August 2023 – Page 14 – The NEN

‘Climate change is the ‘defining issue of our time’, Minister tells Green Home Festival

Climate change is the “defining issue of our time” and we all have a role to play to ensure we successfully transition to net zero in Scotland.

That was the message from Minister of Housing Paul McLennan as he officially opened the second Green Home Festival on Monday (14 August) as part of the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The MSP was the keynote speaker at the launch ofthe five-day renewables jamboree in central Edinburgh, which was once again organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV).

Mr McLennan was joined by TV presenter and award-winning designer Anna Campbell-Jones for the launch event at 10 Charlotte Square, where guests gathered to kick off a week of practical assistance and advice to help Scotland become a net zero nation.

Speaking to delegates at the Scottish headquarters of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Mr McLennan outlined the challenge facing industry, homeowners and the wider – and said everyone had a part to play.

The Minister told guests: “Climate change is the defining issue of our time; the climate emergency is already here and we know that we have to act for our generation and also for future generations.

“We know that to meet Scotland’s climate targets we need to reduce emissions from heating buildings by 68% by 2030, which is a huge task. We also need to switch homes and buildings to zero direct emissions heating, such as heat pumps and heat networks.

“The cost of living crisis and unprecedented surges in energy prices make this challenge even harder, as do the impacts of rising inflation on building and construction costs.

“But these factors make it even more important to move away from expensive fossil fuels for heating our homes – to help make our energy more affordable and secure, while eliminating energy efficiency as a driver of fuel poverty.”

Mr McLennan, who is MSP for East Lothian, also stressed that increasing understanding and raising awareness about the changes we need to see are key to Scotland reducing emissions from our building stock.

The Minister said: “We need to help homes, businesses and other property owners to understand what the heat transition will mean for them, the types of measures best suited to their homes and buildings and the support available to them to make this transition.

“We plan to publish a Heat in Buildings Public Engagement Strategy later this year, setting out our plan to increase understanding of the heat transition in Scotland.

“Many of you in industry, the public and third sectors are already taking the lead in the heat transition by decarbonising your own buildings.

“Events such as the Green Home Festival – offering live demonstrations and guidance – can play a huge part in increasing understanding of the changes we need to see in our building stock and of zero emissions heating systems in Scotland.”

Mr McLennan also said that the Scottish Government continues to offer a “coordinated package of support” to help householders convert to zero direct emissions heating systems and install energy efficiency measures.

He said: “We know that installing a zero direct emission heating system and energy efficiency measures can be expensive and we understand the importance of helping people to meet these costs, especially those who need support the most.

“The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan Scheme provides grants of up to £7,500 for homeowners to install both heat and energy efficiency measures, and as much again in loan funding.

“There are also higher grants for eligible properties in rural areas and we are committed to investing at least £1.8 billion over the course of this Parliament towards heat and energy efficiency measures.”

Mr McLennan added: “Public funding and support will continue to play a big part in helping people make the changes needed. But it will cost around £33 billion to transform our building stock by 2045 and that can’t be met by government alone.

“Our Green Heat Finance Taskforce will therefore make recommendations this year on how the financial services sector can help people meet and spread the costs of the heat transition.

“And our £17.6m Green Heat Innovation Support programme will support Scottish-based companies to develop ideas, introduce new products or processes to the market, and support collaboration.”

Other speakers at the launch included Green Home Festival co-organiser Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director of the Federation of Master Builders, and Sandra Cummings, Chair of the RICS Scotland Board.

Mr Nelson said: “We were extremely grateful to Mr McLennan for opening the second Green Home Festival and kicking off a fantastic week of essential advice and practical hands-on information.

“Once again it has been heartening to be involved in a wider team effort, working with kindred organisations and highly skilled people in planning this year’s festival which will promote the construction sector’s commitment to accessible, affordable, and sustainable low-carbon energy solutions.

“Through influencing government policy, the CICV will aspire to realise its vision of building a sustainable future, one home at a time.”

