Longer-term joint planning is needed to address child poverty in Scotland, which has increased since targets were set in 2017, according to a new Audit Scotland report.
The Scottish Government’s policies and spending remain more focused on helping children out of poverty rather than long-term measures to prevent it. Over a quarter of children in Scotland – 260,000 – were living in poverty before the Covid-19 pandemic. And the current cost-of-living crisis risks making the situation worse.
Covid-19’s impact on data collection means child poverty statistics are only available up to 2019/20, the half-way point in the Scottish Government’s first child poverty plan. But even with the data it would not be possible to assess the plan’s success. This is because the Scottish Government did not set out what impact the 2018-22 plan was expected to have on levels of child poverty.
The government’s second child poverty delivery plan takes a more joined-up approach to tackling child poverty, spanning central and local government and their partners. But detailed joint planning is now needed to ensure policy actions are delivered and progress measured. Policy development also needs to meaningfully involve the views of children and families with experience of poverty.
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said:“Poverty affects every aspect of a child’s wellbeing and life chances and has wider implications for society.
“The Scottish Government needs to work with its partners to quickly set out the detail of how the second child poverty plan will be delivered, monitored and evaluated.
“Government policy takes time to have an impact on child poverty and so it is essential ministers also act now to set out options for reaching their long-term targets in 2030.”
William Moyes, Chair of the Accounts Commission, said:“Councils have a key role to play in tackling child poverty through measures such as housing, education, childcare and employability. But there is limited information available across councils about what they are doing and its impact.
“Better collection and sharing of information about councils’ child poverty work will help support learning and improvement across Scotland.”
Heat Waves by Glass Animals is the most streamed FIFA song, with a staggering 1.9 billion streams on Spotify.
Blur’s Song 2 is the oldest song in the ranking, placing seventh overall, with more than 560 million streams.
The 2010s dominate the ranking, with 14 entries in the top 20.
A new study has revealed the most popular FIFA songs, with Glass Animal’s Heat Waves taking the top spot.
The research, conducted by online gaming site Solitaired.com, analysed Spotify data to discover the number of streams every song featured on a FIFA soundtrack has ever received, from FIFA: World Cup ‘98 to the most recent FIFA 22 game, launched last year.
A spokesperson for Solitaired.com commented on the findings: “Since 1998, the music that accompanies FIFA game menus has slowly but surely blossomed into one of the game’s main selling points and with every new game comes a new, almost equally anticipated, soundtrack.
With the FIFA 23 release date on September 27th, it will be interesting to see how the current ranking of the most streamed FIFA songs changes as the new soundtrack is revealed, which will sadly be the last game, and soundtrack, of the games’ series.”
The most streamed FIFA songs
The study revealed that Heat Waves by Glass Animals is the most streamed song featured on a FIFA soundtrack, with a staggering 1.9 billion streams on Spotify. Heat Waves featured on FIFA 2021, which appeared on the British group Glass Animals’ third studio album, Dreamland. The song reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and number one in countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States, where it also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Ranking second is The Nights by the late Swedish DJ AVICII, with more than 1.1 billion streams. The song appeared on the FIFA 15 soundtrack after being released in late 2014. Billie Eilish’s hit single you should see me in a crown is next on the list, with more than 692 million streams, closely followed by Imagine Dragon’s On Top of the World, with 683 million Spotify streams.
Interestingly, the songs from the 2010s dominate the top 20, with 14 entries overall, including fan-favourite Love Me Again by John Newman which featured on FIFA 14, ranking eighth overall, with 494 million streams.
Additionally, only one song from the 1990s made the top 20 – Song 2 by Blur, making it the oldest song in the ranking. With more than 560 million streams to date, Song 2 featured on the soundtrack for FIFA: Road to World Cup ‘98, which was the first game in the series to feature a soundtrack.
