More than 20,000 Self Assessment customers have used HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) online monthly payment plan service since April to spread the cost of their tax bill, totalling £46 million so far, it has been revealed.
Where customers are struggling to pay their bill in full, the self-serve Time to Pay service allows Self Assessment customers to manage how they pay their tax liabilities. Customers can use the online service for tax bills worth up to £30,000 without the need to talk to HMRC. The service will create a bespoke monthly payment plan for the customer based on how much tax is owed and the length of time needed to pay.
Last year, 123,000 customers used self-serve Time to Pay to spread the cost of their 2019/20 tax bill, worth £460 million.
Customers have until 31 January 2022 to complete their 2020/21 tax return and pay their bill.
If they can’t pay in full, customers can set up their own Time to Pay arrangement online if they:
have filed their 2020/21 tax return
owe less than £30,000
are within 60 days of the payment deadline
plan to pay their debt off within the next 12 months or less
If customers owe more than £30,000, or need longer to pay, they should call the Self Assessment Payment Helpline on 0300 200 3822.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “We understand some customers might be worrying about paying their Self Assessment bill this year, and we want to support them.
“To see if you’re eligible to set up a payment plan, go to GOV.UK and search ‘pay my Self Assessment’.”
HMRC urges everyone to be alert if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information.
Customers should always type in the full online address www.gov.uk/hmrc to get the correct link for filing their Self Assessment return online securely and free of charge.
HMRC sees high numbers of fraudsters emailing, calling or texting people claiming to be from the department. If in doubt, HMRC advises not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but to contact them straight away and to search GOV.UK for ‘HMRC scams’.
A series of oak armorial panels from a house inhabited by Mary Queen of Scots’ mother Marie de Guise, Regent of Scotland and wife of James V, have been acquired and conserved by National Museums Scotland.
The announcement coincided with the birth date of Mary, Queen of Scots (December 8th 542).
The four roundels are said to have come from a house in Blyth’s Close, in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, where Marie de Guise lived from around 1543 to 1554.
One carries the combined coats of arms of James and Marie, later used by their daughter Mary Queen of Scots herself.
Armorial roundels like these were included in the elaborate decorative schemes of royal and noble houses. They were used to promote the elite status of those who lived in the apartments and to demonstrate their relationships with powerful people.
Dr Anna Groundwater, Principal Curator, Renaissance and Early Modern History at National Museums Scotland, said: “These armorial panels are a fantastic addition to the National Collections. We are very pleased to have been able to acquire them and look forward to putting them on public display in the future.
“They are important pieces in their own right, and complement our existing collection of material associated with Marie de Guise already on display. We are particularly pleased to add these marital coat of arms of Mary, Queen of Scots’ parents.”
Falkland Palace, Fife.
Mary Queen of Scots was born at Linlithgow Palace on 8 December 1542. Her father, James V, died just six days later, leaving her mother, Marie de Guise, to safeguard her future.
Her parents (above) had married in June 1538 at St Andrews Cathedral, in a liaison intended to secure the ‘auld alliance’ of Scotland with France against England and Henry VIII. The imagery associated with the marital union can be seen in this armorial roundel which carries the impaled arms of James V (the rampant Scottish lion), and Marie de Guise (as duchess of Longueville), surmounted by a crown.
These roundels join other significant decorative objects associated with Scotland’s Queen Regent already in National Museums Scotland’s collections, including carved oak doors salvaged from the same house when it was demolished, as well as sixteen oak medallion panels.
Read more in this blog post written by curator Dr Anna Groundwater
Alzheimer Scotland’s winter fundraising appeal launches this week to spread a little bit of magic
The campaign called ‘Magic’ asks for donations to help them continue their work
Danny McDonald and his wife Catherine from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, have shared their story to highlight the campaign
Every penny raised in Scotland stays in Scotland to fulfil Alzheimer Scotland’s mission that nobody faces dementia alone
Alzheimer Scotland has launched a winter campaign this week to help them continue their work to make sure that nobody faces dementia alone.
The charity provides support and information to people with dementia, their carers and families, and campaigns for the rights of people with dementia and fund vital dementia research.
Alzheimer Scotland Chief Executive, Henry Simmons, said: “We simply could not provide the level of support we do without such dedicated supporters – thank you to each and every person who make it possible for us to support people with dementia and their families and carers.”
Danny McDonald (57) from Clydebank in West Dunbartonshire was diagnosed with vascular dementia five years ago when he was 52. He is a member of the Scottish Dementia Working Group, a campaigning group run by people with dementia and funded by Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Government.
Danny said: “My diagnosis was quite earth shattering for us. The first thing that came into my mind was how was this going to change our lives?
“My outlook was just to be the best husband and father that I could be regardless of the diagnosis because inside I’d not really changed.”
