The Royal Highland Show is calling upon producers from across Scotland to apply for the 2022 Scottish Handcrafts, Bread, Honey, and Dairy Championships.
Entries open tomorrow – Thursday 24th March. The Championships are judged across an extensive range of categories and recognise excellence in Scottish produce. They are judged in advance by a panel of experienced industry experts and displayed at the Royal Highland Show, taking place from the 23rd – 26th June 2022.
The Scottish Championships attract producers and crafters of the highest-quality and are recognised as respected industry accolades, and are of great value to successful entrants.
The Dairy Championships comprise competitions for cheese, ice cream, yoghurt and butter, with classes including those for specialty cheese, frozen yoghurt and flavoured butter. The Dairy Championships will be showcased in a new and improved area on the Showground this year.
A showcase of creativity, the Handcrafts Championships include a variety of art forms, from porcelain and beadwork to baskets and walking sticks, with the theme for entries being ‘Celebration of the Countryside’. This year, Handcrafts will be moving to a brand-new marquee in the Craft Zone.
Each year the Bread Championships, held in association with Scotland the Bread, attract a high calibre of entries. Celebrating ‘real’ bread made without additives or preservatives, there are classes for everything from sourdough to loaves made especially by small producers.
The Honey Championships, feature several classes for all things honey related – including raw honey, honey cocktails, artwork related to beekeeping and photography featuring bees.
Chief Steward of the Scottish Championships, Jackie McCreery, said: “The Scottish Championships are an unrivalled stage for the high-quality products that are coming out of Scotland. The Royal Highland Show is the best shop window you could ask for, and a gold, silver or bronze award catches the eye of potential customers.
“There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain – for larger companies it’s a chance to solidify the claims of their best-selling products, while for smaller producers it’s an opportunity to prove their worth against the top products in their field, whether that’s sourdough bread or artisan gelato.”
Entries close for the Scottish Handcrafts Championships on 15th April, with the rest of entries closing 22nd May.
Full details of entry criteria and classes can be found on the Royal Highland Show website.
Four soldiers of the Great War had their graves rededicated in the presence of their family yesterday (Tuesday 22 March 2022).
Lance Corporal Wilfred Horace Miller
Both services were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, and were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Ypres Reservoir Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium.
Nicola Nash, MOD JCCC caseworker said: “After more than 100 years, these four men who were lost, have now been found. There is nothing more rewarding for us than giving a family closure and making sure that every soldier is remembered as he should be.”
The first service was held for Lance Serjeant (LSjt) Edward Leonard Cottrell and Serjeant (Sjt) Joseph Frank Brookes Birkin whilst the second was to honour Lance Corporal (LCpl) Wilfred Horace Miller and LCpl Arthur Burton. All four served with the Leicestershire Regiment.
Serjeant Joseph Frank Brookes Birkin
Defence Minister Leo Docherty said: “We will never fail in our duty to remember those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom during the two world wars.
“As more fallen servicemen from both world wars are discovered, the MOD Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre will strive to confirm their identities. Their tireless efforts and dedication will ensure these soldiers’ names will live on in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s cemeteries.”
The four soldiers had no known graves since tragically losing their lives in 1915, however, due to the collective efforts of the MOD JCCC and CWGC following evidence submitted, their final resting places have now been found over a century later.
Private Benjamin Nicolas laying wreath on behalf of members of the Birkin family who were unable to attend
Following submission of research, including from the CWGC, that was considered by the MOD JCCC as the adjudicators, additional research by the team themselves and the National Army Museum led to the four cases being confirmed.
Nicola added: “Today, we honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, along with representatives from the regiment and their family.”
John Williamson, great nephew of Sjt Birkin, said: “It is wonderful this work still continues; this ceremony gives final closure to the family.”
Birkin family members in prayer during the service
Research by MOD JCCC also led to LCpl Miller’s family being traced meaning they could be invited to today’s service to pay their respects.
Maria Miller, great niece of LCpl Miller, said: “This has been the most humbling experience and a great privilege to be here today.”
Maria Miller at the graveside of her great uncle Lcpl Miller’s headstone
The services were supported by the Royal Anglian Regiment and were conducted by the Reverend (Captain) Thomas Wilde, CF, Chaplain to the Royal Anglian Regiment, who said: “When you give a soldier a name you give them meaning a history and a voice.”
The graves will now be marked by headstones provided by the CWGC.
Fergus Read, CWGC Case Officer (Commemorations), said: “It is always immensely satisfying when we are able to put a name on any headstone. Here, the research for one case helped us to unlock the names of those buried in a further three graves.
“It is the Commission’s privilege to be part of the work to identify the last resting places of these casualties, and to care for their graves in perpetuity.”
