Day: February 28, 2021

Barclays and HSBC customers unwittingly funding companies linked to deforestation

“Barclays and HSBC customers will be shocked that their savings are being invested in companies implicated in the destruction of the Amazon and Cerrado”

Barclays and HSBC are in the top three banks in Europe investing in companies at high risk of being linked to the deforestation of the Amazon and Cerrado for cattle and soya production to feed factory farmed animals globally, according to a new report by World Animal Protection. International bank BNP Paribas was ranked number one.

The report, Big Meat. Big Bucks. Bigger Harm, found that Barclays and HSBC have financed and invested US$26.5bn (£19bn) to companies connected to the supply chains of beef and soy for animal feed in Brazil, meaning consumers are unknowingly fueling these unethical and carbon-intensive business practices with their savings and pensions.

For Barclays and HSBC, financial relationships were identified with 25 of the 60 researched high-risk companies. The main recipient is US food company Cargill – its loans total US$4.7bn (£3.3bn) plus underwritings totaling US$634m (£455m). The Brazilian meat processing company JBS follows with loans totaling $US3.3bn (£2.3bn) plus US$920m (£660m) in underwritings and US$3m (£2.1m) in stockholdings.

NatWest, Standard Chartered and Schroders also performed poorly with US$7.3bn (£5.2bn) of investments and relationships with 15 of the 60 researched high-risk companies, the main recipient being Cargill.

Lindsay Duncan, World Animal Protection farming campaign manager said:
“Customers of Barclays and HSBC will be devastated to learn that their pensions and savings are being invested in companies implicated in the destruction of the Amazon and Cerrado regions in Brazil.

“With the UK hosting COP26 this year UK banks should stop funding cruel factory farming and its dependence on unsustainable and carbon-intensive animal feed imports. They should do the right thing and support humane and sustainable food systems and help ensure factory farming becomes a thing of the past.”

Alarmingly, these financial institutions may be linked to the clearance of irreplaceable rainforest, which in some cases is even illegal and unregulated.

The Amazon, while being a major producer of the world’s oxygen, is also home to millions of species of sentient animals that suffer when their habitat is lost. An area the size of a football pitch is lost every single minute to agricultural uses.[1]

Soya is planted in huge swathes in destroyed habitats before being exported to feed factory farmed animals around the world, completing the cycle of cruelty. Right now, more than 70 billion animals are globally farmed for food each year – two-thirds on factory farms in conditions that mean they can’t move freely or live naturally.

Cattle kept on deforested land are often taken to slaughter in dire conditions and many are not even guaranteed a humane death. They face overcrowding, extreme heat, a lack of food and water and are often transported miles across rugged terrain to be slaughtered – all contributing to unimaginable cruelty. These animals are treated as mere commodities without even the most basic of needs met.

While this is a major animal welfare and conservation concern, even many of the cattle and soya farmers themselves are exploited – worked hard, paid poorly, granted minimal rights – making this a human rights issue too.

World Animal Protection is calling on financial institutions to right this wrong, ensuring they have policies and systems in place such as:

  • Traceability to the point of origin within the supply chain, zero tolerance for deforestation, screening and engaging companies, excluding clear offenders and demonstrating transparency
  • Supporting the transition to a humane and sustainable food system by implementing FARMS farm animal welfare standards as a minimum, halving investments in animal protein by 2040, and phasing out support for monocrops like soya as feed for farm animals.

People can also help by eating higher welfare and less meat and calling on their banks to adopt strong and meaningful policies that protect animals and the environment.

Workers give over 1,000 unpaid hours a year to their employers

 On average, we spend 42 days a year working outside their contracted hours  

Workers will sacrifice five years over their working life by starting early and finishing late 

Millions of British workers give up more than a month of time each year by working additional unpaid hours, totalling five years over their working life, new research has revealed.

In a poll conducted by Hitachi Personal Finance for this year’s National Work Life Week, data reveals exactly how much time Brits are spending working past their contracted hours and what else the nation could be doing with this time.  

In total, the figures show that Brits are working a whopping 1,834 days – or five years – unpaid across their working life, just by starting work early and finishing late. That’s an extra 42 days each year. 

The research revealed that nearly half (49%) of British people start work early each day and 48% admit to working late every day. 

Looking more closely at those who are commencing work before their official start time, a third (32%) are working an extra 147 days in their lifetime by getting to the office or logging on at home 20 minutes early each day.

