Day: September 23, 2021

Pension underpayment scandal

The Department for Work & Pensions (the Department) estimates that it has underpaid 134,000 pensioners OVER £1 BILLION in State Pension.

This was due to repeated human errors over many years, some level of which was almost inevitable given the complex rules and high degree of manual review necessary when assessing claims, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).1

The errors affect pensioners who first claimed State Pension before April 2016, do not have a full national insurance record, and should have received certain increases in their basic State Pension.2  

The errors were brought to the Department’s attention by individual pensioners, concerned experts and the media. The Department started exploring the ‘potential for error’ from April 2020 and confirmed that there was a significant issue in August 2020. It started to review cases from January 2021 and will contact pensioners if it finds that they have been underpaid.3

The Department estimates that it will need to pay the affected pensioners it can trace a total of £1,053 million, representing an average of £8,900 per pensioner affected. The Department has not assessed the demographics of pensioners likely to be affected, but most are likely to be women. The Department’s estimates are highly uncertain and the true value of the underpayments will only become clear once it has completed its review of all affected cases.

The errors occurred because State Pension rules are complex, IT systems are outdated and unautomated, and the administration of claims requires a high degree of manual review and understanding by case workers. This makes some level of error in the processing of State Pension claims almost inevitable.

The Department’s caseworkers often failed to set (and later action) manual IT system prompts on pensioners’ files to review the payments at a later date, such as their spouse reaching State Pension Age or their 80th birthday.

Caseworkers also often made errors when they did process prompts because frontline staff found instructions difficult to use and lacked training on complex cases.

The Department’s approach of measuring, identifying and tackling the largest causes of fraud and error means it missed earlier opportunities to identify underpayments. It does not have a means of reviewing individual complaints or errors, such as how many people are complaining about the same issues, to assess whether the errors have a systemic cause.

Quality assurance processes focused on checking changes to case details, such as a change of address or the death of a spouse, rather than the overall accuracy of the payments.

In January 2021, the Department started reviewing cases at risk of underpayment in a Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practices (LEAP) exercise. This exercise was originally expected to take over six years to complete, but following a ministerial decision to recruit additional staff, the Department revised the completion date to the end of 2023.

The Department expects to increase the number of full-time staff working on the LEAP exercise from 184 in March 2021 to 544 by the end of January 2022. It expects the administration of the LEAP exercise to cost £24.3 million in staff costs.

Between 11 January and 5 September 2021, the Department reviewed 72,780 cases it had identified as being at risk of having been underpaid or who contacted it querying their payment, and paid £60.6 million of arrears to 11% of these cases.

The Department is prioritising individuals who fall into “at risk” categories, such as those who are widowed or over age 80.

The Department may find it particularly difficult to correct underpayments of pensioners who have died. It does not know how many pensioners who have died have been underpaid as, for data protection reasons, it does not usually keep records for more than four years after a pensioner’s death, and if married, their spouse’s death.

As at August 2021, the Department had not approved a formal plan to trace the estates of deceased pensioners.

Investigations We conduct investigations to establish the underlying facts in circumstances where concerns have been raised with us, or in response to intelligence that we have gathered through our wider work. The Department for Work & Pensions has underpaid an estimated £1,053 million to pensioners due to human errors it has made dating back many years. This investigation sets out who has been affected, how it happened, how the Department assessed the scale of the problem, and what it is doing about it.

Gareth Davies, Head of the National Audit Office, said: “The impact of the underpayment of State Pension on those pensioners affected is significant. It is vital that the Department for Work & Pensions corrects past underpayments and implements changes to prevent similar problems in future.”

Investigation-into-underpayments-of-State-Pension-SummaryDownload

New Indoor Activity Centre at Conifox Adventure Park

Adventure park bounces back bigger and better post-pandemic

Conifox Adventure Park in Edinburgh is preparing to welcome back fun seekers with an even bigger and better offering that will quadruple business and boost local employment. 