After the launch, Scotland’s Home of the Year judge Anna took centre stage for the first show of the day, Ingredients for a Greener Kitchen, which showed homeowners how to make their cooking spaces more eco-friendly, with contributions from Scottish Water and trade bodies SNIPEF and SELECT.

The show was followed by a second session on the potential of microwave heating, in which Professor Sean Smith from the University of Edinburgh outlined the features and benefits of the alternative heat source.

The Green Home Festival delivered a further eight in-person and virtual presentations this week, targeting homeowners, construction professionals, housing associations, landlords and local authorities.

With demonstrations and hands-on guidance to help people reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient, topics covered include green garden rooms and offices, making retrofit projects eco-friendly, converting churches and how the home of the future will be powered.

The event also included a dedicated heat pump day, with two separate shows on how to reduce bills, access grants and install the technology, as well as options for hybrid heating.

Built Environment – Smarter Transformation also hosted an in-person show on the advantages of community heat networks and a webinar that advised what consumers can do to reduce both their energy consumption and energy bills.

The festival is the latest in a string of practical and constructive initiatives launched by the CICV since its creation at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Made up of 28 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with government.

Full details on the Green Home Festival website at greenhomefestival.co.uk

Which? reveals the best and worst baby product retailers

Online4Baby.com and Silver Cross have beaten bigger high street names to be voted the best baby retailers by shoppers, according to new Which? research.

The consumer champion surveyed more than 3,000 people about their experiences using shops that sell a range of baby products. The retailers were rated for customer score as well as product quality, value for money and staff helpfulness and knowledge.

According to Which?’s research, three-quarters (74%) of shoppers made their most recent baby-equipment purchase online. Buying the big items for a new baby used to mean being shown the ropes by a knowledgeable salesperson at a bricks and mortar shop, but these retailers have been disappearing from the high street and the Covid pandemic appears to have cemented the shift to online shopping.

Oldham-based Online4Baby and Silver Cross each received a customer score of 81 per cent, higher than popular high-street retailers including John Lewis and Boots.

Online4Baby received four stars for product quality, value for money and staff knowledge and has been awarded Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) status.

Being awarded a WRP means that not only did a company perform outstandingly in Which?’s survey, but also passed Which?’s stringent behind-the-scenes checks on its terms and conditions and returns policies.

Eight in 10 of Online4Baby’s customers in the survey said they would recommend it to a friend. Shoppers praised its easy-to navigate website, great product range and the cost savings to be had. They also praised its customer services team, saying they were helpful and knowledgeable, offering support seven days a week.

Silver Cross also earned a customer score of 81 per cent, receiving four stars for product quality. However, respondents also said it offered less value for money than some of the other retailers, scoring it three stars.

With a customer score of 80 per cent, Maxi-Cosi was praised for its high-quality products and impressive value for money. The helpfulness and knowledge of staff was, however, rated slightly lower than other top performers.

Towards the top of the table, John Lewis received a customer score of 79 per cent. The retailer was awarded a WRP and given four stars for product quality and staff knowledge, but three stars for value for money. A customer praised the retailer for its “fantastic customer service, good loyalty program and great warranty periods”.

Mamas and Papas was another strong performer which was given WRP status, receiving a customer score of 78 per cent. It scored four stars for its product quality and staff knowledge and three stars for value for money. One person said: “’Easy to order, excellent quality.”

Another high scorer and WRP was Joie Baby. The retailer received a customer score of 76 per cent, scoring four stars across all categories. One customer said the retailer had a straightforward returns policy and that its products were good value for money.

At the bottom of the table was Baby Monitors Direct, which scored two stars for product quality and value for money. With a customer score of 65 per cent, the retailer received three stars for staff helpfulness and knowledge.

One customer described the customer service as “awful”, however another said they were satisfied by product quality and speed of delivery and would recommend the site to others.

The Range received a slightly higher customer score of 67 per cent, being awarded two stars for product quality and staff helpfulness and three stars for value for money.

