A 13-year-old boy has been charged with a robbery & attempted robbery which happened in Trinity last Thursday (31st March).
A 10-year-old boy was robbed of some coins at Lomond Park, Zetland Place at Stirling Road and an attempted robbery happened Primrose Bank Road.
A Report has been sent to the Youth Justice Assessor.
St James Quarter is set to welcome Forth 1 & 2 into the new office and studio spaces on level four and five of the development, where Everyman Cinema also recently opened.
Forth 1 & 2, which are part of the Bauer Media UK Group, will also become a media partner for St James Quarter, while working in the office and studio spaces within the development.
As a result of the move, both Forth 1 and Forth 2, will broadcast live from St James Quarter from Spring 2022. The entertainment network is the No.1 UK Publisher, as well as the No.1 Digital Commercial Audio broadcaster. The media group also includes brands such as Grazia, Empire and Q, reaching 25 million consumers.
The new office and studio suites will sit alongside Everyman Cinema as well as Roomzzz Aparthotel, which is due to open later this year, adding variety to the truly mixed-use, city centre destination.
Ed Webb, Director of Development Management at Nuveen Real Estate, said: “Part of our ambition for St James Quarter was to create a new art, culture and fashion hub that merges seamlessly with the city’s cultural offering and events calendar.
“By welcoming Bauer Media UK Group’s Radio Forth stations as our media partner, and having shows broadcast straight from St James Quarter, the development is integrating further into the cultural heart of the city.”
Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “We’re honoured to be welcoming Forth 1 and 2 to St James Quarter.
“Forth 1’s ‘Boogie in the Morning’ show is iconic in Edinburgh so to have it broadcast from The Quarter every day is a big deal for us. This move is testament to our commitment to provide world-class facilities that will continuously offer unique and new experiences for our guests.”
Graham Bryce, Chief Operating Officer for Bauer Media Audio UK, said: “Forth has been the leading commercial radio station for Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife for 47 years.
“In keeping with the multi-media digital environment we now operate within, we wanted to seek out a new contemporary office space and state-of-the-art facilities to ensure we can build on our market-leading position long into the future.
“We continually invest in our facilities, so I’m absolutely delighted to have found Forth 1 and 2’s new home in Scotland’s most iconic development – St. James Quarter.
“Our award-winning teams, led by Boogie in the Morning on Forth 1, are really excited to be able to broadcast live from this amazing development. We can’t wait to get moved in and to get started.”
Boogie from Forth 1’s Boogie In The Morning said: “It was going to take somewhere really special to beat our long-standing home at Forth House and our spectacular new studios and offices at St James Quarter do just that.
“We can’t wait to get settled in and begin broadcasting.”
Arlene Stuart, co-presenter on Boogie In The Morning, said: “There is no better place to broadcast than right in the heart of our beautiful city and the views of our capital and the surrounding areas from our new studios are incredible.
“I can’t wait to bring our shows from there every morning.”
Micky Gavin, Drivetime presenter on Forth 2 said: “I’m really excited about moving into St James Quarter and our shiny new studios! What a brilliant location for me to playing the Greatest Hits every single weekday.”
A game-changing mixed-use development being delivered by Nuveen Real Estate, St James Quarter 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 unrivalled guest experience providing customers with an enviable events programme in a range of new and attractive public spaces.
Complementing an unrivalled shopping offer, St James Quarter will be a premier food and drink destination. It will provide a truly diverse offer – from fast, fresh food, to family and restaurant dining, including Bonnie & Wild as the anchor for the development’s new concept food hall alongside Five Guys, and The Alchemist.
The offer will be available over a number of locations throughout St James Quarter, each with its own unique look and feel.
Cleaner and more affordable energy to be made in Great Britain under bold plans to boost long-term energy independence, security and prosperity.
The UK government’s British Energy Security Strategy sets out how Great Britain will accelerate the deployment of wind, new nuclear, solar and hydrogen, whilst supporting the production of domestic oil and gas in the nearer term – which could see 95% of electricity by 2030 being low carbon.
The strategy will see a significant acceleration of nuclear, with an ambition of up to 24GW by 2050 to come from this safe, clean, and reliable source of power. This would represent up to around 25% of our projected electricity demand. Subject to technology readiness from industry, Small Modular Reactors will form a key part of the nuclear project pipeline.
A new government body, Great British Nuclear, will be set up immediately to bring forward new projects, backed by substantial funding, and the government will launch the £120 million Future Nuclear Enabling Fund this month.