Danny’s wife Catherine added: “We got quite a blunt diagnosis. Danny was told, ‘you’ve got memory problems and you’ve had a stroke so therefore we’re giving you a diagnosis of dementia. We’ll see you again in six weeks‘.”
“So we left and sat in the car and we both had a cry and asked ‘what’s just happened? Where do we go from here? “
They phoned their local Dementia Resource Centre to get some information and the Dementia Advisor offered to visit them the next day.
Danny said: “The Dementia Advisor’s support was excellent, there’s always someone you can talk to. Life would be very difficult for us without Alzheimer Scotland, they’ve had such a positive impact in our life. The Dementia Resource Centre is like my second home.”
Morrisons eco range includes cleaning products, fabric conditioner and laundry liquid
All products are 100% recyclable
Made using plant-based and biodegradable materials, with no harsh chemicals
Prices start at just £1.00, a fraction of the cost of similar household brands
Morrisons has launched a new cleaning range – Morrisons eco – to provide customers with more environmentally friendly alternatives to many staple household products.
The range includes anti-bacterial spray, floor cleaner, toilet cleaner, laundry liquid, fabric conditioner, washing up liquid, toilet paper, kitchen roll, sponges and cloths – all the products are made from plant-based and vegan ingredients.
The packaging is fully-recyclable and can be recycled by customers at home, the products are also part of Morrisons first Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free certified range.
Morrisons has launched the range in response to feedback from customers that they want to purchase cleaning products that would help them protect the environment but need them to be at a more affordable price point.
Research by Morrisons revealed that four out of five of its customers (81 per cent) said they care about the environment, and just under half (45 per cent) of customers said they have purchased an eco-friendly household product in the last six months, as shopping trends continue to shift.
Unlike ordinary cleaning products that can be harmful to the environment, Morrisons eco range has been created with sustainability and the protection of the planet in mind, and without any compromise on performance.
When independently tested against comparable products from leading household brands, Morrisons eco range performed as well as products costing three times as much. Customers can pick up the Morrisons eco range in store from just £1.00, a saving compared to similar eco-ranges available.
James Crabtree, Senior Household Buying Manager at Morrisons, says: “We believe that powerful cleaning doesn’t have to cost the earth – and we mean that both figuratively and literally.
“We’ve seen a boom in the popularity of more environmentally friendly products and we know our customers want to shop more sustainably. We’re excited to be able to provide them with an even bigger variety of cleaning products – that look and smell great – to pick up as part of their weekly shop, without breaking the bank.”
The following products are available now in Morrisons stores nationwide and online at morrisons.com:
New treatment options will see people in the early stages of illness from COVID-19 who are at higher risk of complications access new antiviral treatments.
Antiviral medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 will be evaluated through a new national study called PANORAMIC, run by the University of Oxford. The UK-wide study will prioritise those at greater risk of being severely ill if they test positive for COVID-19. Eligibility for the study is therefore limited to those who meet certain criteria.
The study, starting today, is open to people aged 50 and above, or 18-49 with certain underlying health conditions which make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. They must also have started to experience COVID-19 symptoms within the past five days and have recorded a positive PCR test.
In addition to the study, all people considered as extremely high risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19, and who have tested positive, will be able to access a monoclonal antibody or, if not appropriate, an antiviral treatment, from 16 December.
In the coming weeks letters will be sent to those eligible with further information. Details on who is eligible can also be found on NHS Inform, and – from 16 December – a dedicated contact number will be available for each health board to provide further information on how to get access to the medicines.
These treatments are in addition to vaccinations which still remain the best way to protect everyone.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said: “This University of Oxford study will test whether new antiviral treatments for COVID-19 can help people in the early stages of the illness recover faster and therefore reduce the number of people being admitted to hospital.
“The results from the national study will give us a clearer understanding on how antivirals work in the UK population, which will allow the NHS to better plan how to make COVID-19 antivirals available for those who would benefit from them the most. We will provide further detail on plans for wider availability of antivirals in due course.
“I would encourage people in Scotland to take part if they are eligible. You may be contacted about taking part by a health care professional if you have a positive PCR result, or you can register yourself via the Oxford University website www.panoramictrial.org.
“The treatment is tablets taken orally as soon as possible after getting a COVID-19 infection to stop the illness from getting worse.
“Antiviral treatments are in addition to COVID-19 vaccinations – including boosters – and not a replacement. We hope they will help reduce the severity of illness in people who may fall ill even if they have been vaccinated.
“It remains clear that getting vaccinated is the single most effective step that anyone can take to protect themselves from the most severe disease caused by COVID-19. Anyone who has not yet received their first or second COVID-19 vaccination can check their nearest open access centre on NHS Inform or phone the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.”
Further details on the University of Oxford trial and what is involved in taking part is available at www.panoramictrial.org.