One person reported: “’We had an issue with the toy and wanted to return it to the store as it was faulty. The company wasn’t very helpful and we had to speak to HQ to resolve the issue.” Despite this, another customer praised The Range for its excellent selection of products and great value items.

Ele Clark, Which? Retail Editor, said: “Most people now buy baby products online rather than going into a physical shop, but our research suggests that mums and dads-to-be still value excellent customer service in addition to good-value and high-quality products.

“It’s great to see several retailers ticking the boxes for their customers, proving to be reliable retailers for a range of must-have baby products.

“However, we would always recommend getting your car seat professionally installed or checked by an expert if you buy it online. If that’s not possible, most brands have detailed installation guides on Youtube which you can follow and pause while you fit yours.”

Energy Advice session for Ukranian community

GRANTON Goes Greener: We are very excited to be hosting an energy advice drop in aimed at UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY

this is a specific funding for a particular ethnic group at @GrantonParish next Friday (3-5PM).

The drop in will be run by lovely Ewelina from @ELREC_CFC with language support in place.

Royston Wardieburn launches Autumn Programme

Now that the schools are starting back, it’s almost time for out Autumn programme to start

Due to start w/c Monday 4th September

Details for each programme item will be posted soon

For more information, contact the centre on 0131 552 5700

May be subject to change

Covid: New variant discovered in UK

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published an initial risk assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86.

This variant was detected in the UK yesterday (Friday 18 August), and has also been identified in Israel, Denmark and the US. It has been designated as V-23AUG-01 for the purpose of UKHSA monitoring.

The newly identified variant has a high number of mutations and is genomically distant from both its likely ancestor, BA.2, and from currently circulating XBB-derived variants.

There is currently one confirmed case in the UK in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK. Identifying the extent of this transmission will require further investigation.

There is currently insufficient data to assess the relative severity or degree of immune escape compared to other currently-circulating variants.

Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director, UKHSA said: “V-23AUG-01 was designated as a variant on 18 August 2023 on the basis of international transmission and significant mutation of the viral genome. This designation allows us to monitor it through our routine surveillance processes.

“We are aware of one confirmed case in the UK. UKHSA is currently undertaking detailed assessment and will provide further information in due course.”

UKHSA will continue to monitor the situation closely and will publish the results of our analysis when they are available.

UK Government orders independent inquiry following Lucy Letby verdict

Inquiry announced into circumstances behind murders and attempted murders of babies at Countess of Chester Hospital to help families get the answers they need

Inquiry announced into circumstances behind the murders and attempted murders of babies at Countess of Chester Hospital to help ensure families get the answers they need
The inquiry will look at the circumstances surrounding the deaths and incidents, including how concerns raised by clinicians were dealt with
Victims’ families will be invited to both engage with and shape the inquiry, ensuring their views are heard throughout the process

The UK Government has ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances behind the horrific murders and attempted murders of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, following the guilty verdict in the trial of former neonatal nurse, Lucy Letby.

Launched to ensure vital lessons are learned and to provide answers to the parents and families impacted, the inquiry will investigate the wider circumstances around what happened at the Countess of Chester Hospital, including the handling of concerns and governance. It will also look at what actions were taken by regulators and the wider NHS.

It will ensure the families impacted in this tragic case have the opportunity to engage with the inquiry.

The government is committed to making the NHS one of the safest places in the world to give birth, and every single parent across the country deserves to feel confident that their babies are receiving safe and world-class treatment.

Work continues across England to ensure the highest possible standard of maternity and neonatal care.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “I would like to send my deepest sympathy to all the parents and families impacted by this horrendous case.

“This inquiry will seek to ensure the parents and families impacted get the answers they need. I am determined their voices are heard, and they are involved in shaping the scope of the inquiry should they wish to do so.

“Following on from the work already underway by NHS England, it will help us identify where and how patient safety standards failed to be met and ensure mothers and their partners rightly have faith in our healthcare system.”

After careful consideration, a non-statutory independent inquiry was found to be the most appropriate option, building on the approach taken in other cases. It will focus on lessons that can be learned quickly.