They will work to progress a series of projects as soon as possible this decade, including Wylfa site in Anglesey. This could mean delivering up to eight reactors, equivalent to one reactor a year instead of one a decade, accelerating nuclear in Britain.
The Westminster government’s plans also include:
They will also look to increase the UK’s current 14GW of solar capacity which could grow up to 5 times by 2035, consulting on the rules for solar projects, particularly on domestic and commercial rooftops.
The goovernment will aim to double the ambition to up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least half coming from green hydrogen and utilising excess offshore wind power to bring down costs.
This will not only provide cleaner energy for vital British industries to move away from expensive fossil fuels, but could also be used for cleaner power, transport and potentially heat.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: “We’re setting out bold plans to scale up and accelerate affordable, clean and secure energy made in Britain, for Britain – from new nuclear to offshore wind – in the decade ahead.
“This will reduce our dependence on power sources exposed to volatile international prices we cannot control, so we can enjoy greater energy self-sufficiency with cheaper bills.”
This plan comes in light of rising global energy prices, provoked by surging demand after the pandemic as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This will be central to weaning Britain off expensive fossil fuels, which are subject to volatile gas prices set by international markets we are unable to control, and boosting our diverse sources of homegrown energy for greater energy security in the long-term.
Consumer bills will be lower this decade than they otherwise would be as a result of the measures this government has taken.
The British Energy Security Strategy will also increase the number of clean jobs in the UK by supporting; 90,000 jobs in offshore wind by 2028 – 30,000 more than previously expected; 10,000 jobs in solar power by 2028 – almost double our previous expectations; and 12,000 jobs in the UK hydrogen industry by 2030 – 3,000 more than previously expected.
In total, the British Energy Security Strategy builds on the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, and, together with the Net Zero Strategy, is driving an unprecedented £100 billion of private sector investment into new British industries including Offshore Wind and supporting 480,000 new clean jobs by the end of the decade.
Business and Energy Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, said: “We have seen record high gas prices around the world. We need to protect ourselves from price spikes in the future by accelerating our move towards cleaner, cheaper, home-grown energy.
“The simple truth is that the more cheap, clean power we generate within our borders, the less exposed we will be to eye watering fossil fuel prices set by global markets we can’t control.
“Scaling up cheap renewables and new nuclear, while maximising North Sea production, is the best and only way to ensure our energy independence over the coming years.”
The strategy follows a series of engagement by the Prime Minister and ministers across government with key industry leaders, including from the oil and gas, wind and nuclear sectors. The government continue to work with industry in the coming weeks to drive forward these commitments as fast as industry can deliver.
Commenting on the government’s Energy Security Strategy, Friends of the Earth energy campaigner, Danny Gross, said: “Households are facing soaring bills and need help right now. The quickest way the government can do this is through renewables and funding a council-led, street-by-street free insulation programme.
“By targeting those most in need first we can make sure fewer people face dire circumstances next winter when the cold weather bites. Instead, the astonishing lack of action on energy efficiency will leave people freezing, desperate and out of pocket next winter.
“This fails as a strategy, as it does not do the most obvious things that would reduce energy demand and protect households from price hikes.
“Delving deeper into the UK’s treasure trove of renewables is the surest path to meeting our energy needs – not the fool’s gold of fossil fuels.
“The acceleration in developing offshore wind is certainly welcome, but Ministers must go further and make the most of the UK’s massive onshore wind resources. Wind turbines are fast to build, popular with the public and could provide cash-strapped households with huge quantities of cheap renewable power.
“Nuclear power is not the solution either. New nuclear power stations would take well over a decade to build and they’re expensive, hazardous and produce waste that will remain highly radioactive for thousands of years.
“We have been here before, with eight nuclear sites announced in 2010. Over a decade on, the only one under construction is seriously behind schedule and over budget, with a price far above current renewables.
“Other countries have taken much bolder action to meet the scale of the challenge. Britain can – and must – raise its ambition, to ensure everyone has access to clean, affordable energy.”
A specialist support service that helps and supports children living with a cancer diagnosis has been selected to receive £1,000.
Persimmon Homes North Scotland awarded the funding to Young Lives vs Cancer as part of the developers Community Champions scheme.
Every day 12 children hear the devastating news that they have cancer. Young Lives vs Cancer step in to help support and guide each child and their family. For those travelling, often miles, for treatment in Glasgow, the charity welcomes them to make use of Marion’s House, a safe and cosy environment near to the hospital.