Vaccination teams in Lothian have administered a massive 1.6m doses of the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine in just 12 months.
As NHS Lothian yesterday marked a year milestone since the first vaccination was administered, figures show that vaccinators have delivered massive numbers of first, second and booster doses of the vaccine, helping in the battle to save countless lives and prevent serious illness.
A total of 712,827 first doses, 657,528 second doses and 266,153 doses of the booster vaccine have been delivered since the programme began, as well as 8,324 doses for patients who are severely immunosuppressed.
Since the annual flu vaccination programme began some weeks ago, vaccination teams have also delivered 278,517 doses of flu vaccine to people who are eligible.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health Humza Yousaf visited the team in Lowland Hall vaccination centre in Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, yesterday to mark the anniversary of the programme and thank staff for their outstanding efforts.
Laura Hall, centre manager, said: “When I look back on the last year and everything we have achieved, I feel really proud.
“In Lowland Hall so far, we have delivered 330,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine as part of the Lothian-wide programme. It is a massive achievement.”
NHS Lothian’s vaccination programme, which is the largest of its kind ever to be undertaken, began on 8 December 2020 and over the last 12 months has evolved and grown at rapid pace.
Now, amid fears around the new OMICRON variant and during the run-up to Christmas, the teams are facing one of their busiest stages yet.
Teams have geared up across the board to make more appointments available in all of the centres in Lothian.
Pat Wynne, Nurse Director of Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said: “We have come such a long way in the last year, but we still have more to do.
“We are receiving emerging new information and evidence about the new OMICRON variant, but vaccination remains our best defence.
“Our teams are gearing up across Lothian to make sure we can administer as many doses as possible. We would urge anyone who is eligible for any doses of their vaccine to make an appointment or use one of our drop-in clinics.”
Beleaguered Boris bows to the inevitable as new variant cases soar
Move to Plan B confirmed as Omicron spreads across UK, with early analysis suggesting cases could be doubling at a rate of as little as 2.5 to 3 days
Face masks to become compulsory in most public indoor venues, other than hospitality
NHS Covid Pass to be mandatory in specific settings, using a negative test or full vaccination via the NHS Covid Pass
Vaccines and testing remain our best lines of defence
People asked to work from home if they can
The Prime Minister last night confirmed that England will move to Plan B following the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK.
Urgent work has been ongoing to understand the impact of the new variant with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. Early indications showed a large number of concerning spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome.
On Saturday 27 November, the government acted quickly to slow the spread of Omicron while more data was collected and assessed.
The most recent data suggests that Omicron has a very high growth rate and is spreading rapidly. S-gene drop out cases have grown from 0.15% of cases during the week of 21st November, to 3.3% of cases since 5 December in England. There are currently 568 cases confirmed across the UK and early analysis from the UK Health Security Agency suggesting the doubling time could be as little as 2.5 to 3 days.
As seen in previous waves, a swift rise in cases can lead to a rapid rise in hospitalisations, which will quickly lead to pressure on the NHS. The data in South Africa is showing a rapid increase in hospitalisations.
As a result of this concerning data the Prime Minister has acted quickly and with caution, confirming Plan B measures will come into force while more data on vaccine efficacy and disease severity is assessed. Plan B was set out in September and will help to slow the spread of the variant and reduce the chances of the NHS coming under unsustainable pressure, while buying time to deliver more boosters.
While it is likely there is some level of reduced vaccine effectiveness against Omicron, it is still too early to determine the extent of this.
The government will continue to look closely at all the emerging data but vaccines remain our best line of defence and it is now more vital than ever that those who are unvaccinated come forward, and those eligible for their boosters book when called.
Yesterday the NHS confirmed a huge expansion of the booster programme, with the National Booking Service now open to all those aged over 40 to book their jabs. The dose interval has also been shortened from six months to three months, with those eligible now able to book a month in advance – two months after their second dose.
The vaccine programme will be supported by the continued development of world-leading treatments. Today the Prime Minister confirmed a new national study that will see 10,000 UK patients at risk of serious illness from COVID-19 given the treatment molnupiravir to treat their symptoms at home.
Testing will also be a vital tool in controlling the spread given the likely increased transmissibility of Omicron. As there is now demonstrated community transmission of Omicron, we intend to introduce daily contact tests for contacts of confirmed positive cases instead of the ten-day self-isolation period.
Everyone should test using a lateral flow device, particularly before entering a high-risk setting involving people you wouldn’t normally come into contact with, or when visiting a vulnerable person. Lateral flow devices remain free of charge and can be collected from local pharmacies.
From tomorrow (Friday 10 December), face coverings will become compulsory in most public indoor venues in England, such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship.
There will be exemptions in venues where it is not practical to wear one, such as when you are eating, drinking or exercising. For that reason, face masks will not be required in hospitality settings.
From Monday 13 December, those who can will be advised to work from home in England.
