer score.
While Aldi received mediocre ratings across all other categories, including two stars for store layout and three stars for the quality of its own-label products and fresh food, price was the most important consideration for customers when choosing where to shop.
In 2020, Aldi was the cheapest supermarket to shop in six of the eight months it was included in Which?’s monthly supermarket price analysis.
In this year’s online supermarket survey, Ocado fell to joint-fifth place alongside Waitrose and Morrisons. It struggled to meet demand when the pandemic hit and was ultimately forced to close its website and app – the latter for several months. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it received just two-star ratings for the availability of delivery slots.
It also received two-stars for value for money, reflecting its regular appearance as the second-most expensive supermarket after Waitrose in our monthly analysis.
One Ocado customer told Which?: “During [the first] lockdown I really struggled to get delivery slots, despite being officially classified as vulnerable and having a monthly delivery pass.”
Sainsbury’s was the highest-scoring online supermarket with an overall customer score of 71 per cent and a four-star rating for the availability of delivery slots.
It was also named a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) for its online service. The company’s high standards for food hygiene and clear nutritional labelling on its own-brand products also contributed to the decision to name it a WRP.
M&S came second in the in-store supermarkets table after receiving a five-star rating for the appearance and layout of its stores and the quality of its own-label and fresh products.
In joint-third place were Lidl, Tesco and Waitrose. Much like its rival Aldi, Lidl performed well when it came to value for money, achieving four-star ratings, but it failed to impress customers in other categories.
Despite receiving five stars for store layout and food quality, Waitrose was let down by its two-star rating for value for money.
Co-op finished bottom of the in-store shopping table as it failed to impress customers in key categories. It received just one-star for value for money, and two-stars for its store layout and food quality.
Harry Rose, Which? Magazine Editor, said:“Many households have felt the pinch during the pandemic, and value for money was the most important factor when shopping in-store in our annual supermarket survey – which explains why Aldi came out on top.
“Online supermarkets have also been a lifeline for many people during the pandemic, and while Sainsbury’s rose to the challenge by massively increasing its delivery capacity, Ocado’s reputation took a hit after the scale of demand meant it stopped accepting new customers and shut down its app at the height of lockdown.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is warning of a new trend in waste crime after two abandoned trailers full of waste appeared in the central belt in recent weeks.
Investigations are being undertaken by SEPA to establish the source of the trailers which could lead to the prosecution of those responsible.
While illegally depositing waste in fields, barns and premises is a known issue SEPA is working to tackle, these finds indicate a new, emerging trend in waste crime in Scotland and follow on from another trailer found towards the end of 2020. Similar instances of waste being placed into trailers and being abandoned at roadsides and industrial locations has been seen in England over recent months.
Working with Police Scotland and other partners through the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, SEPA has been tracking this growing trend across the UK since last year, but three trailers in as many months indicates this may now be a new disposal route for waste criminals in Scotland.
SEPA is reminding landowners to be alert to the risk of their land or premises being used for illegal waste deposits. Trailer or vehicle owners should also be aware of the risk of theft.
Communities are asked to be vigilant and report any suspicious trailers left by the roadside or in isolated areas as soon as possible. If alerted to it early SEPA has a better opportunity to step in and take action, along with partners like Police Scotland and local authorities. The longer it takes to identify trailers the more chance there is agencies will lose access to essential evidence to help track the perpetrators.
SEPA is also warning the criminals involved that their activities are firmly in the spotlight and compliance with Scotland’s environmental laws is non-negotiable. Illegal waste disposal and fly tipping is a serious offence with significant consequences and those caught risk a criminal conviction and a fine of up to £40,000 and/or imprisonment.
The distinctive form of illegal waste disposal saves criminals thousands of pounds in waste disposal costs, but the costs to others may be high. Vehicle or landowners are likely to incur the costs of having waste removed and disposed of legally, which can be considerable.