Additionally, 15% of Brits are working an extra 330 days – that’s nearly a whole year – by regularly starting work 45 minutes before their shift starts.  

What’s more, 2% are tallying up a huge one year and two months’ worth of overtime by starting work an hour earlier than they are contracted to. In total, this means that collectively Brits are losing 917 days on unpaid work across their working lifetime, just by beginning their working day prematurely on a regular basis.  

And for those working after their shift ends, three in ten Brits (30%) are spending a further 147 days undertaking work in their lifetime, finishing late by 20 minutes each day, and 14% are working an extra 330 days in their lifetime by concluding work 45 minutes after they’re supposed to.  

Even more shockingly, 5% of Brits rack up an extra one year two months overtime in their lifetime by logging off an hour or more after they should be finishing work. Overall, this means that Brits are putting in an extra two and a half years work in their lifetime, just by continuing to work outside of their contracted hours.  

More than three in five (61%) admit they would rather have a better work/life balance, which is being achieved in some respects, with increased home working meaning commuting time is being reduced or completely removed.

However, this balance is still being compromised with so many putting in longer hours than they’re contracted to even while working at home, perhaps unaware of the cumulative amount of time they’re losing from their personal lives.  

So, what else could Brits be doing with this time? Experts at Hitachi Personal Finance offer five alternative activities UK workers could be doing instead of working outside their contracted hours:  

  1. Learn a new language  

If learning a new language is of interest, research shows that it takes 480 hours to reach basic fluency3. Meaning in the six weeks spent on overtime each year, you could learn at least one new language, maybe even two. 

  1. Gain a new habit  

It has also been widely reported that it takes just 21 days to form a habit4, so in the same time you spend working overtime each year, you could be making two new habits part of a daily routine that could have a positive impact on your life, such as exercising, quitting smoking or meditation.  

3.    Earn a degree 

If you’ve ever wanted to study a degree or add another one to your belt, it could be doable if you skip the extra hours in the office or working from home. You can complete a 3-year degree in 108 hours at the Open University6, meaning you could easily get a degree or two under your belt by sacrificing the extra time sat behind a desk.   

4.    Binge watch a box set  

If getting your teeth into a good boxset is more your thing and you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you could binge-watch all eight series instead of putting in the extra graft behind their desk at home or in the office; it would take three days and 16 minutes to watch from start to finish7.  

Marvel films more your thing? It would take just over two days to watch all 23 movies8, so in the six weeks you’d otherwise be spending working overtime in a year, you could sit down and watch the entire superhero franchise 20 times.  

Commenting on the findings, Vincent Reboul, Managing Director of Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance says: “It’s very interesting to see the sheer amount of people in Britain who are working way past their contracted hours.

“If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that we need to value the time and experiences we have with each other and our loved ones, as well as making sure we’re dedicating time to ourselves. 

“Putting in the extra hours during the working day can sometimes be inevitable, but we wanted to highlight just how much this adds up to over time. This is particularly relevant as home working has become the norm for many, which appears to have blurred the lines between work mode and home mode.

“Hopefully these findings help workers to realise how much time they do have available to them once they start paying attention to their work/life balance.” 

To find out more, please visit: https://www.hitachipersonalfinance.co.uk/latest-posts/money/5-things-you-could-be-doing-instead-of-working-unpaid-overtime/ 

Rogue electricians risk the lives of Scottish homeowners

New safety measures are needed to protect Scottish homeowners from electrocution and electrical fires, lawyers have warned.

“Currently anyone can set up as an electrician in Scotland,” said Gordon Dalyell a Scottish spokesman for APIL, an organisation which is dedicated to the rights of needlessly injured people.

“There is no requirement to have any skills, qualifications, or expertise in electrical work before setting up a business as an electrician in Scotland. Homeowners must be protected from substandard electrical work, which could lead to injuries or even deaths from electric shocks or electrical fires.”

In response to a Scottish government consultation, APIL has called for a system similar to the widely recognised Gas Safety Register to be implemented to ensure all electricians are qualified for the work they carry out.

“A mandatory safety register for electricians would give people the confidence of knowing their electrician is fully qualified to carry out the work,” said Mr Dalyell.

“Electricians would be unable to join the register without proper qualifications and training. No one would make the decision to use an unqualified gas company. Electricity safety should be taken just as seriously.”