Marion’s House provides a place away from the hospital wards with 11 bedrooms where families can stay for free and spend time with their child during treatment doing the everyday things that make them feel that a fraction of normality is possible during what is an extremely challenging time.
Carol Jones, at Young Lives vs Cancer, said: “Maintaining a sense of normality for families going through cancer diagnosis and treatment for their child is so important. The basics of making a cup of tea, doing the laundry and being able to make a home-cooked meal are such small things but make a huge difference.
“This funding will enable a family to stay at Marion’s House for 26 nights where they can stay close to their child in hospital, or be together with their child, whenever treatment allows.
“On behalf of all the children and families that we help a big thank you to Persimmon Homes.”
James MacKay, managing director at Persimmon Homes North Scotland, said: “When we heard about Young Lives vs Cancer, we wanted to do what we could to help their cause.
“The expert support provided by the care team at Marion’s House makes a huge difference and we feel privileged to contribute to their efforts.”
For those who wish to know more about Community Champions and how they can enter, visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity
Research from Zen Internet has found that almost two fifths of Scottish adults (38%) want to be more sustainable and choose more eco-friendly service providers, with almost one in seven (13%) having already switched to a more sustainable energy firm.
Amidst this renewed enthusiasm to go green, Zen found that almost one in seven (13%) Scottish adults are ready to make the move and switch broadband providers in the next 18 months, whilst 13% and 9% are ready to switch energy and entertainment providers respectively.
Switching it up
Almost a third of Scottish adults (30%) reported the need for connecting an increased number of devices since the pandemic, thus requiring more bandwidth from their broadband service. A quarter (25%) also experienced more issues, including outages, than previously. As a result, over a third (36%) used time over ongoing lockdowns to explore alternative broadband options.
Of those who did take the leap and switched broadband provider in 2021, two thirds of Scottish adults (66%) revealed that switching was easier than they thought it would be. With the 2020s deemed the decade of full fibre, 12% of Scottish broadband users also switched to access better technologies such as full fibre, a reflection of growing demand across the country.
The best of both worlds
Scottish adults stating they have never switched broadband provider was at 21% versus 18% UK-wide. This may decrease in 2022 as many Scottish adults recognise the benefits of switching. One in ten (11%) already believe they could get a better and more reliable service by switching.
The need for speed comes amidst Zen’s recent announcement to follow the CityFibre rollout of gigabit-speed broadband to 285 towns, cities and villages across the UK. Still the UK’s only Which? Recommended Provider for Broadband, Zen aims to transform the digital capabilities of cities across the UK. CityFibre has invested £183 million collectively into Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness’ infrastructure as part of its nationwide Gigabit City Investment Programme.
Thanks to the full fibre rollout, Zen customers will get the best of both worlds. Residents in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness not only have access to a reliable service with award-winning support, but as a certified B Corporation, Zen is part of a community of organisations around the world balancing profit with people and the planet.
Paul Stobart, CEO at Zen, said: “Little changes that people can easily action can make a real difference in both their lives and for the planet. This includes switching providers, whether it’s across energy, broadband or entertainment platforms.
“With all things digital increasingly taking a front seat in day to day life, the appetite for increased bandwidth is ever-present. That’s why ensuring you’re with a broadband provider that provides fast, reliable connectivity is essential. Consumers don’t want to compromise on that as they become increasingly keen to go green – and they don’t have to.
“Thanks to Zen’s B Corp status – which means our organisation balances profit with people and the planet – as well as our CityFibre rollout in Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow, many Scottish households can get the best of both worlds: an eco-conscious provider with unparalleled connectivity.”
Delivering on its determination to be a force for good, Zen is Carbon Neutral and is now on a path to Net Zero.
With a strong ethos to not be constrained by short-term financial targets, Zen has long-term goals to strive to make a positive impact on people and the planet.
For more information, please visit: www.zen.co.uk.
Hard-pressed charities could be missing out on more than £940 million a year, as generous donors fail to claim tax relief on the money they give, new research from Handelsbanken Wealth Management & Asset Management shows.
Charity Commission data shows 60% of organisations have suffered a drop in income during the pandemic.
Handelsbanken Wealth Management & Asset Management’s nationwide study found 60% of charity supporters are not claiming tax relief on donations distinct from money given directly through their salary. Their donations are estimated to be worth around £4,7 billion and with 20% tax relief would yield more than £940 million for charities.