Join us on Zoom for a 45 minute talk followed by Q&A on “The Royal Company of Merchants of Edinburgh” with Vince Mason, Chair of the Charities Committee at the Company.
St James Quarter has extended its line-up once again as it welcomes luxury fashion brand Coach to level three.
Taking a 3,140 sq ft space on level three, the global design house of modern luxury leather goods, apparel and lifestyle accessories will sit amongst other designer brands including The Kooples, BOSS, Reiss, Aesop, Russell & Bromley, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and H Beauty and Tapestry-owned Kate Spade.
The space will feature a wide assortment of Coach merchandise for women and men including bags, small leather goods, footwear, watches, travel accessories, scarves and jewellery. Warm and inviting, the store environment reflects the sophisticated yet playful refinement of New York – the city Coach has always called home.
Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said:“Spring has officially sprung and to celebrate, we’re welcoming Coach to the St James Quarter family.
“This addition continues to show how we are bringing together a diverse range of retail, leisure and food & beverage brands that provide a little something for everyone to enjoy.
“The next few months are extremely exciting for us as we gear up for even more openings – watch this space!”
This letting follows St James Quarter announcing its signing of BOSS at the start of the year. The game-changing mixed-use development completes the distinctive offer of Edinburgh with over 80 new brands, an enticing mix of restaurants and bars, W Edinburgh, a boutique Everyman Cinema, a Roomzzz Aparthotel, and an enviable events programme in a range of new and attractive public spaces.
‘A failure of courage, a failure of compassion and a failure of justice‘ – Peter Kelly, The Poverty Alliance
Chancellor announces Spring Statement tax cut for 2.4 million Scottish workers through rise in National Insurance thresholds – saving the typical employee over £330 a year.
Unveiling plans to give families further help with the cost of living, Rishi Sunak also slashes fuel duty on petrol and diesel by 5p per litre for the next 12 months.
Spring Statement also sets out measures to help businesses boost investment, innovation, and growth – including a £1,000 increase to Employment Allowance to benefit around half a million SMEs across the UK
The UK Government is providing an additional £45 million to the Scottish Government next year as a result of measures announced by the Chancellor today.
The Chancellor delivered a Spring Statement today that ‘puts billions of pounds back into the pockets of hard-working people in Scotland’– unveiling a series of tax cuts to ease the cost of living.
Rishi Sunak announced that National Insurance starting thresholds will rise to £12,570 from July, meaning hard-working people across the UK will keep more of what they earn before they start paying personal taxes.
The cut, worth over £6 billion, will benefit 2.4 million working people in Scotland with a typical employee saving over £330 a year, whilst the typical self-employed person will save over £250. This means the UK now has some of the most generous tax thresholds in the world.
Mr Sunak also announced that fuel duty for petrol and diesel will be cut by 5p per litre from 6pm tonight (23 March) to help drivers across the UK with rising costs. Worth £2.4 billion, this is the biggest cut ever on all fuel duty rates and means a one-car family will now save on average £100.
As a result of a cut to the basic rate of income tax for savings income, taxpayers in Scotland will see benefits worth £3 million. As other income tax rates are devolved in Scotland, the Scottish Government’s funding is automatically increased as a result of this tax cut as set out in the agreed Fiscal Framework. This is initially worth £350 million in 2024-25.
The Chancellor also set out a series of measures to help businesses boost investment, innovation, and growth – including a £1,000 increase to Employment Allowance to benefit around half a million businesses.
As a result of measures in this Spring Statement the UK Government is providing the Scottish Government with an additional £45 million through the Barnett formula next year.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said:“We’re slashing taxes for millions of hard-working people in Scotland, getting pounds in people’s pockets and helping pay cheques to stretch further – from July more than 2.4 million in Scotland will get a tax cut with the typical employee keeping £330 more each year.
“By cutting fuel duty, we’re making it cheaper for people in Scotland every time they go to the pump, which together with the freeze means people save £100 per car on average a year.
“We’re boosting small business growth by increasing the Employment Allowance – a tax cut worth up to £1,000 for thousands of businesses.”
To grow the world’s very best talent in AI, the UK Government will partner with industry and academia to create 1,000 new AI PhDs. The Government will invest £117m to create PHDs across the UK at Centres for Doctoral Training, building on the existing three sites in Scotland. This will train a new generation of AI researchers who will develop and use AI in areas such as healthcare, climate change and creating new commercial opportunities.
Delivering the statement, the Chancellor made clear that our sanctions against Russia will not be cost-free for people at home, and that Putin’s invasion presents a risk to our economic recovery – as it does to countries all around the world.