Until proper regulation and specific qualification requirements are in place, Scots looking for a safe, qualified expert to carry out work should look out for electricians or electrical businesses which have voluntarily registered with the regulatory systems listed below:

  • Scottish Joint Industry Board
  • SELECT (Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland) is a trade association for the electrical contracting industry in Scotland.
  • NICEIC (the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) is a registration body that provides assessment and certification services for contractors.
  • NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers) operates an accredited membership scheme in the building services and fabric sector.

UK Budget ‘must match Scotland’s ambition’

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has written to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak ahead of the delayed UK Budget, calling on him to provide essential support as Scotland prepares to ease lockdown measures.

In the letter, Ms Forbes urges the UK Government to avoid a sudden cliff-edge withdrawal of support by extending the Job Retention Scheme beyond the end of April and making the £20 uplift for Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits permanent.

She also calls for a commitment that the NHS will receive what it needs in terms of financial support and for confirmation of Scotland’s share of unallocated coronavirus (COVID-19) funding to allow the Scottish Government to effectively develop its ongoing response to the pandemic.

Ms Forbes said: “The Scottish Government has extended Non Domestic Rates relief as one measure to continue supporting business, and it is vital that we have the appropriate funding and fiscal levers to deliver economic support.

“There are a number of additional measures the UK Government should take in the UK Budget to support recovery, bolster the economy and support the most vulnerable.

“This includes ensuring the NHS receives what it needs in terms of financial support, extending the furlough scheme beyond April and supporting business and households by providing meaningful and effective long-term support as the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt.”

Amey marks Scottish Apprenticeship Week with apprenticeship pledge

To mark the launch of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2021 (1st – 5th March)  leading infrastructure company Amey, has pledged that 5% of its overall workforce will be made up of apprentices. 

In order to achieve this goal, 22 new apprenticeships, including degree-level roles, are being offered this year on Amey’s Scottish contracts.  

Amey’s Transport Infrastructure business in Scotland already employs 10 Modern Apprentices, 2 Graduate Apprentices and supports around 34 Foundation Apprentices. 

Foundation Apprenticeships are a work-based learning qualification for secondary school students providing them with a stepping stone into a career and a full-time Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship with an employer.

Four of these apprenticeships are in North Lanarkshire, with a further thirty in Dumfries & Galloway. 

Kenny Kerr, Business Director of Amey’s Transport Infrastructure accounts in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “Providing apprenticeship opportunities are a core part of our future growth, and essential to increasing diversity and the adoption of new skills across our business.

“Our continued support for Scottish Apprenticeship Week demonstrates our commitment to the entire apprenticeship family. We currently support Foundation, Modern and Graduate apprenticeships within our accounts, working closely with key partners such as Skills Development Scotland, colleges and universities and the Scottish Government. 

“We have learned the value of apprenticeships, as they allow our existing workforce to pass on their knowledge and experience to a future generation of skilled employees. Amey apprentices can obtain a range of practical, transferable skills that will stand them in good stead throughout their career. 

“Our investment in apprenticeships helps us meet the objectives of our clients, which include Transport Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council, by providing jobs, training and learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. With hopeful signs of a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and a return to economic growth, continued support for apprenticeships will ensure our company continues to develop and thrive.” 

Amey’s Transport and Infrastructure division looks after some of the most iconic and economically vital routes across Scotland, including the M8/M73/M74 network, North Lanarkshire roads and lighting and the Scottish South-West Trunk Road Network. 

Amey’s Apprenticeship Programme involves candidates completing both a technical certificate in their chosen area as well as a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) and incorporates the Duke of Edinburgh’s Business Award as a core part of the programme. 

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities with Amey visit: https://www.amey.co.uk/your-career/early-careers/apprentices/ 

Amey training and work experience learning in 2020/21 is delivered virtually in accordance with Scottish Government guidance on social distancing and hygiene due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Follow us on Twitter @SWTrunkRoads

Find healthy recipes and get cooking!

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Sticking to a healthy diet can be easier if you cook from scratch. Ready meals, takeaways and pre-packaged foods can be high in fat, sugar and salt. Home-cooked meals are often cheaper, tastier, healthier and better for the environment.

It may also be quicker to rustle up a home-cooked meal, than wait for a takeaway to be delivered.

Here we provide some tips to help you find and cook some healthy recipes:

Finding healthy recipes

There are lots of healthy recipe books and websites available. When looking for healthy recipes, make sure you choose a trusted source.

Our new cookbook includes plenty of delicious and healthy recipes from well-known names, such as Joe Wicks and the Hairy Bikers. The recipes have been carefully selected by our Nutritionist for their use of fresh, healthy ingredients that promote good heart health.