Just 9.5 million people are claiming tax relief on donations, with 29% doing so through Gift Aid on their self-assessment tax form, while 10% do so by asking HMRC to amend their tax code and 2% use a financial planner.
Handelsbanken Wealth Management & Asset Management research highlights the importance of getting advice on making charitable giving more tax efficient – for both good causes and donors themselves. Just 59% of adults are aware they can claim personal tax relief on any charitable donations they make.
Its study shows people willing to be very generous in their backing of good causes – 22% are definitely planning on leaving money to good causes in their will, with an average donation of more than £2,200 planned adding up to a potential pay-out for charities of £26.5 billion.
Across the country, more than two out of three adults (68%) donate to charities every year – the equivalent of around 35.9 million people. The average donation is £499, equating to a total of £17.9 billion donated every year overall – or £563.62 every minute. Young people (18-34) donate more than twice the average (£1,056) while older people (55+) donate a quarter of that (£250). Londoners donate an average of £1,546 per year – more than three times the UK average.
But Handelsbanken Wealth Management & Asset Management’s research shows knowledge of tax rules on donations to charity could be better – for instance, someone leaving 10% of their estate to charity would see the Inheritance Tax on the value of estates above the IHT threshold reduced from 40% to 36%.
However, less than one in five (18%) are aware of the rule even though 23% said they would consider doing so. The number of people aware of the rule only rises slightly among those with an estate worth more than £325,000 (22%).
The average value of an estate worth more than the IHT nil-rate band (£325,000) is £619,726. However, as things stand, only 12% of those with an estate worth more than £325,000 are currently planning on donating 10% or more to charity – some 422,000 people. These individuals could be set to save a total of £22,582 on their IHT bill by reducing their taxable rate – a total of £77.5 billion across the UK.
Mark Collins, Head of Tax at Handelsbanken Wealth Management & Asset Management said: “In common with many other sectors, charities have suffered during the pandemic, with fundraising badly affected and the Charity Commission estimating 60% of organisations have seen incomes suffer.
“Charity donors will want to see the organisations they support receiving the full benefit of donations, which should include claiming the tax relief whether it is through Gift Aid, or consulting a financial planner.
“Wealth advisers can guide people through how to maximise their donations, so they are effective for charities and their own IHT planning. Giving as much as 10% of your estate to charity can reduce IHT rates from 40% to 36% which would be very much welcomed by charities and potentially better reflect people’s wishes.”
The table below shows the numbers of people who fail to claim tax relief on charitable donations they make across the country with 73% of people in the North West and 72% in Yorkshire & The Humber not claiming.
Londoners are the best at claiming tax relief, but 31% are still not doing so.
| REGION | HOW MANY DON’T CLAIM TAX RELIEF ON CHARITABLE DONATIONS THEY MAKE |
| North West | 73% |
| Yorkshire & The Humber | 72% |
| East of England | 68% |
| East Midlands | 67% |
| Wales | 65% |
| Scotland | 64% |
| North East | 63% |
| South East | 63% |
| South West | 61% |
| West Midlands | 55% |
| Northern Ireland | 51% |
| London | 31% |
| UK | 60% |
Dear Editor
Plans to dismantle the Human Rights Act and create legal hurdles for ordinary people who seek to hold public bodies to account are abhorrent.
The bereaved parents of soldiers who died in ‘Snatch’ Land Rovers in Iraq and Afghanistan sued the Ministry of Defence under the Human Rights Act. Their children were sent to war in lightly armoured vehicles which were known not to offer enough protection against roadside bombs.
The Government suggests that cases brought under the Human Rights Act are often trivial and without merit.
What happened to those families was not trivial and their cases were found to be valid. If they had not fought for justice, the MoD’s failings would simply have been allowed to happen without any accountability.
Human rights claims play an essential role in keeping organisations in check and ensuring justice where those human rights are breached. We should all be alarmed by the Government’s approach.
Neil McKinley
President, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK) is launching the UK’s first water rescue Emergency Drone Piloting Award.
The water safety and lifeguarding experts, have partnered with innovative Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and Drone specialists Eagle Eye Innovations (EEI) to create a unique water rescue award, launching this month.
The Emergency Response Drone Pilot Award offers candidates the opportunity to learn the skills, technical knowledge and legalities of using and operating a drone to assist with water-based rescues.
The drones are fully waterproof, specially designed for rescues and can find a person in difficulty and deploy a torpedo buoy or inflatable lifesaving device, allowing precious time for a lifeguard or Emergency Services to reach the casualty.