However, announcing the further measures to help people deal with rising costs, he said the extra support could only be provided because of the UK’s strong economy and the tough but responsible decisions taken to rebuild our fiscal resilience.
The immediate financial support for people and businesses comes as part of a wider tax plan announced by the Chancellor that will create better conditions for growth and will share proceeds from growth more fairly – ensuring people can keep more of what they earn.
Mr Sunak also announced that the Scottish Government will receive £41 million more funding as there will be an extra £500 million for the Household Support Fund, which doubles it’s total amount to £1 billion to support the most vulnerable families with their essentials over the coming months.
The Chancellor also reduced the VAT on energy saving materials such as solar panels, heating pumps and roof insulation from 5% to zero, helping families become more energy-efficient.
This cost of living support comes on top of the measures that the Chancellor has already announced over the recent months to support families. This includes an over £9 billion energy bill rebate package, worth up to £350 each for around 28 million households, an increase to the National Living Wage, worth £1,000 for full time workers, and a cut to the Universal Credit taper, worth £1,000 for 2 million families.
The Spring Statement also confirms that:
A new Efficiency and Value for Money Committee will be set up to cut £5.5 billion worth of cross-Whitehall waste – with savings to be used to fund public services.
£50 million new funding to create a Public Sector Fraud Authority to hold departments to account for their counter-fraud performance and to help them identify, seize and recover fraudsters money.
Local residents across the UK will benefit from a fresh set of infrastructure projects as we open the second round of the £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund. It will continue to focus on regeneration, transport and cultural investments.
Chancellor’s statement ‘a failure of courage and compassion’, says Poverty Alliance
Reacting to today’s Spring Statement, Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “Government should be about compassion and justice, and making sure people are able to live as full a life as they can.
“The Chancellor said his Spring Statement today was all about security. Yet his plans show a failure to comprehend the situations being faced by households across the country, leaving them with insecure and falling incomes in the face of rising costs.
“Amid a rising tide of poverty, the Chancellor could have thrown a lifeline by increasing benefits in line with inflation and by scrapping the unjust benefit cap. Instead he has provided additional funding of only £500m to the Household Support Fund which, although welcome, will quickly be consumed by the rising cost of living for families on the lowest incomes.
“The increase in the National Insurance threshold has also been presented as a support to people living on low incomes. In reality two thirds of this effective tax cut will go to middle and higher income households.
“By ignoring the tidal wave of rising living costs that is pulling so many people into poverty, the Chancellor has made clear his priorities. His tax cutting agenda will generate positive headlines, but could see another 400,000 people across the UK swept into poverty.
“Ultimately, the Chancellor’s statement is a failure of courage, a failure of compassion, and a failure of justice.”
The UK Government has not delivered the support and help that families and businesses need today, according to Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.
Responding to the Spring Statement, Ms Forbes said the Chancellor failed to help thousands of worried households facing poverty as a result of soaring energy bills and a cost of living crisis.
In 2018/19, the Scottish Government introduced a more progressive approach to tax, including a 19% starter rate band below the basic rate, ensuring those who can afford to pay a little more do so.
Ms Forbes said: “The Spring Statement has failed to address the biggest challenges facing households today. With soaring energy bills and a cost of living crisis, the Chancellor has not used his Spring Statement sufficiently to provide lifeline support that could prevent households facing fuel poverty.
“The Scottish Government is providing a further £10 million to continue our Fuel Insecurity Fund into 2022-23, which supports people struggling with their energy bills. Most powers relating to the energy markets remain reserved and Scottish Ministers have repeatedly called for the UK Government to urgently take further action to support households – including a reduction in VAT on household energy bills and support for those on low incomes.
“We are doing all we can to tackle the cost of living crisis – including doubling the Scottish Child Payment from £10 per week per eligible child to £20 next month. The UK Government should have followed our lead and matched the 6% uprate on social security benefits which the Scottish Government is adding to eight of the benefits we deliver. The Chancellor failed to match that commitment which could have provided lifeline support to thousands of households.
“On taxation, we have already acted to introduce a 19% starter rate of income tax below the basic rate, in line with our commitment to progressive taxation, which makes Scotland the fairest taxed part of the UK. We will continue to take that approach when we set taxation policy in future budgets.”
In the midst of the biggest wages and bills crisis in living memory, Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement has failed families who need help NOW, says the TUC.
He didn’t stand up for families. He didn’t take the opportunity to stand up to the bosses who’ve sacked hundreds of workers at P&O. And he didn’t set out a plan to get wages rising – leaving the average workers facing a wage cut of over £500 this year.