The team behind the popular visitor attraction on the outskirts of Kirkliston have taken advantage of the enforced pandemic closure to create a new indoor activity centre providing additional facilities including an indoor play barn with soft play, parenting room, three party rooms, café and 200-seater function suite. 

Conifox Adventure Park already boasts a huge outdoor space with attractions for adults and children of all ages including a 9-hole footgolf course, pedal go-karts, off-road pedal tractors, supersized sand pit, kid’s pedal tractor farm, springers, giant jump pillow, trampolines, swings, balance beams, rope bridge, and much more! 

It now anticipates the new facilities, which represent a £2m investment and covers 35,700 sq ft, will mark out the park as a go-to destination for families, wedding parties, school groups, conference and corporate event organisers and others looking for a unique indoor venue. 

The development signals an optimistic return for the enterprise which has overcome the challenges of Covid-19 to not only survive but emerge with a business set to thrive better than ever – and provide up to 15 new jobs. 

James Gammell, Director of Conifox Adventure Park, said: “The events sector has had a particularly challenging time this past year or so, but we’ve been able to put much of this period to great use creating a really special environment for a wide range of users.  

“Although the pandemic slowed some things down it has given us the opportunity to ensure we re-emerge stronger than before with a bigger and better range of attractions. We aim to quadruple the amount of business we do. 

“Our main idea with the indoor facilities was to combat the Scottish weather, enhance the business opportunities and put us on the Scottish attraction map, offering an all-weather destination with national appeal – we’re only 20 mins from Edinburgh city centre and accessible to visitors from all over Scotland and the central belt.” 

The park, which complies with the Visit Britain Covid 19 We’re Good To Go industry standard, is also available for MICE events, book and Christmas fairs, private events and 200-guest weddings.  

James added: “The space is adaptable and very versatile. We’re looking forward to welcoming a whole range of new visitors, as well as our returning guests who we’ve missed so much over the pandemic.” 

To find out more visit the Conifox Adventure Park Facebook page @conifoxadventurepark and their  website.  

Don’t punish children for taking part in climate action, urges Children’s Commissioner

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Bruce Adamson has written to every Director of Education in Scotland urging them to support children taking part in the global climate strike tomorrow (Friday 24th September). 

In the letter the Commissioner stressed that children’s right to peaceful protest should be respected by adults and that a key part of education is to ensure that children are supported to develop an understanding of human rights and a respect for the natural environment.

Commissioner Bruce Adamson: “Student protests have been recognised as having a high educational value as they are often among the first experiences of public participation and human rights defence that children take. This activity can contribute to, rather than detract from children’s enjoyment of their right to education.”

Commending the positive approach some schools have taken to enable students to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly, participation and freedom of expression, he pressed that no punitive action be taken against children for striking. 

Commissioner, Bruce Adamson: “It is important that when children and young people take these peaceful and powerful actions, they are not silenced, discouraged or punished.

“I trust that you as education leaders will recognise the importance of this urgent global issue and will ensure that the children and young people taking part in climate strikes are given the support to which they are entitled.”

Acknowledging that striking may have a short-term impact on education, the Commissioner writes that: “Choosing to strike will undoubtedly have a short-term impact on children and young people’s school-based learning. However, their actions as human rights defenders in bringing attention to the threat of climate change and their demands for those in power to take action is part of their broader education.”

“We should recognise the courage that children and young people are demonstrating in their commitment to addressing climate change as an urgent and acute human rights issue.”

The Commissioner joined the calls of other global human rights leaders to support action including United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. Children’s actions in climate justice have been recognised and supported by the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Scottish Parliament through its engagement of children in the Scottish Climate Assembly.

The Commissioner will be publishing a report on young climate activists’ right to protest in Scotland ahead of COP-26 and pressed the education leaders to support children this week and beyond. 

Commissioner, Bruce Adamson: “Children and young people do not have the same political or economic power as adults, but by acting as human rights defenders, raising their voices and demanding change, they are demonstrating the power of their voices. I urge you to respect and support children and young people’s right to peaceful protest.”