From Wednesday 15 December, and subject to parliamentary approval, the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into England’s nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather – including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees.
People will be able to demonstrate proof of two vaccine doses via the app. Having considered the evidence since the emergence of Omicron, proof of a negative lateral flow test will also be accepted.
Introducing Covid-status certification from next Wednesday will give English businesses a week’s notice, as promised in the government’s proposals for introducing mandatory certification published in September.
A full list of guidance on these changes will be available on gov.uk in the coming days. Face covering regulations will be laid in parliament today, with the remaining regulations laid on Monday 13 December.
Parliament will debate the measures next week, with a vote expected to take place on Tuesday 14 December.
The government will keep the data under constant review. The regulations set to expire six weeks after implementation, with a review after three weeks.
Taken together, the UK government is hopeful these measures will reduce transmission and slow the spread of the Omicron variant. They will continue to urge those eligible to get their boosters when called.
PM Boris Johnson’s opening statement at COVID-19 press conference: 8 December 2021
As soon as we learned of the new Omicron variant, this government acted – introducing targeted and proportionate measures as a precaution, whilst our scientists discovered more.And we’re learning more every day.
We do not yet know Omicron’s severity, its exact rate of transmission, nor indeed the full effectiveness of our vaccines against it.
But since I last spoke to you, it’s become increasingly clear that Omicron is growing much faster than the previous Delta variant, and it’s spreading rapidly all around the world.
568 cases have been confirmed through genomic sequencing across every region of the UK, and the true number is certain to be much higher.
Most worryingly, there is evidence that the doubling time of Omicron in the UK could currently be between two and three days.
And while there are some limits to what we can learn from South Africa, because of the different rates of vaccination and different rates of previous infection, we are seeing growth in cases here in the UK that mirrors the rapid increases previously seen in South Africa.
And South Africa is also seeing hospitalisations roughly doubling in a week, meaning that we can’t yet assume Omicron is less severe than previous variants.
So while the picture may get better, and I sincerely hope that it will – we know the remorseless logic of exponential growth could lead to a big rise in hospitalisations, and therefore sadly in deaths.
And that is why it is now the proportionate and responsible thing to move to Plan B in England – while continuing to work closely with our colleagues in the Devolved Administrations – so we slow the spread of the virus, buy ourselves the time to get yet more boosters into more arms, and especially in the older and more vulnerable people, and understand the answers to the key outstanding questions about Omicron.
So first, we will reintroduce the guidance to work from home.
Employers should use the rest of this week to discuss working arrangements with their employees
but from Monday you should work from home if you can. Go to work if you must but work from home if you can.
And I know this will be hard for many people, but by reducing your contacts in the workplace you will help slow transmission.
Second, from this Friday we will further extend the legal requirement to wear a face mask to most public indoor venues, including theatres and cinemas.
There will be of course exemptions where it is not practical, such as when eating, drinking, exercising or singing.
Third, we’ll also make the NHS Covid Pass mandatory for entry into nightclubs, and venues where large crowds gather including unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 people.
The NHS Covid Pass can still be obtained with two doses but we will keep this under review as the boosters roll out.
And having taken clinical advice since the emergence of Omicron, a negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient.
As we set out in Plan B, we will give businesses a week’s notice, so this will come into force in a week’s time, helping to keep these events and venues open at full capacity, while giving everyone who attends them confidence that those around them have done the responsible thing to minimise risk to others.
As Omicron spreads in the community, we will also introduce daily tests for contacts instead of isolation, so we keep people safe while minimising the disruption to daily life.
And of course we will take every step to ensure our NHS is ready for the challenges ahead.
But the single biggest thing that every one of us can do, is to get our jabs and crucially to get that booster as soon as our turn arrives.
One year to the day since the UK became the first country in the world to administer a Covid vaccine into the arms of Margaret Keenan, we have opened up the vaccine booster to all those over 40, and we are reducing the gap between second dose and booster to a minimum of just three months.
Our heroic NHS staff and volunteers have already done almost 21 million boosters, including reaching 84 per cent of all the eligible over 80s.
But we need to go further and faster still, because our scientists are absolutely confident that your immune response will be stronger if you have been boosted.
And while you are at it – please get your flu jab too.
Let’s do everything we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones this winter – and to reduce the pressures on our NHS.
As we learn more, so we will be guided by the hard medical data around four key criteria:
+ the efficacy of our vaccines and our boosters,
+ the severity of Omicron,
+ the speed of its spread,
+ and the rate of hospitalisations.
We will constantly monitor the data and keep it under review.
And of course we must be humble in the face of this virus.
But if and indeed as soon as it becomes clear that the boosters are capable of holding this Omicron variant, and we have boosted enough people to do that job, then we will be able to move forward as before.
So please everybody play your part – and get boosted.