The course content is Civil Aviation Authority approved and covers; rules and regulations of formal drone flying in the UK, practical drone flying techniques and the lifesaving skills required to perform emergency actions with a drone that preserves life until rescuers arrive.
Upon completion, candidates will receive three accreditations: a CAA A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 C of C), a General Visual Line of Sight Certificate (GVA) and a RLSS UK Emergency Response Drone Pilot Award.
RLSS UK was established more than 130 years ago and is acknowledged worldwide as an expert in lifeguarding and water safety. They have a proud history of helping to reduce the number of lives lost to drowning and sharing their lifesaving knowledge to save lives and ensure everyone can enjoy water safely.
Eagle Eye Innovations (EEI) are a unique company within the still fledgling Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). They are the longest-running RPAS Academy in the UK, with unrivalled experience -including RAF trained instructors with over 70+ years combined and Military Search and Rescue qualified instructors.
EEI is responsible for training much of the UK’s police force and other emergency services.
Robert Gofton, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), said: “We are excited to be partnering with EEI on this pioneering new rescue award.
“Concerningly accidental water-related deaths increased in 2021. If using the latest technologies, such as drones, can preserve life until rescuers can reach a casualty, it can only lead to saving more lives and stopping families from suffering tragedy of losing a loved one.”
Sion Roberts, Managing Director, EEI, said: “The partnership we have established with the RLSS UK brings an exceptional team that can emphasise and educate the disruptive capability of Remotely Piloted technology, through professional training processes and world-class instructors.
The flying skills and knowledge that the candidates will learn from the course will add a unique and lifesaving capability to their existing skillsets. It’s another great example of using Drones for Good”.
Tony Weston, who attended the trial course, said: “Wow – what a week, learning a new life skill – flying a drone that could aid the saving of lives! The experience was memorable, and the training team were excellent.”
The award is ideally suited to Emergency Services – Fire Rescue and Police, Local Authorities, Open Water Venues, Triathlon Clubs, Canal & River Trusts, Landowners, River Rescue, Search & Rescue companies. The first course is on Monday 25 – Friday 29 April 2022 at RLSS UK’s headquarters in Worcester.
For more information, please visit www.rlss.org.uk/emergency-response-drone-pilot-award
For more information on RLSS UK:
Visit our website at rlss.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter – @RLSSUK
Visit our Facebook page – facebook.com/RLSSUK
Call – 0300 323 0096
Today, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) releases its annual population data, with a record 35m pets in the UK in 2022. Pet ownership is at a peak and 17.4m households (62%) own a pet.
In the UK there are now 13m dogs and 12m cats, 1.6m indoor birds, 1.4m domestic fowl, 1m rabbits, 900k Guinea pigs, 700k pigeons, 600k hamsters, 600k tortoises and 600k horses.
But while 4.7m households (17%) have acquired a new pet since the start of the pandemic, sadly 3.4m (12%) have given up a pet over the last year.
Although over a half (57%) of new pets have been welcomed into homes with children (2.7m households), Gen Z and Millennials represent 53% of those owning new pets (2.6m households). 25% (1.2m) are 16-24 year olds and 29% (1.4m) are 25-34 year olds.
Almost one quarter (23%) of the people in these age groups have been unable to keep their pet and 71% of all relinquishments can be attributed to this demographic (2.1m households). Looking at which pets were relinquished, 60% were dogs and 45% were cats. However, anecdotally, rehoming centres are seeing more small mammals such as rabbits.
Nicole Paley, PFMA deputy CEO, comments: “Reflecting the recent ONS report with its new shopping basket containing a pet collar[iii], we are not surprised to see these strong figures.
“However, on closer inspection, we are concerned about the number of owners who have given up their pet. We are keen to investigate why owners are giving up their pets and where they are being relinquished.
“We believe that many pets are being sold on to recuperate funds, in addition to being taken to rehoming centres. We are working closely with the CFSG (Canine & Feline Sector Group) plus other animal welfare charities to identify what the pet care sector can do to support owners and prevent this from happening.”
The main reason 16-24 year olds gave up a pet was a change in living arrangements with 34% citing this factor. 23% claimed financial obstacles and 22% identified a change in working arrangements.
Behavioural concerns were a reason for 13% of those who relinquished in this age group. For those slightly older aged 25-34 years old, both working and living arrangements were an issue affecting 41% and 39% respectively.
The research revealed that 40% of owners don’t have pet friendly offices with an extra 11% unsure.