Children-and-Young-Peoples-Commissioner-Scotland_Letter-to-Directors-of-Education_September-2021-FINALDownload

Urban greenspace benefits deprived and ethnic minority communities, research finds

While urban greenspace is often associated with improved mental health, new research has found the benefits are dependent on the characteristics of the population using the space – and their proximity to it.

Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) looked at the link between greenspace and prescription rates to treat mental health disorders across all Scottish towns with more than 10,000 residents.

They found a significant relationship between mental health and the amount of urban greenspace in areas with high proportions of people from black and minority ethnic and/or in areas of high deprivation.

However, the link between lower prescription rates and greenspace in these communities was only evident when looking at those spaces in the immediate neighbourhood. When considering greenspace within a 30-minute walk, no significant relationship was found between greenspace and mental health disorders.

This suggests that the mental health benefits of greenspace for these groups occur where it is closest to home – with previous research finding they are often the least likely to use their nearest greenspace.

Researchers found no significant relationship between mental health and green space in all other population groups.

The research, which has been published by the Urban Forestry & Urban Greening journal, will provide valuable information for urban and land-use planning, where decisions are taken at the population level.

The lead author Dr Michaela Roberts, Environmental Economist at the James Hutton Institute, said: “Our work supports the broad supposition that greenspace and mental health are positively related, and adds further support for the need to understand a populations’ relationship with greenspaces, to ensure urban greening achieves the highest gains for communities.”

Co-author Alistair McVittie, Ecosystem Services Economist at SRUC, said: “Our results highlight that the relationship between greenspace and mental health relies not only on the presence of greenspace itself, but also on the characteristics of the population using the greenspace.”

The research was funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division.

Army called in to help tackle Scotland’s ambulance crisis

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has confirmed that more than 100 military personnel will be drafted in to help tackle the ambulance crisis. He also told MSPs that additional funding of £20 million will be invested in the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) to help improve response times, alleviate pressures and improve staff wellbeing.

In a statement to Parliament, Mr Yousaf announced:

  • assistance from more than 100 military personnel – 88 drivers and 15 support staff – following final approval by the Ministry of Defence. Personnel are expected to begin deployment from this weekend onwards.
  • around 100 2nd year paramedic students to help in ambulance control rooms
  • more Hospital Ambulance Liaison Officers at the busiest A&Es, increasing from 11 to 20 – helping ensure timely admission of patients at A&E and reduce ambulance waiting times
  • additional help from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in the form of volunteer drivers, as well as the British Red Cross and private transport companies where clinically appropriate
  • immediate work to create temporary admission wards in hospitals, meaning patients can be admitted quicker
  • additional senior clinical input in ambulance control rooms and to assist and speed up decision-making on mental health, addictions, falls, breathing difficulties, high intensity users and trauma
  • £500,000 to fund staff wellbeing measures
  • 14 additional staff members in Highland to reduce the on-call requirement in Campeltown, and remove it completely in Fort William, Kirkwall and Broadford.

Tuesday’s funding announcement comes in addition to £20 million already announced as part of the NHS Recovery Plan. That investment will deliver a net increase of almost 300 ambulance service staff by April 2022.

Mr Yousaf said: “The global pandemic has created the most challenging crisis in the history of the NHS. Ambulance services around the UK, as well as the wider NHS, are experiencing unprecedented demand – largely because of COVID-19, but also due to a combination of increasingly complex cases, and exceptionally busy emergency departments.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service is the heartbeat of our NHS. It has a unique role in engaging with all parts of the health and social care system across the whole of Scotland – 24 hours of every day. It is vital that we ensure it has the support it needs to perform this crucial role.  

“The additional investment I have set out today means that the Scottish Ambulance service’s frontline budget for this year is more than 16% higher than it was last year. The measures we have announced today will begin to address some of these issues, both improving the level of service for the public, and also helping to reduce the pressure on the workforce, who are doing so much to serve the public during these incredibly demanding times.”

Time to Play!