You can download the book here – https://heartresearch.org.uk/cookbook/

Check the ingredients list


When looking for a healthy recipe, make sure you pay attention to the ingredients list. Avoid recipes that include a lot of fat, salt, sugar or processed meats and cheeses. Healthier recipes include:

  • Fruit and vegetables
  • Wholegrain ingredients (e.g. brown rice, brown bread or whole-wheat pasta)
  • Lean sources of protein (e.g. fish, chicken (without skin), beans, pulses or tofu)
  • Low-fat dairy products (or alternatives), such as skimmed milk, fat-free yoghurt or soya products

Choose healthy cooking methods


Find recipes that use healthier cooking methods, such as steaming, baking or grilling, rather than frying or deep-frying in oil. Avoid recipes that cook with animal fats (such as lard or butter) and coconut oil as these are high in saturated fats which can increase your risk of heart disease. Choose recipes that use plant-based oils, such as rapeseed, olive, sunflower or vegetable oils. 

Adapt your favourite recipes

Eating healthily doesn’t mean giving up on all your favourite foods. Read through some of your favourite recipes and try to identify ways to make them healthier.

This could include adding extra fruit or veg, switching from white to brown rice or pasta, switching from cream to low fat yoghurt, reducing the amount of salt and sugar or switching to a healthier cooking method.

For more tips on how to improve your heart health, visit the ‘Healthy Tips’ page on our website and don’t forget to check out our new Cookbook.

Extension to one way system within the Western General

To ensure the maximum safety of patient and staff pedestrians, access to Hospital Main Drive from Entrance A (Crewe Road South) will be closed to vehicular traffic through to August 2022.

From Monday 15th March, Hospital Main Drive and car parks (listed below) will only be accessible to vehicles entering the hospital via the Telford Road entrance (Entrance D). No vehicular access will be available to Cancer Services or patient car parks from Crewe Road South.

As part of this closure, a new pedestrian footpath will be constructed to the south side of Hospital Main Drive, from Turner House to the junction between Ward 1 and Car Park 4a, and a shared cycle/ pedestrian lane constructed from Ward 1 to Crewe Road South.  Details of these new paths are attached to this communication.

Pedestrians and cyclists will now be safely segregated from construction activity on the north side of Hospital Main Drive, notably from the LINAC construction site and Infrastructure improvement works. All diverted routes into buildings will be signposted accordingly.

Construction traffic will continue to use the temporary construction site access to the south of the SHSC on Crewe Road South and will access the LINAC site across Hospital Main Drive. Pedestrians and cyclists will be assisted by Traffic Marshalls when crossing in this vicinity.

The following car parks will now only be accessible from Telford Road:

  • Car Park 6
  • Car Park 4
  • 2 x blue badge spaces at SHSC

Entrance to the hospital from Porterfield Road will remain unaffected by these works.

HOSPITAL MAIN DRIVE INDICATIVE ONE WAY SYSTEM PROPOSED DIVERSION ROUTE PLAN Option 2

HOSPITAL MAIN DRIVE INDICATIVE ONE WAY SYSTEM TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OVERALL PLAN

Letters: The Coming Attack

Dear Editor

THE COMING ATTACK

At the end of the War in 1945 the population including the armed forces were exhausted, having also lived throught the 1930s of unemployment and poor living conditions. The population were determined to change things after 6 years of war.

The main thing to tackle was the formation of a National Health Service. In 1948 this would tackle the poor state of the nation and provide an example of how the nation could be organised for the people.

Now 70 years on, the foresight of setting up the NHS has been experienced and it is paying off, particularly in the circumstances of the Covid19 epidemic.

Millions of people have expressed their gratitude for the NHS, for its originators and for all the people who work within it.

But now a danger looms over our NHS. The Conservatives, who voted AGAINST the formation of the NHS feel they are able to start ‘ Reorganising’ the service to allow the private sector a controlling role in it.

This infiltration is a first step by the Tories in a plan to kill off the NHS as a service for all.

Tony Delahoy

by email

Report of the first Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland welcomed by Holyrood Parliament

The Scottish Parliament debated the report of Scotland’s first Citizens’ Assembly on Thursday 18 February.

MSPs welcomed the Assembly’s shared vision and 60 recommendations for the country’s future, ahead of an action plan on the Assembly’s findings to be published by the next Scottish Government and a further debate to be held by the new Parliament following the election in May.

Parties were urged to take forward the Assembly’s work through manifesto pledges.