Nicole continues: “At the PFMA, we believe there is a need to boost the provision of pet-friendly policies at work and in rental accommodation. There are some excellent campaigns focused on this.
“We also need to ensure that potential pet owners are aware of the full implications of pet ownership and the significant responsibility that comes with a new family member.
“We are active in supporting pet ownership education campaigns such as National Pet Month and we work to promote the many excellent resources provided by the network of UK charities and welfare organisations. Woodgreen, for example, have a service whereby struggling owners are supported in their own homes. Rehoming centres should always be the first port of call for owners unable to cope.”
Linda Cantle, Director of Pet & Owner Support Services at Woodgreen Pets Charity explains: “Sadly, we are seeing the number of requests for intake increase, which has been most significant for dogs and small pet species (rabbits in particular).
“Unfortunately, we cannot always accommodate pets straight away, resulting in concern about how these pets are being rehomed instead. Online or private sales may be worse for pets’ welfare in the long-term, especially if they have significant medical or behavioural needs that go on untreated.
“On a more positive note, we at Woodgreen have seen demand for our outreach, behaviour advice and online workshops increase. Well over 200 people receive support each week, indicating that many owners are keen to work at keeping a pet.
“We’d encourage any owner experiencing problems with their pets to reach out as soon as possible for guidance, as many common issues can be improved in the home with trusted advice and support.”
Pet welfare expert at RSPCA, Dr Samantha Gaines, adds: “The relinquishment figures are very worrying but, sadly, not surprising as we are now starting to see an increase in requests for help and rehoming and particularly with rabbits.
“Bringing an animal home to join your family is a significant commitment and responsibility and the increase in ownership during the pandemic did cause concerns that some people may not have fully considered whether they would be able to properly care for them for the rest of their life.
“We understand that circumstances can change and, sometimes, this leaves families having to make the heart-breaking decision to give up their pets. However, we also know that animals are often signed over to charities, rehomed or even abandoned because people took on a pet without the necessary research or appreciation of the responsibility and commitment.
“Following the surge in pet acquisition during lockdown, with many people now returning to normal life, and with the cost of living rising at a shocking rate, at the RSPCA we fear this is just the start of a pet welfare crisis; and we’re worried that it’ll be charities like us that are left picking up the pieces.
“Pets are wonderful additions to the family, but it is a huge responsibility and people need to do their research. As we have highlighted in our research findings, the burden is too great for some people.
“To address this, the pet industry is working together to educate as many new owners and potential new owners as possible.”
For top tips, owners should visit https://www.pfma.org.uk/pet-care and for more pet data please visit https://www.pfma.org.uk/statistics.
There are also many resources online for pet owners who are struggling such as:
Official figures reveal that council taxpayers in Edinburgh pay on average £587 a year less than they would in Tory-run England and £398 less than in Labour-run Wales.
Across Scotland, council tax payers get the best deal in Britain. The figures also demonstrate that the savings for Scottish council tax payers in comparison to what those in England and Wales will pay is going to be even greater next year.
Commenting, SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald said: “Council taxpayers in Edinburgh are paying £587 less than they would in England. In fact, council taxpayers across Scotland get the best deal in Britain.
“On top of the £150 council tax rebate announced last month by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, this demonstrates that the Scottish Government is doing all it can within its restricted powers and resources to keep as much money as possible in the pockets of Scottish families.
“Council tax bills in Edinburgh are so substantially lower because the SNP has such a strong record of delivering the best value. For an entire decade the SNP Scottish Government froze the cost of council tax – despite Westminster continuing to slash the Scottish budget.
“The SNP Scottish Government is also rolling out a social security system based on fairness and respect. It has introduced the ‘game-changing’ Scottish Child Payment – which will deliver £25 per week per child for the lowest income families in Edinburgh – and we are increasing a range of Scottish social security benefits by six per cent.
“It is a glaring contrast with the Westminster Tory Government which, far from protecting hard-pressed families from the spiralling Tory cost of living crisis, it callously cut vital Universal Credit support by £20 a week for the poorest families.
“This is a real tale of two Governments and the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to send a message to Boris Johnson by rejecting the Tories in the local elections on May 5.”
‘A tale of two governments’? It’s worth pointing out that neither Boris Johnson nor Nicola Sturgeon will be standing in May’s LOCAL government elections. These elections are supposed to be about who runs our council services!
Edinburgh is currently under the control of an SNP – Labour ‘Capital Coalition’ partnership. Do you think Edinburgh taxpayers are really getting a ‘good deal’? – Ed. …