The police have arrangements in place to appropriately support families who have been directly impacted by this awful case, including psychological support and family liaison officers.

The trust is offering as much support as necessary to any current or anticipated users of its neonatal and transitional care services. Senior clinical and nursing staff are also on standby to help and offer advice so families rightly feel supported.

A chair will be appointed, and we will publish the inquiry’s proposed terms of reference – setting out the scope of the work – in due course.

Dr Nigel Scawn, Medical Director, gave a statement to the media in response to the outcome of the trial of Lucy Letby:

‘I speak for the whole Trust when I say how deeply saddened and appalled we are at Lucy Letby’s crimes. We are extremely sorry that these crimes were committed at our hospital and our thoughts continue to be with all the families and loved ones of the babies who came to harm or died. We cannot begin to understand what they have been through.

‘This case has had a profound impact on our patients and our local community and also our staff – who come to work every day determined to provide safe and high-quality care for our patients.

‘Our staff are devastated by what happened and we are committed to ensuring lessons continue to be learnt. We are grateful for the cooperation of our staff, especially those who have maintained the utmost professionalism whilst giving evidence in the trial, sometimes on multiple occasions.

‘We will continue to support them and other staff to ensure they receive the care and support they need.

‘We would like to extend our thanks to Cheshire Police for their extensive investigation and the work they did to bring this case to trial. We’d also like to thank them for the comprehensive support they have provided to all of the families.

‘Since Lucy Letby worked at our hospital, we have made significant changes to our services. I want to provide reassurance that every patient who accesses our services can have confidence in the care they will receive.

‘And, most importantly, our thoughts are with all the families and loved ones at this very difficult time.’

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel says ‘serious questions’ have to be asked of the NHS after nurse Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies.

Speaking to GB News, Ms Patel said: “This is a deeply, deeply, horrible, appalling, abhorrent and traumatic case for those families that have lost their babies. It is a horrible case.

“The one thing I would add though, is that the government has in recent years changed our laws for individuals that are effectively deemed to have been involved in murdering children and harming children. And it’s important that we see those laws put into practice by the courts when it comes to sentencing. So we can’t prejudge anything right now.

“My sympathies are so much with those families. I mean, there are no words really, for what they have endured, the trauma and the heartbreak and I really think we need now to let this follow the full judicial process.

“I’m a member of parliament in mid-Essex. And you know, all MPs represent their constituents when it comes to the NHS, but sadly – and I say this with a very heavy heart – a lot of the complaints that come to us are literally complaints about either access or services, and their own personal experiences.

“It’s heartbreaking, it is absolutely heartbreaking because they want to know the truth. What happened, why did things go wrong? I have no doubt my colleague, the Secretary of State for Health will be following this with a great deal of interest.

“There’ll be all sorts of questions regarding the NHS Trust itself, the governance, what procedures did they follow? And effectively, what lessons will be learned because lessons will have to be learned out of this?

“And personally, I think there has to be greater calls for transparency within large organisations and institutions such as the NHS.”

97% of car insurance products charging at least one extra fee

Millions could be paying more than they think for their car insurance
Customers paying extra to pay by direct debit and for set up fees, adjustment fees, cancellation fees and even renewal fees
NFU Mutual, which does not charge any extra fees, analysed data from Defaqto and found only 9 of 321 products – 3% – don’t charge any extra fees

Data from 321 insurance products shows that millions of people in the UK could be paying extra fees for their car insurance.

NFU Mutual, which does not charge any extra fees, analysed data from Defaqto and found that only 9 of 321 products – just 3% – do not charge any extra fees to customers.