Jennifer Shearer, SEPA’s Head of Enforcement, said: “A high proportion of individuals or companies that are involved in waste crime are also associated with other criminality and this activity has continued during the pandemic.
“SEPA continues to work closely with partners, often through joint initiatives such as the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, to ensure we can maximise our collaborative efforts to have the greatest impact and ultimately stop this type of highly adaptive and lucrative waste crime.
“In addition to causing serious pollution putting communities at risk, and placing further stress on legitimate operators – as well as on the public services that have to deal with it, waste crime impacts investment and economic growth. Serious and organised waste crime is estimated to cost the UK economy at least £600 million a year.
“That is why we are appealing to anyone who may have any information about these lorry trailers, no matter how significant it may seem, to get in touch with SEPA as soon as possible.
“Similarly, if they see any suspicious trailers left by the roadside or in isolated areas they should report it to our 24 hour pollution line using the online form at sepa.org.uk/report or by calling 0800 80 70 60.”
As well as reporting suspicious activity, members of the public can help tackle waste crime by refusing to engage the services of people who are not authorised.
“Remember, services that sound too good to be true often are, and could lead to your waste being illegally fly-tipped or disposed of by other illegitimate means,” Shearer explains.
“Anyone offering to take your waste away should be able to provide a waste carrier registration number and tell you the named facility they will take the waste to – if they can’t provide this information, don’t allow them to take your waste.
“Now more than ever, we all need to play our part in correctly managing our waste. You have the responsibility to take care of your waste and if we trace it back to you we can take enforcement action against you too. We don’t want people to be put in that situation so make sure that anyone who takes your waste for disposal is properly accredited.”
Andrew McPherson, Head of Regulatory Services and Waste Solutions at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “The costs incurred in removing these two trailers and disposing of the resulting waste has cost the local authority many thousands of pounds.
“This is money which has had to be diverted away from key critical front line services such as social care and education. If people think that this type of incident doesn’t cause harm or does not affect anyone, then they should think again and we will continue to work closely with our colleagues within SEPA and Police Scotland to identify those responsible.”
Stephen Freeland, Policy Advisor for the Scottish Environmental Services Association (SESA), said: “This worrying new trend demonstrates the lengths determined criminals in our sector are prepared to go to for monetary gain and highlights the continued need for well-resourced and collaborative enforcement that can adapt to new criminal behaviours.
“It also serves as a reminder that waste producers must exercise their duty of care to stop waste material from falling into the wrong hands.”
Top three Dos and Don’ts of Household Waste Disposal
DO use common sense. If you are approached out of the blue with an offer to dispose of your waste so quickly and cheaply is sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
DON’T entrust your waste with someone if they are unable to tell you basic information like their waste carrier registration number and the named site they are taking the waste to.
DO take responsibility for who you give waste to – if illegally disposed of waste is traced back to you then you could face enforcement action too.
Eligible families across Scotland are being encouraged to apply for the Best Start Grant School Age Payment before applications close on 28 February.
The one-off £250 payment can be used to buy anything from a warm coat to books and toys. Applications are open to families that have a child that was born between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016.
Parents who have deferred their child’s entry to school from August 2020 to August 2021, or those who are home schooling, may still be eligible for this payment and should still apply before the closing date.
The payment is part of the Best Start Grant, a package of three payments to support families who get tax credits or certain benefits – including Universal Credit, Income Support and Housing Benefit.
More information on the Social Security Scotland website
People with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers are beginning to receive coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations. Priority group 6 is one of the largest on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) list.
The first to be invited will be people who have conditions which are included on both the JCVI priority list and the flu vaccine list. Although there is some overlap, the two lists are not exactly the same. They will be invited at the same time as unpaid carers who receive carers’ benefits or who have been identified by GPs.
Carers who do not receive carers benefits, and who have not been identified by GPs, will be asked to come forward to register for their vaccine at a later date through an online portal or the national helpline. Work is also ongoing to identify people with underlying conditions who are not on the modified flu vaccine list, and they will be invited shortly.