Fund efforts towards a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine
Take additional measures to support families in the UK with rising energy prices
Deliver the long-term changes needed for a high-wage, high skill, high productivity economy
Below we set out how the spring statement matched up to our tests and assess what it means for working people.
The Chancellor didn’t deliver an immediate boost to pay
Workers’ pay prospects from the statement don’t look good. The OBR forecasts real weekly wages to fall by £11p/w (2.0 per cent) in 2022, and fall again in 2023. This will put wages back below their 2008 levels (after a brief recovery in 2021), where they’ll stay until 2025. And even this contains some optimistic wage forecasts, with the OBR forecasting pay before inflation to rise by as much as 5.9 per in Q3 2022.
The OBR forecasts that the 2022-23 financial year will see the biggest fall in living standards since records began in 1956-57, explaining that the “failure of nominal earnings growth to keep pace with rising inflation” is a “key factor” in this.
It adds that the policy measures announced since October only “offset a third of the overall fall in living standards that would otherwise have occurred in the coming 12 months”.
But there was no action to tackle falling pay in the Chancellor’s statement: nothing on raising the minimum wage, or funding public sector pay rises, and no recognition that collective bargaining (and union presence) is the most sustainable way to get wages rising.
Measures to support families in the UK with rising energy prices and the cost of living were totally inadequate
The spring statement offers little good news for struggling families, especially those in receipt of benefits.
Benefits uprating
Worst of all there was no increase in the basic rate of benefits. As it stands, the standard allowance for Universal Credit and legacy benefits is set to rise by 3.1 per cent in April 2022. But this is far below the latest inflation figure (CPI is 6.2% in Feb 2022 and RPI is 8.2%), with inflation forecast to rise higher in the coming months.
This will leave those on benefits facing a real terms cut at a time when energy bills are rising by 54 per cent. The families who need the most help have been left totally out in the cold by the Chancellor today.
The decision not to cut benefits in real terms will particularly impact those who are unable to work. This reflects a wider ignorance of the equalities impact of the cost of living crisis.
We also didn’t see a reversal of the decision to suspend the state pension triple lock. The decision to abandon the pensions triple lock will cost pensioners almost £500 a year. Pensioners are particularly vulnerable to price hikes as they spend a higher percentage of their income on food and fuel.
Targeted support
The big new announcement for targeted support for low-income households was £500 million in additional funding for the Household Support Fund – a temporary discretionary fund run by local authorities. This scheme was set to end this month, and the initial funding was £500 million.
This extra money is worth less than £10 each to the six million families claiming Universal Credit – in the unlikely event they hear about it and are able to jump through the hoops needed to claim it. And contrast this £500 million to the £10 billion cut to benefit spending in 2022-23 as a result of not uprating benefits in line with inflation.
Income tax and national insurance threshold
Changes to tax cuts won’t help the families who need it most now. Raising the National Insurance threshold mostly benefits middle earners and, compared to increasing benefits payments, does little to help those with low income. This can be seen in the chart below, from the Resolution Foundation.
And promises of income tax cuts tomorrow do nothing for families facing cuts to their living standards now.
And the Chancellor has missed another opportunity to raise sick pay and make it available to all. Living with Covid requires decent sick pay for all, yet we’re still waiting for government to take action on this.
VAT-free insulation and solar panels
Alongside this was the removal of the 5% Value Added Tax currently applied to building materials, like home insulation and solar panels. But this only benefits families who own a home and can afford to renovate it anyway.
The Chancellor should’ve taken the opportunity to invest in home retrofits at scale. Improving the average UK home’s energy efficiency to band C would reduce the country’s gas demand by 15% and cut hundreds of pounds off fuel poor homes’ energy bills. A massive social homes retrofits programme, delivered by local authorities, could also create over a quarter million good jobs over two years. But here again the Chancellor failed to act.
Transport
The 5p cut on fuel duty does next to nothing to support those at the sharp end of the wages and bills crisis. Analysis by NEF estimates that a third of this tax cut will go directly to the richest 20% of households, while the poorest 20% will on average only receive £5 per month. To make transport truly affordable for everyone, Government should be expanding bus and rail services in the public sector.
The Chancellor didn’t talk about the long-term changes needed for a high-wage, high skill, high productivity economy
We heard nothing on reforms to corporate governance, industrial strategy or expanding the public sector workforce to deliver the decent public services we need to level up.
The Chancellor did announce a review of the apprenticeship levy. We believe that any changes to the levy should focus on significantly increasing the number of high-quality apprenticeships and widening access to groups facing long-standing barriers. A review must not be an exercise in allowing employers to duck their responsibilities on apprenticeships.
And much more than this is urgently needed to tackle the shortfall in training, including increased government skills funding and new workplace training rights to expand opportunities for everyone to upskill and retrain.