The Top 20 Most Streamed FIFA Songs
Artist:
Song:
Year:
Total Spotify Streams:
1. Glass Animals
Heat Waves
2021
1,946,964,717
2. AVICII
The Nights
2015
1,163,964,283
3. Billie Eilish
you should see me in a crown
2019
692,812,784
4. Imagine Dragons
On Top of the World
2013
683,964,847
5. Kaleo
Way Down We Go
2016
643,561,438
6. MGMT
Kids
2009
599,007,927
7. Blur
Song 2
1998
560,576,371
8. John Newman
Love Me Again
2014
494,064,676
9. Rosalia & Ozuna
Yo x Ti, Tu x Mi
2020
465,460,354
10. Vance Joy
Mess Is Mine
2015
395,291,133
11. LSD ft. Labrinth, Sia, Diplo
Genius
2019
382,638,591
12. Muse
Supermassive Black Hole
2007
370,594,842
13. Major Lazer
Que Calor
2020
347,958,743
14. Peter Bjorn and John
Young Folks
2008
338,367,458
15. New Order
Blue Monday
2005
285,463,188
16. Kygo ft. Kodaline
Raging
2017
270,224,195
17. Gorillaz
Rhinestone Eyes
2011
264,349,990
18. Saint Motel
My Type
2015
253,134,043
19. Childish Gambino
Feels Like Summer
2019
245,942,140
20. Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
Omen
2016
238,175,156
The most streamed FIFA songs of the 2000s
FIFA soundtracks are reflective of the year they are released, so they often provide a source of nostalgia for many long-time players. Unsurprisingly, Kids by MGMT ranks as the most streamed FIFA song from the 2000s, from 2009 specifically, with 599 million streams on Spotify. Supermassive Black Hole by Muse ranks next from 2007, with 370 million total streams, closely followed by Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John from 2008, with more than 338 million streams.
Also, the research revealed that FIFA 2009 is a popular soundtrack with fans, with five entries from 2009 in the top 15 songs from the 2000s. These songs include: Kids by MGMT, Mercy by Duffy, Untouched by The Veronicas, Always Where I Need to Be by The Kooks and Ready For the Floor (Soulwax Remix) by Hot Chip.
The Top 15 Most Streamed FIFA Songs of the 2000s
Artist:
Song:
Year:
Total Spotify Streams:
1. MGMT
Kids
2009
599,007,927
2. Muse
Supermassive Black Hole
2007
370,594,842
3. Peter Bjorn and John
Young Folks
2008
338,367,458
4. New Order
Blue Monday
2005
285,463,188
5. Duffy
Mercy
2009
232,202,405
6. Caesars
Jerk It Out
2004
193,467,887
7. The Jam
Town Called Malice
2004
147,686,251
8. The Veronicas
Untouched
2009
133,517,836
9. Bloc Party
Helicopter
2006
103,448,991
10. Scissor Sisters
Take Your Mama
2005
92,965,463
11. Safri Duo
Played A-Live (The Bongo Song)
2003
73,877,764
12. The Kooks
Always Where I Need to Be
2009
63,288,599
13. Hot Chip
Ready For the Floor (Soulwax Remix)
2009
62,539,194
14. Tribalistas
Ja Sei Namorar
2004
58,835,591
15. Gorillaz
19-2000 (Soulchild Remix)
2002
57,139,760
The ultimate FIFA playlist
Within the FIFA community, many fans often discuss and debate the most iconic songs ever featured on the game, as well as their favourite soundtracks by year. The below table lists the most streamed song on each FIFA soundtrack since 1998, including some classic fan-favourites and a few surprises.
Interestingly, English band Gorillaz are the only artist to feature twice, both in 2002 with 19-2000 (Soulchild Remix), which has received 57 million Spotify streams and in 2011 with Rhinestone Eyes, which has 264 million streams.
The Most Streamed FIFA Songs from Every Year
Year:
Artist:
Song:
Total Spotify Streams:
1998
Blur
Song 2
560,576,371
1999
Fatboy Slim
The Rockafeller Skank
86,888,733
2000
Reel Big Fish
Sell Out
47,532,833
2001
Moby
Bodyrock
17,895,220
2002
Gorillaz
19-2000 (Soulchild Remix)
57,139,760
2003
Safri Duo
Played-A-Live (The Bongo Song)
73,877,764
2004
Caesars
Jerk It Out
193,467,887
2005
New Order
Blue Monday
285,463,188
2006
Bloc Party
Helicopter
103,448,991
2007
Muse
Supermassive Black Hole
370,594,842
2008
Peter Bjorn and John
Young Folks
338,367,458
2009
MGMT
Kids
599,007,927
2010
Matt & Kim
Daylight
167,592,928
2011
Gorillaz
Rhinestone Eyes
264,349,990
2012
Foster the People
Call It What You Want
106,199,550
2013
Imagine Dragons
On Top of the World
683,964,847
2014
John Newman
Love Me Again
494,064,676
2015
AVICII
The Nights
1,163,964,283
2016
Kaleo
Way Down We Go
643,561,438
2017
Kygo ft. Kodaline
Raging
270,224,195
2018
Tash Sultana
Jungle
194,454,302
2019
Billie Eilish
you should see me in a crown
692,812,784
2020
Rosalia & Ozuna
Yo x Ti, Tu x Mi
465,460,354
2021
Glass Animals
Heat Waves
1,946,964,717
2022
Seb
Seaside_Demo
117,223,691
The research was conducted by Solitaired.com, a free, browser-based card game platform with more than 500 games available to play.