Anyone aged 70 or over who has not yet been invited for their vaccine should visit nhsinform.scot for further advice, or call the national helpline on 0800 030 8013.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “As we move through the JCVI priority list, we will continue to maximise the number of vaccinations depending on available supply.
“Although a small number of people in group 6 will already have been invited in some parts of Scotland, we are now able to begin to roll out these invites more widely. Boards will begin to send the invites as their supply levels allow, and once they have completed a good proportion of 65-69-year-olds.
“This is one of the largest group of people on the priority list, so please be patient. It may take several weeks to get through the whole cohort. The age range of people in this cohort can be as young as 16 and their underlying condition may not be obvious to the outside world.
“I would stress that the offer at this time is based on a clinical judgment so we would strongly encourage people of all ages to take up this offer should it come.
“As a result of the high uptake in the last few weeks and a lower supply of vaccine than we had originally anticipated, we have had to adjust the number of appointments in the past week, and for the foreseeable future.
“We must also ensure we have enough vaccine for second doses when they are due as this provides longer lasting protection against the virus. All of this will mean that some of our vaccination centres may be less busy in the next couple of weeks.
“The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow.
“All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”
The charity is hosting its second virtual ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ assembly on Tuesday morning at 10am to help keep children safe and well during the pandemic
Parents and children are being encouraged to join the assembly that will be held on the NSPCC Facebook page
The first virtual assembly that aired online in June has had more than 100,000 views
Amid growing concerns about the impact of COVID19 on children’s safety and mental health and wellbeing the NSPCC is holding a second virtual ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ assembly on Facebook tomorrow (Tuesday February 23rd) at 10am.
The special broadcast suitable for children aged five and over aims to help them understand how to speak to a trusted adult if they feel anxious or worried, and it explains the support that Childline can offer.
It will also focus on some additional concerns that some children are experiencing due to the pandemic.
The assembly will see the return of guest hosts Ant & Dec and features an appearance from comedian David Walliams. The TV duo who have been long term supporters of the children’s charity hosted the first online assembly in June last year which received over 100,000 views on Facebook and YouTube.
A recording of Tuesday’s online assembly will also be available on the NSPCC’s website, Facebook and YouTube channel after the event for anyone who misses it.
One Facebook user who watched the first assembly said:” My boys loved it and following a family bereavement this gave them an opportunity to talk about their feelings. We took blank paper and marked it for every worry or fear we had and shared.”
With many vulnerable children still facing increased risks at home and with others struggling with their mental health due to the challenges posed by the pandemic, it’s vital that children know what to do and who to speak if something is worrying or upsetting them.
The coronavirus related worries the assembly will cover include, children not being able to see their family and friends, changes in daily routines, experiencing new feelings and spending more time online.
Guest hosts Ant & Dec said:
Ant: “After what has been an incredibly difficult start to the year for many young people, we feel privileged to once again be hosting the NSPCC’s virtual assembly for children and their families.
Dec: “We hope we can remind children that they don’t have to just carry their worries with them – they can always speak to someone they trust if they’re feeling sad, overwhelmed, or unsafe.”
Service Head of School Service, Janet Hinton said: “The lockdown has turned the lives of children upside down and many are struggling to cope with the challenges it has posed.
“Although our trained ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ staff can’t currently go into schools, it is essential that every child knows who they can turn to if they need help and support.
“After watching the assembly, parents and carers can continue this conversation with their children by visiting the NSPCC website where they can find additional activities.”
Prior to the pandemic, ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ had been delivered in 96% of primary schools across Scotland with trained NSPCC volunteers and staff delivering the assembly and workshop with the help of ‘Speak Out. Stay safe’ mascot, Buddy the speech bubble.
The importance of empowering children to understand that they have the right to speak out and stay safe has been highlighted in a recent court case which saw 63-year-old Sidney Sales from Luton jailed for three years after a girl spoke about the abuse she had suffered following seeing the NSPCC assembly at school.
Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