The Chancellor didn’t stand up to the scandalous behaviour by bosses P&O
The Chancellor talked about security but did nothing to take on the bosses who take every measure to undermine their workers’ job security. He could’ve made it clear that no employer who treats workers with the contempt shown by P&O Ferries would receive a penny of public money until they reinstate their workforce, including by taking freeports contracts off DP World, the parent company of P&O.
Yet once again the Chancellor failed to mention the issues that matter to working people.
The government’s response to those fleeing conflict and war is inadequate
The Spring statement document outlines the £400m in humanitarian support the government has given to Ukraine, and says it has committed “to provide local authorities with £10,500 per person for support services, and between £3,000 and £8,755 per pupil for education services depending on phase of education, as well as £350 per month for sponsors for up to 12 months”.
But it’s clear that the government’s support for the people fleeing war and conflict is worse than inadequate. The Ukraine for Homes scheme is no substitute for a properly funded system that provides universal refugee protection. And yesterday, the Government’s nationality and borders bill, passed a vital stage in the House of Commons, meaning that those fleeing conflict may find themselves treated as criminals and deported, instead of finding sanctuary.
The Chancellor let families down today.
Families are facing soaring bills at a time when their incomes have been squeezed by years of wage cuts and attacks on the social security system. The wages and bills crisis is a consequence of decisions taken by successive governments. Today the Chancellor chose to make the pain last for longer.
THERE WAS SOME PRAISE FOR SUNAK’S MINI-BUDGET, HOWEVER:
Simon Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Sainsbury’s said:“We know our customers and colleagues are concerned about increases to the cost of living and at Sainsbury’s we are doing everything we can to support them.
“We really welcome today’s changes to fuel duty and national insurance. We are passing a 6 pence per litre cut in fuel across our forecourts from 6pm tonight as we know fuel costs are one of the biggest pressures everyone is facing right now.
“We were pleased to welcome the Chancellor to one of our stores today to discuss what we are doing to offer customers great value and to invest over £100 million in increasing pay for our colleagues with a new hourly rate of £10 per hour nationally and £11.05 in inner London.”
Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder, Small Business Saturday said:“Moves in today’s Spring Statement to increase the employment allowance, reduce fuel duty and raise the National Insurance threshold are welcome, and will go some way to help businesses deal with rising costs.
“In particular, It is good to see the immediacy of this rise in employment allowance.”
Martin McTague, Chair, Federation of Small Businesses, said:“We are very pleased to see the Chancellor adopting our top ask for this Spring Statement: uprating the Employment Allowance to help small employers with national insurance costs.
“We originally put forward the Employment Allowance as a targeted measure to help small firms, and it has now been expanded three times since its creation.
“Together with a cut to fuel duty, these measures will provide crucial breathing space for our embattled small employers.
“This Spring Statement marks a good starting point, with welcome measures on business rates, net zero and energy investment taking effect next month.
“With steep inflation, energy bills increasing fast, without the same support in place as enjoyed by consumers, and hiring pressures landing hard on small firms, more of the right stuff will be needed in the autumn given this challenging backdrop.
“We’ve seen a VAT cut on net zero investments for households today, which is good for small firms involved in their installation.
“However, a high street shop or local bar cannot access the same support that consumers do when dealing with the same energy supplier, and they should have access to the same assistance to reduce energy use and support the move to net zero.
“We look forward to working with the Chancellor on his new tax plan. Achieving the new culture of enterprise vision he rightly aspires to, alongside levelling up aspirations, will mean putting community small firms and sole traders front and centre of reforms.
“That means taking more of them out of the business rates system, protecting SME R&D investment incentives and delivering on commitments to end an endemic late payment culture that destroys thousands of firms a year.”
Alex Towers, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, BT Group said:“We welcome the Chancellor’s focus on tax reforms for business investment, given how central this is to UK infrastructure and growth.
“This is particularly important for BT Group as we make once in a generation investments to build the UK’s full fibre broadband and 5G networks. The existing super-deduction has already helped us to significantly increase and accelerate that investment.
“We agree that longer-term incentives are now needed, to support this country’s growth and competitiveness, and we will be keen to contribute evidence to aid the Government’s decision-making.”
Dr Clive Hickman OBE, Chief Executive, the Manufacturing Technology Centre said: “We welcome the Spring Statement, which outlines concrete steps to ensure that the manufacturing sector remains competitive, sustainable, and resilient.
“The Government’s commitment to cut tax rates on business investment is important if the UK is to boost manufacturing productivity and create high-quality jobs. In addition, the reform to R&D tax credits is a very positive step that will enable the scheme to be more effective, better value for money, and more generous.