2021 emissions data shows continuing downward trajectory in greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions from SEPA regulated industrial sites fell by 5% between 2020 and 2021.
This continues the downward trend in greenhouse gas emissions since 2007. Emissions figures reflect the continued impact of the pandemic on Scotland’s industries in 2021, with the economy not fully recovering to pre-pandemic levels.
A major accidental release of fluorinated gases by Anglo Beef Processors in Perth is being investigated by SEPA. It is the second largest accidental release in the food and drink sector in Europe.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published its Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) data for 2021.
SPRI provides a valuable picture of the amount of pollutants released in Scotland from SEPA-regulated industrial sites. It is a publicly accessible electronic database and aims to provide information for policy makers, academics and the public about the pressure Scottish industry puts on the environment through greenhouse gas emissions. SPRI does not assess the compliance of the facilities or the health and environmental impact of the releases.
The latest data reveals greenhouse gas emissions fell by 5% between 2020 and 2021. This reduction continues the decreasing trend seen over the last 15 years, with an overall drop of around 62% since 2007.
2007 – 2021 greenhouse gas graph
Global warming potential of greenhouse gases reported to SPRI since 2007 (kg CO2e).
Ongoing impact of Covid-19
Around a third of the sites that report pollutant emissions to SPRI each year noted a significant difference in their 2021 data compared to 2020. This is a similar proportion to previous years.
The economy in Scotland contracted by nearly 11% in 2020, as public health restrictions and changing behaviours in response to the coronavirus pandemic suppressed activity. There were particular falls in the construction, manufacturing, and mining and quarrying industries, and the economy as a whole did not recover to pre-pandemic levels until the beginning of 2022.
Whilst a number of sites mentioned that production (and hence emissions) had increased following a downturn during the pandemic in 2020, other sites mentioned that production did not return to pre-pandemic levels during 2021.
Jo Green, acting Chief Executive of SEPA, said: “Scotland has a clear vision to become a Net Zero society, with ambitious plans for a just transition. The latest data from SEPA continues to see greenhouse gases from Scottish industry continue the long-term downward trend. These official statistics chart the progress we’ve made as a nation, but they also reflect the realism of a modern, Western European economy in transition.
“The data that SPRI holds is vital to helping us understand how changes are impacting on our environment both directly and indirectly, ensuring Scotland can identify priority areas to reduce releases and track progress.
“As Scotland’s environmental regulator, SEPA’s firm focus remains on helping Scottish businesses innovate and continue to emerge stronger and more sustainably from the impacts of the pandemic. We’ve all got a role to play in tackling climate change and the continued reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from Scottish businesses is vital in helping our country reach net zero.”
Increase in F-gas emissions
Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are a family of chemicals that contain fluorine. They are also powerful greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
In February 2022 SEPA identified a large accidental release of F-gases from a meat producer, Anglo Beef Processors UK, Ruthvenfield Rd, Inveralmond, Perth, when the site submitted its Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) data returns for 2021.
It is one of the largest accidental releases in the food and drink sector in Europe up to 2020 and represents 87% of the total HFC emissions from all sectors in Scotland for 2021. This resulted in a significant increase in this pollutant (around 112%) compared to 2020.
SEPA’s Carbon reduction, Energy and Industry team began an investigation into the cause, which was related to the site’s refrigeration system. This investigation is currently ongoing and SEPA will determine whether any enforcement action is required as a result of its findings.
The site has now installed alternative refrigeration technologies.
Penguin Books UK and Twinkl are coming together to increase primary school pupils’ access to books by writers of colour, by giving away books including by Sharna Jackson and Malala Yousafzai to 500 schools across the UK.
Twinkl are producing a range of learning resources to accompany titles in the donation, to support teachers to integrate the new texts into their teaching.
Penguin Books have joined forces with Twinkl Educational Publishing to donate books by authors of colour to 500 UK primary schools.
The donation of books from Penguin, Puffin, Ladybird, and Vintage and Andersen Press forms part of Penguin’s Lit in Colour campaign, and aims to give pupils access to a wider range of authors, characters and books to tackle their stark underrepresentation in UK schools.
Each participating school will receive 100 books, covering a range of titles across fiction, non-fiction, poetry and mythology; from much-loved classics to new voices. Authors included in the selection are Matthew A. Cherry, Malala Yousafzai, Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali and more. Each school will also receive a class set of The Good Turn by Sharna Jackson.