BPS survey reveals high level of parents’ fears about effect of pandemic on primary school playtime

A survey for the British Psychological Society (BPS) has revealed that more than three-quarters of parents of primary-aged children believe play is now more than or just as important as academic catch-up, amid fears the pandemic has reduced opportunities for their children to engage in playtime at school.

Almost all parents who responded to the BPS survey said access to playtime in the primary school day was important for their children (96 per cent).

Yet research shows that since 1995, children’s break times in the school day have been reduced by 45 minutes a week, resulting in eight out of ten children now having less than one hour of physical activity per day.*

As a result of the findings, the BPS is launching a Time to Play campaign to put more play back in the school day, restore the playtime eroded and reverse the negative impact on children’s wellbeing and development.

The YouGov survey, commissioned by the BPS, had more than 1,500 respondents from across the UK. Key findings include:

  • 96 per cent of parents surveyed said access to playtime in the school day was either very important (79 per cent) or important (17 per cent) for their children
  • 79 per cent of parents said play was more important or equally as important as academic catch up for their children post-pandemic.
  • 69 per cent were very or fairly concerned that the pandemic has impacted on the opportunities their children have for unstructured playtime at school.
  • 61 per cent ranked social development as the most important benefit of play to their child.

Dr Dan O’Hare, co-chair of the BPS Division of Educational and Child Psychology, said:  “It’s clear from the survey findings that play is valued highly by parents. We now need the government to take bold action and prioritise school playtime for our children’s development.

“This isn’t an ‘ask’ for more playtime, it’s about reclaiming what has been lost. There needs to be adequate support, funding and resources for teachers who are already under increasing pressure to deliver the curriculum.”

The campaign will urge the government to put back 10 minutes each day onto school playtime, effectively reversing the years of decline by restoring 50 minutes spread over a week.

In June this year, in a Statement to Parliament on the education recovery programme, the previous Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the next stage of the government’s recovery plan would include a review of time spent in school and college. The findings of the review are scheduled to be set out this year.

Against this backdrop, the BPS is calling for a focus on unstructured, child-led play in school, highlighting its benefits including aiding social development, problem solving and physical development as vital priorities alongside academic catch-up. 

Dr O’Hare added: “We know that pre-pandemic children’s playtime has been eroded and now, against the landscape of ‘academic catch up’ after lockdowns, closures and pressure on children and schools, this issue is even more urgent.

“Reduced opportunities to play will likely have a negative impact on the wellbeing and development of children, and it is vital that we don’t forget that children have also missed out on play with their friends, physical activity and fun.

“It’s important to understand the role play has in children’s development to really understand why we are campaigning to get more play in the school day. Play is fundamental to children’s health and wellbeing. It can develop children’s skills in coping with challenge, facing uncertainty and how to be flexible and adaptable to different circumstances.

“The intrinsic value of play is that it brings entertainment, enjoyment and freedom to children. It is important that there are opportunities for all children to have high quality play throughout the school day, regardless of their needs, skills and abilities.”

For further campaign information: https://www.bps.org.uk/time-to-play

Get Active! NEAT community events to enjoy this weekend

North Edinburgh Active Travel Network are hosting a number of events this weekend to promote active travel.

See poster for more information – we hope you find an activity to take part in.

North Edinburgh Arts are hosting a Dr Bike Session on Saturday either in MacMillan Square or in the Shed if the weather is poor.

We hope to see you at one of these events!

Ocean Terminal launches online public exhibition

Ocean Terminal has launched an online exhibition to provide local residents with the opportunity to learn more about the proposed redevelopment of the centre and its £100m plans to open up the Leith waterfront for the community.

Put forward by the centre’s Scottish owners, Ambassador Group, the proposal to remodel the 20-year-old centre builds on their vision to create a destination that reflects the needs and aspirations of the people who live and work in Leith and north Edinburgh, adding to the wider regeneration of the area.

With ambitions to maximise the potential of the location with a dramatic streetscape facing the Firth of Forth, Ambassador Group plans to reconfigure the building, with new mixed-used indoor and outdoor space, achieved by the demolition of the existing north multistorey car park and the former Debenhams store.