“These measures will be crucial to spur innovation and encourage investment across the country.”
Julian David, Chief Executive, TechUK said: “Rightly the majority of the Spring Statement focused on addressing the cost of living concerns resulting from the war in Ukraine and rising inflation. Along with this vital action, the Chancellor also outlined a welcome package of consultations and policy programmes aimed at boosting businesses investment.
“In our recent Digital Economy Monitor Survey UK tech companies said increasing support to invest in R&D would be their top ask of Government, with 76% saying R&D is important to their business operations in the UK.
“The proposals unveiled today to further expand R&D tax credits and consult on ways to maintain the tax deduction for capital expenditure have the potential to unlock more investment into UK innovation.
“However, to get this right the Government must ensure that the software and intangible assets that power modern business investment are kept in scope. Otherwise, the Government risks missing an opportunity to unleash the potential of tech led growth.”
Dom Hallas, Executive Director, COADEC said:“Better R&D tax credits would mean more innovation from startups and innovative companies.
“We’re delighted the Chancellor recommitted to expanding it to cover cloud and data costs – and look forward to discussing the many ways to improve the credit further.”
Irene Graham OBE, Chief Executive, ScaleUp Institute said: “In the face of increasing pressures of inflation and wider international uncertainties, it is very good to see the Spring Statement continues to recognise the importance of business growth and innovation.
“It reaffirms policies targeted towards R&D, people and skills, investment, and innovation including the new Innovation Challenge across central government departments. We will continue to work closely with the Government on the evolution and development of these policies which are so vital to our scaleup economy.”
Michael Moore, BVCA Director General, said:“Increased business investment is key to the future of the UK economy and we welcome the measures announced by the Chancellor today which support this objective.
“Private capital’s focus on sectors like AI, robotics and fintech has helped the UK to become a world leader in these areas – further reform of R&D tax credits will help businesses to drive further innovation and strengthen the UK’s position in this new economy.”
Fuel Duty
Edmund King, President, the AA said: “The AA welcomes the cut in fuel duty. However, we are concerned that the benefit will be lost unless retailers pass it on and reflect a fair price at the pumps. Average pump prices yesterday hit new records- despite the fall in wholesale costs.
“The Chancellor has ridden to the rescue of UK families and businesses who use their vehicles, not for pleasure, but to function in their daily lives. Since the start of the year, the 20p-a-litre surge in pump prices has been the shock that rocked the finances of families, and particularly young drivers, pensioners and lower-income workers who need to commute each day.
“AA research showed that even in November, when petrol pump prices set new records at around 148p a litre, 43% of drivers were cutting back on car use, other spending to compensate or both. That rose to 59% among young drivers and 53% among the lower-paid. Petrol started this week averaging 167p a litre.
“On top of the duty cut, there has been a substantial reduction in wholesale road fuel costs feeding through to the forecourts since 9 March. That needs to drive lower pump prices also. The road fuel trade shouldn’t leave the Treasury to do the heavy lifting when cutting motoring costs.”
Elizabeth de Jong, Director of Policy, Logistics UK said:“With average fuel prices reaching the highest level on record and rising inflation, there has been an unstainable burden on logistics businesses which operate on very narrow margins of around 1%; the Chancellor’s decision today will help to ensure operators can continue to afford supplying the nation with all the goods it needs, including food, medicine and other essential items.
“Fuel is the single biggest expense incurred by logistics operators, accounting for a third of the annual operating cost of an HGV. The cut in fuel duty of 5ppl will result in an average saving of £2,356 per year per 44-tonne truck; this move will help to strengthen the UK’s supply chain during a time of ongoing financial and operational challenges.”
Zero rating VAT in energy efficiency measures
David Cowdrey, Director of External Affairs, MCS said:“The Chancellor has used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to kick-start the home heating revolution by zero rating VAT on home energy efficiency and renewable technologies for five years.
“This announcement allows people to insulate their homes and save on our fuel bills, making houses cheaper to run, especially when gas prices are at a record high.
“The government’s bold move to zero rate VAT can help the UK meet its net zero targets by using proven, off the shelf, zero carbon domestic energy solutions, such as solar and heat pumps, which are ready to be upscaled now.“
Professor Robert Gross, Director, U.K. Energy Research Centre, Professor of Energy Policy, Imperial College said:“The VAT cut on energy efficiency products is a great first step in helping households adopt simple measures to help cut fuel bills for the coming winter.
“Better insulated houses need less energy to keep warm and this is good for our bills, energy security and the environment.”