Research by Lit in Colour, carried out by Penguin Books and the Runnymede Trust in 2021, revealed a stark picture of under-representation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic authors in the teaching of English Literature in this country.
This is relative both to these authors’ place in contemporary British literary excellence and school population demographics. According to the research, 82% of young people do not ever recall studying a book by a Black, Asian or minority ethnic author, while 70% agree that diversity is part of British society and should be represented in the school curriculum.
The research also found that a key barrier for primary school teachers was a lack of ready-made resources available from teaching sites that are focused on diverse texts. This is a significant challenge for educators who rely on these for the basis of their planning.
In response to this, Twinkl are producing a comprehensive set of learning resources that aim to make it as easy as possible for educators to create a full lesson around these titles and immerse learners through a selection of activity sheets to be used alongside the books and as follow-on activities.
Twinkl’s comprehensive series of educational resources will cover 20 titles that will support bringing new literature to classrooms. The learning materials will consist of various worksheets and activity packs. These include 60-second reading activities, to biography fact files and writing packs. These resources will be available to freely access online and can be used in connection with Penguin’s Lit in Colour book list.
Zaahida Nabagereka, Penguin Random House’s Head of Social Impact, said: “Partnering with Twinkl on this first ever UK wide Lit in Colour Primary School donation is a really significant step in addressing the barriers the Lit in Colour report identified in 2021.
“We are committed to supporting teachers to take diverse books into their classrooms with confidence, and key to that is resources. This collaboration strengthens the argument that we can achieve more when we tackle systemic issues together.”
David Angrave, Twinkl’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “As a global education publisher, we are delighted to work with Penguin on such a meaningful campaign. Our Lit in Colour resources aim to engage learners in a wide variety of diverse titles in the classroom. Through a range of voices in books, children can discover different cultures and identifiable characters.
“We are looking forward to continuing to collaborate with Penguin with this campaign and help build an inclusive outlook which celebrates differences and what brings us together.”
Sharna Jackson, author of The Good Turn,“When I was younger, there was a pronounced lack of access to many books that reflected my experience – as part of the curriculum, or in my school library.
“It’s why I wholeheartedly support the transformative work that Lit in Colour does to expand and enrich the curriculum. I am so incredibly proud that The Good Turn can be a small part of this change, as this donation from Lit in Colour and Twinkl will make an enormous difference to thousands of young readers who deserve to see themselves and their experience reflected in the books stocked on their school library shelves.”
To find out more about how your school can get involved with the Lit in Colour book giveaway, please visit our website.
Primary teachers can apply by completing this short form by Friday 30th September.
Dr Pat Carragher from Fife collected his prestigious national 2022 WellChild Award, in association with GSK, at The Hurlingham Club in London on September 8th, having been nominated by his colleague Emma Craig,
The Awards are run by WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children. The charity’s Patron, The Duke of Sussex was called away to Balmoral and so could not attend the WellChild Awards ceremony with his wife the Duchess as planned.
The news of Her Majesty’s passing broke just as the awards ceremony was about to take place. In a change to the planned proceedings, there was a short silence as a mark of respect followed by a rendition of The National Anthem from opera singers Natalie Rushdie and Camilla Kerslake. The winners then all came onto the stage as a group to receive their awards.
Dr Carragher, who is Medical Director at Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, was picked from hundreds of nominations from across the UK to win the Legacy category in these Awards which celebrate the resilience of children living with serious illnesses or complex conditions and honour the dedication of those individuals who go the extra mile to help these children and their families.
In summer of 2022, Dr Pat Carragher will be retiring as Medical Director at CHAS after nearly 39 years of working as a doctor. He has encountered periods of great change in his years as a medic including in Primary Care when he was a GP in Kinross before becoming Rachel House’s first hospice doctor and formally beginning work in Children’s Palliative Care in March 1996.
Dr Carragher has led the changes to CHAS’s medical service provisions through the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges the pandemic brought, alongside the team, he was determined to find ways to continue to reach the thousands of children with life-shortening conditions that rely on CHAS.
He helped establish new and innovative ways of working using technology to provide help to families across Scotland and proved himself to be a strong and resilient leader through immense change. He has reshaped CHAS’s medical services, helping families during what continues to be an isolating and unpredictable time.
Within three to four weeks from the start of the Coid-19 Pandemic, CHAS completely adapted its service offering to survive and to maintain the very best standards of care for children with palliative care needs, and to support their families.