The exhibition (www.development-oceanterminal.com) is designed to illustrate Ambassador’s strategy for the transformation of the site and will be an opportunity for local people to have their say on the proposals as plans are shaped ahead of the submission of a full planning application early next year.

There will be a chance to put questions to the project team today (Thursday 23 September) between 12 noon and 8pm. The deadline for comments through the feedback form is 8th October.

 A second exhibition, which will present more detailed proposals, is planned for later in the year before a full planning application is submitted to City of Edinburgh Council in early 2022.

Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Ambassador Investments, who is leading the £100m project for Ambassador Group, said: “The regeneration of Leith, with the extension of the tramline to Newhaven and new housing, has allowed us to evolve our ambitions for the centre to create a destination that sits at the heart of this new community.

“Over the pandemic, we’ve seen how local people have relied on Ocean Terminal as a place to connect and with the move towards the idea for 20-minute neighbourhoods, with services, shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities all on the doorstep, there is an opportunity to reimagine the entire space.

“At the same time, and as part of the broader issues that face us, we are committed to climate change mitigation and the promotion of sustainability, in line with City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government net zero targets, through the use of energy efficient materials and low carbon energy generation. The redevelopment allows us to embrace this going forward.

“The online exhibition is an opportunity for people to understand our approach, to ask questions and offer feedback. We want to hear what people think as we continue to develop the plans.”

OceanTerminal_First_Public_ExhibitionDownload

Barratt Homes to transform disused land in Leith

Derelict brownfield land in Leith is set to be transformed into two new five-star housing developments by Barratt Homes.

The UK’s largest housebuilder has started construction of 212 homes on Baltic Street and plans for a 115 home development on South Fort Street are well underway. Named Merchant Quay and Heron Bank respectively, the new developments are expected to generate nearly 60 new jobs and create positions for at least five apprentices.

The construction of Heron Bank and Merchant Quay will also serve to boost the local economy; an economic footprint calculation predicts the developments will add more than £30m in financial output over their build period.

Both developments will also revitalise brownfield sites, with Merchant Quay previously housing a builders yard and Heron Bank home to a steel fabrication company. The regeneration these developments provide will only add to the already booming metropolitan progression of Leith.   

Building in these areas will also provide a significant contribution of much needed Affordable Housing units; Merchant Quay will deliver 43 plots, a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments, in collaboration with Port of Leith Housing Association, and Heron Bank will provide 24 units, the mix of which will be determined throughout the planning process.

Barratt Homes has established itself as one of the biggest contributors to Edinburgh’s Affordable Housing Policy, with over 1,000 units constructed to date.

Alison Condie, managing director for Barratt Homes East Scotland, said: “We have a long and proud association providing housing in the east of Scotland and Barratt is a popular and trusted source of five-star quality homes for buyers.

“We’re looking forward to expanding our offering in the region with these new developments on South Fort Street and Baltic Street, and helping to regenerate these locations.”

Work on both developments is now underway and it is expected that opportunities to move into one, two and three-bedroom apartments in Leith will be available in early 2022.

Further details and updates on Merchant Quay and Heron Bank are available on the Barratt Homes website.

From the Past to the Future

Granton Heritage Exhibtion this weekend

The history hub have prepared a series of displays that include unique photographs on Granton’s industries, the Madelvic Car Factory, Granton harbour and Granton castle, transport as well as agriculture.

We are also delighted that Edinburgh City Council have their Waterfront Development Information Displays available, outlining the detailed plans for the local area.

This is truly be a unique community event showing how Granton has developed over the years, with visions about its future.

We also have an art sale of work by 13 artists celebrating local scenery and heritage, complementing the heritage displays.

The event is free, no booking required.

Opening times are Saturday 11-4pm and Sunday 11-2pm.

Please note there is a (seated) talk between 2-4pm during which we are unable give access to the general public.

https://grantonhub.org/2021/09/21/from-the-past-to-the-future-exhibition-on-25-26-september/