Amy MacConnachie, Director of External Affairs, Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:“The REA warmly welcomes today’s announcement to remove VAT on domestic renewables for five years. We have long campaigned for this change because we know these installations will help protect people from volatile gas prices and reduce their energy bills, while also supporting the transition to Net Zero and providing a catalyst for new jobs and investment across the country.
“The move to bring forward business rate exemptions for green technologies from April 2022, including solar panels and heat pumps, will help to further drive down costs and support the decarbonisation of buildings.
“We now want to see the Government clarify and go further on the range of technologies included as Energy Saving Materials, particularly energy storage, but this is a positive package of measures for our sector.
“We stand ready to deliver an energy future which is independent, secure, and stable.”
Two years to the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK’s first lockdown, Drylaw Telford Community Council meets in person again tonight.
February’s community council trialled face-to-face meetings and, with restrictions being lifted, it was agreed that Drylaw Telford will continue to meet in public.
Tonight’s meeting, at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, starts at 7pm.
While much has changed in the last two years – whoever heard of Zoom pre-Covid? – some issues remain the same:
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning Post Office card account holders, who receive HMRC-related payments, that time is running out – with just two weeks left to switch their accounts.
About 6,800 Post Office card account customers, who receive tax credits, Child Benefit or Guardian’s Allowance payments, need to transfer their account by 5 April 2022 to continue receiving their money without interruption.
HMRC is stopping making payments to Post Office card accounts from 6 April. Customers, who have not done so already, must notify HMRC of an alternative account to have their payments paid into. It will not be possible to pay tax credits or Child Benefit until a valid account is provided.
These could be vital funds for families and individuals, due to the rise in the cost of living, and HMRC wants to make sure no-one loses out.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services said: “Time is running out and we want to make sure that no customer misses out on the benefit payments they are entitled to. If you still need to switch your Post Office card account, contact HMRC to update your bank account details.”
HMRC has been writing to affected customers since October 2019 to notify them that their Post Office card accounts will be closing and urging them to take action. More than 143,000 customers have already switched their accounts and provided HMRC with updated details.
Customers can choose to receive their benefit payments to a bank, building society or credit union account. If they already have an alternative account, they can contact HMRC now to update their details.
Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance customers can use their Personal Tax Account to provide revised account details, change their bank account details via GOV.UK or by contacting the Child Benefit helpline on 0300 200 3100.
Tax credits customers can change their bank account details by contacting the tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900. If customers cannot open a bank account, they should contact HMRC.
If a customer misses the 5 April deadline, their payments will be paused until the customer notifies HMRC of their new account details.
NHS Lothian’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People is ready to celebrate a very special birthday today – Wednesday 23 March – marking one year since the world-class facilities fully opened.
The services moved to the new site from the old ‘Sick Kids’ gradually, with outpatients arriving in July 2020, CAMHS in January 2021 and finally the remaining services including inpatients and A&E in March that same year.
The building and facilities provide a world-class centre for child healthcare, enabling NHS Lothian to continue to build on the excellent reputation for trusted, quality care delivered by dedicated and expert teams.
To commemorate the birthday, activities have been arranged with both patients and staff in mind, and with generous support from a range of partners including Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and Ronald McDonald House.
This includes the distribution of birthday-themed craft boxes with decorations for all wards; a birthday-themed projection on to the building; a drop-in photo booth; a birthday party with stalls, activities and live performances; complementary therapy & pampering sessions for families staying at Ronald McDonald House and treats for all staff which will distributed across each ward.
Allister Short, Service Director, Women’s and Children’s Services, NHS Lothian said, “The Royal Hospital for Children and Young people offers one of the most modern and best-designed children’s healthcare facilities in the world.
“I hope over the last twelve months, both patients and their families have been able to see what this means and the positive impact it has both for patient care and wellbeing.”
For the Simpson family from Torphichen near Bathgate, the facilities on offer not only help to provide a degree or normality but make a huge difference to the happiness of daughter Robyn.
Mum Michelle explained that the family have been in and out of hospital with Robyn ever since she was born, with the longest stay being four months.
She said, “It is really hard to have a child that is unwell. It places a real strain on you both physically, mentally and emotionally. Coming to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People makes things just that bit easier – it’s bright, spacious and airy – feeling more like a hotel than a hospital.
“There are so many spaces especially for children and so many activities that they can get involved in – from art and craft to music. Seeing Robyn happy, even though she is in hospital, is incredible. It enables her to be a child rather than just a patient.”
Allister said, “The facilities on offer across the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People are truly incredible, however the services wouldn’t be anything without our talented and dedicated staff.
“Day-in-day-out they deliver so much to ensure the children and young people attending the hospital receive the very best care and support.”
Michelle added, “I can’t thank the staff enough. They offer so much support and reassurance as well as incredible care. It really does help to make it feel like a home from home whenever we’re here.”