Dr Carragher also led on virtual work through the “Near me” consultations via the NHS and by the use of Microsoft Teams, to interact with and assess children at home, and to work with their parents. CHAS’s pioneering virtual children’s hospice was also launched at the beginning of the pandemic and has rapidly developed since proving to be extremely successful.
Dr Carragher has also helped lead the CHAS hospital teams in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh through this period of transformation, providing clinical leadership and support in the planning and delivery of palliative care whilst working closely with the NHS and local authorities.
He was key in launching the first hospital-based Supportive and Palliative Care team in Scotland at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow and has continued to provide specialist advice through the pandemic.
Rami Okasha, the Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, who nominated Dr Carragher for the WellChild Award, said: “Dr Pat’s leadership and strength of character has enabled the team to adapt in ways which they never imagined.
“He’s shown resilience and an unwavering drive for reaching all of those who require CHAS’s help, and he’s inspired not only the medical team but all teams.”
“Dr Pat was continuously able to inspire and encourage teams to ‘keep going’ during the pandemic and to embrace the new and innovate ways to deliver care. He has provided solid leadership throughout this period of immense change.”
Dr Carragher ends many presentations with the following which he feels is vital for us all to understand: “The death of a child has serious and lasting effects on parents and other family members, effectively for the rest of their lives.
“Any attempt to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in the final days or weeks, must not only be good for a child but, in the fullness of time, be helpful to those left behind.”
WellChild Chief Executive, Matt James said: “We were so pleased to be able to celebrate our remarkable winners at The WellChild Awards 2022, in association with GSK, despite the unique circumstances this year.
“It was a chance to recognise and highlight the immense challenges they have faced and to celebrate the remarkable positivity, resilience, and spirit they have demonstrated. It also helped us to shine a light on the dedication of those around them, from siblings, professionals and volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help them through such challenging times.”
Innovative OPAT scheme saves 45,000 hospital admission bed days
A new service which has already saved 45,000 hospital bed days this year is being further rolled out over the coming months.
The Out-patient Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service allows people to be treated at home or in out-patient settings – reducing the need for hospital admission or long stays.
Patients are able to receive intravenous antimicrobial therapy or other complex antibiotic treatment in an out-patient clinic at a time convenient to them, and in some areas even at home rather than as an inpatient.
The service, part of the right care in the right place initiative, is just one of many innovative programmes which health boards are using to help reduce pressures on the rest of the system.
Figures published by the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group show that between 17 January 2022 and 21 August 2022 on average 250 people per week have been treated by the OPAT service and more than 45,000 hospital admission bed days have been avoided in that period.
OPAT services are supported by £50 million of Scottish Government funding through the Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative.
Beleaguered Health Secretary Humzah Yousaf welcomed a piece of good news. He said: “I am pleased to see the roll-out of the Out-patient Antimicrobial Therapy service.
“We know that our accident and emergency departments continue to be under significant pressure, and that is why we are working at pace to deliver this scheme, and others like it, to provide more care in the community while reducing pressure on hospitals.
“We know there is a real benefit to treating people at home where possible. We are determined to build on this success and want to see this approach adopted across as many health boards as possible.”
Dr Andrew Seaton, Chair of the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group and Consultant in Infectious Diseases, said: ““Hospitals are under significant pressure as we try to recover from the effects of the COVID pandemic and there is a real need for initiatives to support recovery and promote different ways of caring for our patients traditionally managed in hospitals.
“OPAT is an excellent example of how nurses, pharmacists and doctors can work together to provide high quality patient centred care without the need for a hospital bed. The focus now on further developing virtual capacity and new ways of working with support across Scotland for initiatives like ours is very welcome”.
Nine health boards currently use OPAT services and the programme will be rolled out further over the coming months.
Yesterday’s announcement was somewhat overshadowed by news that the latest hospital waiting times in Scotland are the WORST EVER.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said the figures showed the “crisis in A&E is not merely continuing, but deepening”.
Bring neighbours, friends and family together at this welcoming event at The Heart of Newhaven this Saturday afternoon.
There will be something for everyone to enjoy and I’ll have a brilliant screen printing activity running that’s easy, fun, experimental and colourful so pop in and have a taster of what Ink on Mesh and other businesses at the HEaRT have for you all.
Support for households, businesses and public sector organisations facing rising energy bills has been unveiled
New government scheme will see energy prices for non-domestic energy customers such as businesses, charities and public sector organisations cut – protecting them from rising energy costs
government work with suppliers will reduce wholesale energy costs – and the significant rises in bills that businesses have seen
this support is in addition to the Energy Price Guarantee for households, with further measures today to strengthen support for families across the United Kingdom, including those in rentals or park homes
New support for households, businesses and public sector organisations facing rising energy bills in Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been unveiled by Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg today (Wednesday 21 September) – supporting growth, preventing unnecessary insolvencies and protecting jobs.