The debate can be viewed here.

The Assembly’s report was published last month. The vision and recommendations were agreed by an overwhelming consensus of members, and cover a wide range of areas including future citizens’ assemblies, incomes and poverty, tax and the economy, health and wellbeing, support for young people, sustainability and further powers for the Scottish Parliament.

Following the report’s publication, Assembly members met virtually to discuss their vision and recommendations with ministers from the Scottish Government, including the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs Michael Russell and a number of other ministers. 

Last week, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Futures Forum held an event convened by the Presiding Officer which brought together members of the Assembly, a political panel and a number of MSPs to discuss and consider the vision and recommendations of the Assembly ahead of the Parliamentary debate on Thursday. 

The report of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland can be read online at citizensassembly.scot

To accompany the report, a short film on the Vision and Recommendations agreed by the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland, and featuring the voices of members is here: 

Our Vision and Recommendations – YouTube

And a second one that considers the deliberative process is here:

Finding common ground through deliberation – YouTube

All of the materials including evidence from previous weekends, an interim report and range of supporting papers covering previous work and articles and videos about the impact of COVID-19, together with recordings of plenary sessions, are available on the Assembly website 

www.citizensassembly.scot 

Scotland has another Citizens’ Assembly underway. Scotland’s Climate Assembly is tackling the question: “How should Scotland change to tackle the climate emergency in an effective and fair way?” and will continue its work over the next few months.

Best wishes,

Citizens’ Assembly Secretariat

New COVID testing site opens at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre

The UK Government has opened a new walk-through coronavirus testing centre at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre Car Park.

The test centre, which opened yesterday, is part of the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history. In Scotland, this comprises 7 drive through sites, 33 walk-through sites, 42 mobile units, plus the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab which is working round the clock to process samples.

In Scotland, the UK Government is providing all COVID testing and test processing outside of the NHS. Around two thirds of all daily tests are provided by the UK Government, in support of Scotland’s health services.

Tests must be booked in advance at: www.nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect or by calling 0800 028 2816. People should only book at test if they have coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste).

Health Minister Lord Bethell said: “To respond to the coronavirus, we have built a major testing and tracing system from scratch. We are constantly working to expand and improve it with new technologies and innovations so everyone with symptoms can get a test.

“New walk-in sites like this one makes it even easier to get a test no matter where you live. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Protect if you are contacted to protect others and stop the spread of the virus.”

Baroness Dido Harding, Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, said: “Walk-through sites offer communities better access to coronavirus testing, so everyone with symptoms can get a test.

“This new site is part of our ongoing work to expand our testing network across the UK which now has the capacity to process more than 700,000 tests a day. We will continue to expand capacity to improve test turnaround times and push forward testing innovations to make sure anyone who needs a test can get one.

“Please book a test if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss or change in sense of smell or taste, and follow the advice of NHS Test and Protect if you are contacted.”

UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart said: “The UK Government is doing everything it can to support people in all parts of the UK through the pandemic.

“Testing continues to play an important role how we manage the virus alongside the roll out of vaccines, helping to identify local outbreaks, slow down the rate of transmission and protect communities. I would like to thank the public for continuing to do the right thing and come forward to be tested when they display symptoms.

“The UK Government continues to provide the bulk of testing in Scotland, with this new walk-through centre in Edinburgh just the latest in our extensive network. We have also secured and paid for millions of doses of the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines for all parts of the UK.

“Hope is on the horizon, but we can’t let up on our efforts to contain the virus.”

Adam McVey, City of Edinburgh Council Leader said: “Our number one priority is keeping Edinburgh’s residents safe and the best way to do that is to keep encouraging everyone to follow the latest guidance and to arrange to get themselves tested if they develop any Covid-19 symptoms.

“Our other testing sites across Edinburgh have been helping hundreds of people every week to get tested so it’s really welcome that this new site is opening in the north of the city.

“We’ll keep the use of the Ainslie Park Leisure Centre under review to ensure that when it’s possible for Edinburgh Leisure to reopen for sport and leisure use, venues can operate efficiently.”

Simon Venn, Mitie Chief Government & Strategy Officer, said: “Our priority during the pandemic is to support the nation’s efforts to fight COVID-19 and help keep the country running.

“Testing is a critical part of the UK’s strategy to combat coronavirus and we’re proud to support the UK Government with this vital task. A big thank you to all the NHS staff, Mitie employees and other frontline heroes in Edinburgh, who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.”