For more information on The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the facilities that are available visit –children.nhslothian.scot.
To keep up to date with the latest news from across Lothian’s Children’s Services, follow them on social media – LothianChildHealth on Facebook and @LothianChildren on Twitter.
Meanwhile, demolition of the old Sick Kids continues …
Children at Dean Park Primary in Balerno became Roadstars for the day as they helped launch a new road safety learning resource for children, developed by Road Safety Scotland.
Aimed at children aged 3-11, the free online resource is designed to get the youngest road users thinking about road safety in an active and immersive way, with interactive missions to help them practice staying safe around roads and traffic.
Roadstars was developed with input from children and teachers at Dean Park Primary, who shared their thoughts on learning and road safety to help shape the resource.
With the help of three animated superhero characters, Roadstars evolve over the primary school years, tasking children with appropriate missions to develop their road safety skills as they grow and learn.
For the youngest, the Early Years level teaches ELC and P1 children a song and dance outlining the road safety basics.
The First level, aimed at P2-P4, features engaging videos with interactive questions that embed and test children’s learning, while the Second level targets P5-P7 with a series of 360° interactive experiences that challenge older children’s attitudes and behaviours.
The new online resource is available to enjoy in class or at home, and is linked to Curriculum for Excellence.
Debbie Nicol, Assistant Director, Road Safety Scotland, said: “We know how important it is for children to be immersed in positive road safety attitudes from a young age, both in the classroom and at home.
“Roadstars is an important new resource for children at every level of primary school, free for teachers, parents and carers to access online.
“By teaching and reinforcing the importance of staying safe around roads and traffic at a young age, we can provide children with road safety skills that will last a lifetime.”
Nicola Kurth, Head Teacher at Dean Park Primary School said: “At Dean Park we are committed to promoting the Health and Wellbeing of all pupils.
“It has been a fantastic experience for pupils to engage in supporting the development of this new resource. The characters are very engaging, and we look forward to using the resource to enhance our road safety activities.”
Roadstars is launched as part of Scotland’s first Road Safety Week (21 – 27 March), a new annual awareness week by The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland which encourages road users to take greater personal responsibility and work together to make Scotland’s roads safer.
Organisations across Scotland – including Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, CoSLA and Good Egg Safety – are marking the week by hosting a series of events, from child car seat checks to community action campaigns, to pledge their commitment to keeping Scotland’s roads safer.
In its inaugural year, Scotland’s Road Safety Week will also urge organisations throughout Scotland to pledge their support on social media by posting the message: – Working together to make Scotland’s roads safer. #ScotRoadSafetyWeek.
For more details about Roadstars, visit roadsafety.scot.
Letters to and from Peter Hebblethwaite, CEO of P&O Ferries, regarding the circumstances by which staff were made redundant on 17 March 2022.
UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and Labour Markets Minister Paul Scully wrote to the CEO of P&O Ferries on 18 March 2022 requesting details of the circumstances by which staff were made redundant on 17 March so that government can establish whether any employment or redundancy laws have been broken.
This is the exchange of letters:
Peter Hebblethwaite, CEO of P&O Ferries, responded by letter yesterday:
RMT exposes the ‘bullying truth’ behind P&O staff package
Maritime Union RMT last night slammed what it described as a “disgusting statement” from P&O Ferries trying to justify one of the most shameful acts by any employer in recent history.
Sacked seafarers have been basically told that if they don’t sign up to be gagged by a non-disclosure agreements you not only lose your job you lose money as well. This is from an organisation which has received millions from the taxpayer to support furlough payments and whose parent company DP world paid out vast sums in dividends last year
General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “These are the actions of a bully trying to maximise profits by sacking workers and replacing them with agency staff below the minimum wage.
“The detail of what the company are imposing is not new. The 2.5 weeks is what we have negotiated in the past with P&O.
“The pay in lieu of notice is not compensation, it is just a payment staff are contractually entitled to as there was no notice given.
“The way that the package has been structured is pure blackmail and threats– that if staff do not sign up and give away their jobs and their legal right to take the company to an employment tribunal they will receive a fraction of the amount put to them.
“The actions of P&O demonstrate the weakness of employment law and protections in the UK. P&O have flagrantly breached the law and abandoned any standards of workplace decency. They have ripped away the jobs, careers and pensions of our members and thrown the on the dole with the threat that if they do not sign up and give away their rights they will lose many thousands of pounds in payments.
“This is totally unacceptable and RMT will continue to campaign for our members to be reinstated at P&O and for better employment laws to protect all British workers.”
A protest is also being held outside P&O Ferries Cairnryan terminal today.