Through a new government Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the government will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers (including all UK businesses, the voluntary sector like charities and the public sector such as schools and hospitals) whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices. This support will be equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee put in place for households.
It will apply to fixed contracts agreed on or after 1 April 2022, as well as to deemed, variable and flexible tariffs and contracts. It will apply to energy usage from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, running for an initial 6 month period for all non-domestic energy users. The savings will be first seen in October bills, which are typically received in November.
As with the Energy Price Guarantee for households, customers do not need to take action or apply to the scheme to access the support. Support (in the form of a p/kWh discount) will automatically be applied to bills.
To administer support, the government has set a Supported Wholesale Price – expected to be £211 per MWh for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas, less than half the wholesale prices anticipated this winter – which is a discounted price per unit of gas and electricity.
This is equivalent to the wholesale element of the Energy Price Guarantee for households. It includes the removal of green levies paid by non-domestic customers who receive support under the scheme.
The level of price reduction for each business will vary depending on their contract type and circumstances:
non-domestic customers on existing fixed price contracts will be eligible for support as long as the contract was agreed on or after 1 April 2022. Provided that the wholesale element of the price the customer is paying is above the Government Supported Price, their per unit energy costs will automatically be reduced by the relevant p/kWh for the duration of the Scheme. Customers entering new fixed price contracts after 1 October will receive support on the same basis
those on default, deemed or variable tariffs will receive a per-unit discount on energy costs, up to a maximum of the difference between the Supported Price and the average expected wholesale price over the period of the Scheme. The amount of this Maximum Discount is likely to be around £405/MWh for electricity and £115/MWh for gas, subject to wholesale market developments. Non-domestic customers on default or variable tariffs will therefore pay reduced bills, but these will still change over time and may still be subject to price increases. This is why the government is working with suppliers to ensure all their customers in England, Scotland and Wales are given the opportunity to switch to a fixed contract/tariff for the duration of the scheme if they wish, underpinned by the government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme support
for businesses on flexible purchase contracts, typically some of the largest energy-using businesses, the level of reduction offered will be calculated by suppliers according to the specifics of that company’s contract and will also be subject to the Maximum Discount
A parallel scheme, based on the same criteria and offering comparable support, but recognising the different market fundamentals, will be established in Northern Ireland.
If you are not connected to either the gas or electricity grid, equivalent support will also be provided for non-domestic consumers who use heating oil or alternative fuels instead of gas. Further detail on this will be announced shortly.
We will publish a review into the operation of the scheme in three months to inform decisions on future support after March 2023. The review will focus in particular on identifying the most vulnerable non-domestic customers and how the government will continue assisting them with energy costs.
Prime Minister Liz Truss said: “I understand the huge pressure businesses, charities and public sector organisations are facing with their energy bills, which is why we are taking immediate action to support them over the winter and protect jobs and livelihoods.
“As we are doing for consumers, our new scheme will keep their energy bills down from October, providing certainty and peace of mind.
“At the same time, we are boosting Britain’s homegrown energy supply so we fix the root cause of the issues we are facing and ensure greater energy security for us all.”
Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng said: “We have stepped in to stop businesses collapsing, protect jobs, and limit inflation.
“And with our plans to boost home-grown energy supply, we will bring security to the sector, growth to the economy and secure a better deal for consumers.”
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “We have seen an unprecedented rise in energy prices following Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, which has affected consumers up and down the country and businesses of all sizes.
“The help we are already putting in place will save families money off their bills, and the government’s plans for businesses, charities and public sector organisations will give them the equivalent level of support.
“This, alongside the measures we are taking to boost the amount of domestic energy we produce to improve both energy security and supply, will increase growth, protect jobs and support families with their cost of living this winter.”
Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality said: “This intervention is unprecedented and it is extremely welcome that government has listened to hospitality businesses facing an uncertain winter.
“We particularly welcome its inclusiveness – from the smallest companies to the largest – all of which combine to provide a huge number of jobs, which are now much more secure.
“The government has recognised the vulnerability of hospitality as a sector, and we will continue to work with the government, to ensure that there is no cliff edge when these measures fall away.”
Support for households in Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Today’s announcement follows the launch of the Energy Price Guarantee for households in Great Britain, under which a typical household will pay on average £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years from 1 October.
The scheme limits the price suppliers can charge customers for units of gas and electricity, taking account of the Exchequer temporarily funding for two years environmental and social costs, including green levies – worth around £150 – which are currently included in domestic energy bills. The guarantee supersedes the existing price cap and is expected to save the average household £1,000 a year based on current energy prices from October.
It also comes in addition to the announced £400 energy bills discount for all households and together, they will bring costs close to where the energy price cap currently stands.
Today, the Business Secretary also confirmed equivalent support for households in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Energy Price Guarantee will offer households the same level of gas and electricity bill support as the equivalent scheme in Great Britain.
Households in Northern Ireland will also receive a £400 discount on bills through the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme (NI EBSS), the same support as is available in Great Britain.
For the Energy Price Guarantee, the scheme will still work through electricity and gas bills. The scheme will provide households in Northern Ireland with equivalent financial support with their electricity and gas bills as for those in Great Britain. Energy suppliers will reduce bills by a unit price reduction of up to 17p/kWh for electricity and 4.2p/kWh for gas, and there is no need to take any action to receive this support.
This will take effect from November, but the government will ensure households receive support so they will see the same benefit overall as those households in Great Britain backdating support for October bills through bills from November.
Targeted support
The government also announced today further details on the separate Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) to ensure that the £400 discount to households starting from October will also be available to the 1% of households who would not otherwise have received this support.
Additional funding will be made available so that £400 payments will be extended to include people such as park home residents and those tenants whose landlords pay for their energy via a commercial contract. The government is committed to ensuring such households receive the same support for their energy bills. The government will introduce legislation to make sure landlords pass the EBSS discount on to tenants who pay all-inclusive bills.
The government will also provide an additional payment of £100 to households across the UK who are not able to receive support for their heating costs through the Energy Price Guarantee. This might be because they live in an area of the UK that is not served by the gas grid and is to compensate for the rising costs of alternative fuels such as heating oil.
Lothian tandem riders are gearing up for Poppyscotland’s popular Sportive event, proving visual impairment is no barrier to cycling.
Edinburgh-based Vie Velo cycling club pairs sighted “pilots” with blind and visually-impaired riders for regular social bike rides.
Now 30 group members have challenged themselves to complete the Sportive on Sunday 25th September, cycling up to 68 miles on routes through East Lothian and the Scottish Borders.
They will join around 1000 cyclists at the event, which is Poppyscotland’s biggest fundraiser outside the Scottish Poppy Appeal. Now in its seventh year, it has already raised more than £250,000 to support the Armed Forces community in Scotland.
This year’s Sportive aims to be the most inclusive ever, opening up the route to tandems and e-bike users.
Ken Reid, 63, from North Berwick, chair of Vie Velo, took up tandem riding in 1990 when he found his eyesight deteriorating due to retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive condition.
He helped set up the club in 2019 with the support of Cycling UK and grants from RS MacDonald Charitable Trust and Transport Scotland.
They now have almost 90 members, with around one third affected by visual impairment, and meet at Saughton Park for bike rides at least twice a month.
Ken said: “We were looking for a challenge for our group and were keen to support Poppyscotland. We felt there was a close connection since many veterans in Scotland are affected by sight loss.
“I kept cycling solo as long as I could when I realised I was losing my sight. But then I decided to buy a tandem and found a group of mates who would take turns to go out with me.
“We were delighted to be able to set up the club to get more blind and partially-sighted people engaged in cycling. We’d like more people to know about us and be aware they have the option of getting back on a bike again.
“The most important thing in tandem riding is trust. You have to place all your trust in the pilot, and that can be a big change if you’re used to having control. But it’s also great fun and very sociable – we’re not racers and all our weekend rides include stops for coffee and cake!”
The Sportive, sponsored by Fred.Olson Renewables, will start and finish at Prestonpans Community Centre. Entrants can choose between three routes of different lengths, taking in stunning coastal and country roads. The most challenging 102-mile route covers the Lammermuirs, before dipping down to Chirnside and Duns in the Scottish Borders.
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome the riders from Vie Velo, and very grateful for their support. They are truly inspirational and really do show that cycling can be for everyone, regardless of age or ability.
“We’re excited that the Sportive is returning to East Lothian and the Borders after a two-year break. This year’s event aims to be the most inclusive ever, and we’re encouraging riders of all abilities to take part, whether on a traditional bike, an e-bike or a tandem.
“The Sportive is always very popular, but there’s still time to join in, get fit, and raise funds for a great cause Participants can choose between three routes, taking in stunning coastal views and country roads, with a timed hill climb to challenge the most experienced cyclists.
“We’d like to thank Fred. Olson Renewables for continuing to sponsor us this year. This means 100 per cent of the sign-up fee and any sponsorship raised will go towards providing vital welfare support to veterans, servicemen and women and their families across Scotland.”
The Sportive is an “open road” cycling event, meaning that no roads will be closed in order to minimise disruption to the public. Riders can have a free place if they are supporting a cyclist with a disability.
Cyclists can register at Prestonpans Community Centre on Saturday 24th September between 2pm and 6pm, or on Sunday 25th from 6:30am to 8:30am.
In UN address the PM will call on democracies to harness the power of cooperation seen since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to constrain authoritarianism.
PM will argue the free world must prioritise economic growth and security – including ending dependency on authoritarians – to win the new era of strategic competition.
UN speech will also stress the need to properly invest in our physical security and will recommit to spending 3% of UK GDP on defence by 2030.
Prime Minister Liz Truss will use a speech in New York today (Wednesday) to warn fellow democratic leaders against any complacency when it comes to defending our values and preserving a world order that rewards freedom.
At the first ever session of the UN General Assembly held in the shadow of a large-scale war of aggression in Europe, the Prime Minister will highlight the threat from authoritarian states working to undermine security and stability around the world.
She will outline her vision for this new, more competitive era, which will require likeminded democracies to fight to defend our ideals. This fight begins with ensuring the UK and its partners have the strong economic foundations they need to constrain authoritarianism.
The Prime Minister will outline her plans to build a British economy which attracts growth by rewarding innovation, championing investment and enterprise, and welcoming the best talent around the world.
She will also set out the steps the Government is taking to ensure the British economy is free from malign interference. This includes increasing our energy independence and safeguarding the security of our supply chains.
In her speech, the Prime Minister will tell the UN: “The commitment to hope and progress must begin at home – in the lives of every citizen that we serve…
“We want people to keep more of the money they earn, because we believe that freedom trumps instruction…
“…We are reforming our economy to get Britain moving forward once again. The free world needs this economic strength and resilience to push back against authoritarian aggression and win this new era of strategic competition…
“…We will no longer be strategically dependent on those who seek to weaponise the global economy.”
As the UK boosts the dynamism and resilience of our own economy, the Prime Minister will also make the case for democracies working together to protect one another’s economic security.
The strength of democratic economies, rooted as they are in the aspirations of their people, is a clear counterpoint to autocratic states, which sow the seeds of their own demise by stifling aspiration and creativity.
The Prime Minister will make the case for harnessing that strength and denying authoritarian states the opportunity to manipulate the global economy.
She will tell the UN General Assembly that the G7 and other likeminded partners must act as an economic NATO, collectively defending our prosperity and coming to the aid of any partner targeted by an aggressive regime.
This economic security goes hand in hand with physical security. The Prime Minister will therefore reiterate her commitment to protecting the UK and our allies, including by increasing defence spending to 3% of UK GDP on defence by 2030.
The Prime Minister is expected to say: “Just as we are building a plan for growth at home, we are also developing a new blueprint for our engagement with the world.
“We will build resilience and collective security – because they are vital for freedom and democracy. We will be a reliable, trustworthy and dynamic partner.”
To ensure the UK’s diplomatic, military and security architecture is keeping pace with evolving threat posed by hostile nations, the Prime Minister has commissioned an update to the Integrated Review.
The UK’s Integrated Review of security, defence, development and foreign policy was published in March 2021 – before Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine created the greatest security challenge ever experienced by NATO.
Professor John Bew, the Prime Minister’s special adviser for foreign affairs and defence, will lead a Downing Street process to update the review.
The refreshed strategy will ensure we are investing in the strategic capabilities and alliances we need to stand firm against coercion from authoritarian powers like Russia and China. The update is expected to be published by the end of this year.
By properly investing in defence, the Prime Minister will ensure that the UK maintains our position as the leading security actor in Europe, so that we are ready to stand up for peace, prosperity and freedom across the world – just as we have done in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister will highlight these efforts in her speech. She will pay tribute to the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people, and commit to continue standing up for human rights and democracy around the world.
The Prime Minister is expected to say: “This is a decisive moment in British history, in the history of this organisation, and in the history of freedom.
“The story of 2022 could have been that of an authoritarian state rolling its tanks over the border of a peaceful neighbour and subjugating its people.
“Instead, it is the story of freedom fighting back …
“But this must not be a one off … Britain’s commitment to this is total.
“Together with our friends and allies around the world, we will continue to champion freedom, sovereign and democracy.
“And we will define this new era as one of hope and progress.”