Data table

Number of products – 321

Number of products charging a fee of some kind – 312 (97%)

Charge	Number of products charging	Percentage of products charging	Highest fee	Average fee
Direct debit	306	95%	n/a	n/a
Set-up fee	146	45%	£350	£58
Adjustment fee	239	74%	£175	£39
Cancellation fee	289	90%	£400	£57
Cooling-off cancellation fee	165	51%	£400	£42
Renewal fee	133	41%	£100	£47
Telematics disconnect and removal fee	14 (out of 62 products)	23%	£100	£68
Telematics documentation fee	2 (out of 62 products)	3%	£60	£60
Telematics missed appointment fee	14 (out of 62 products)	23%	£60	£51

The most common fees charged are direct debit fees, with 95% of products charging customers more to spread payments throughout the year, and cancellation fees, which are present in 90% of products.

The average cancellation fee is £57, with the highest charge a massive £400, which includes a broker fee and a charge for installing the related telematics device.

Adjustment fees are also charged in over three quarters of car insurance products, reducing the ability of consumers to make changes to their insurance without incurring costs. The highest adjustment fee was £175, which includes a broker fee and a charge for installing a new telematics device, with the average fee coming in at £39.

Well over 40% of products charged set-up and renewal fees, effectively penalising customers for setting up insurance. From products which charge the fees, the average set-up cost is £58 and the average renewal fee is £47.

Many insurance providers – 51% of products analysed – also charge customers for cancelling during the 14-day cooling-off period. This cooling-off period is a legal requirement during which a customer can cancel their policy for any reason. However, over half of insurance products charge customers to do this, at an average of £41 and reaching £400 at the higher end, with this covering cancellation, a broker fee and the cost of installing the related telematics device.

With so many car insurance products charging for common things, with the average fees representing not-insignificant amounts, customers could find themselves on the hook for substantial costs on top of their insurance premiums.

Wendy Yeomans, car insurance expert at NFU Mutual, said: “With the cost of living crisis hitting all our pockets, it’s more important than ever to keep on top of our budgets.

“Many households have cancelled media subscriptions or altered their buying habits to keep spending under control, but many will not be aware they are paying the equivalent of this in extra fees for their car insurance.

“Extra fees like this, which many consumers aren’t aware of, make budgeting more difficult and effectively mean the prices many pay for their car insurance creep up beyond what they expected.

“That is why, at NFU Mutual, we are proud to say we don’t charge any extra fees at all, nor do we penalise customers for paying in the way that suits them best – whether this is a monthly direct debit, lump sum or by cheque.”

Sunday: Lewis Leap Fun Dog Show at Cammo Estate

Tails will be wagging this weekend when the ‘Lewis Leap’ Dog Show takes place at the Cammo Estate on Sunday 20^th August, between 2 and 5 pm.

The annual show, now in its second year, celebrates all kinds of canine capers – with judging categories including ‘waggiest tail’ to ‘cutest puppy’ and the ‘most fabulous costume for both dog and owner.’

As well as nine judging categories – which culminate in the prestigious ‘Best on Show’ award – there is also a host of other fun attractions including food stalls (hotdogs, naturally), tombola and doggy merchandise. There is even a special ‘Dog Bar’ catering for the stars of the show serving ‘Puppuccinos’ and various dog treats.

The show aims to raise awareness and funds for the Lewis Leap charity which was set up to honour the memory and spirit of Cammo schoolboy Lewis Johnson, who died suddenly whilst on a family holiday aged just 13.

The charity’s vision is to introduce a new service later this year to offer early support to local families who have suddenly and traumatically lost a child, sibling or parent. They are partnering with national bereavement support group Cruse Scotland and the new service will support family members collectively and individually in the early stages of grief.

The Lewis Leap Dog Show costs just £3 to enter each category online before the 19^th August – or £3.50 on the day of the show. For more information and to enter online, visit: www.lewisleap.com/cammo-dog-show

Strachan House celebrates Indian Independence Day

Residents at Strachan House in Blackhall marked Indian Independence Day on Tuesday.

Independence Day is celebrated on August 15th, the anniversary of the day in 1947 when the provisions of the Indian Independence Act, which transferred legislative sovereignty to the Indian Constituent Assembly, came into effect and India gained its Independence from the United Kingdom. It is a public holiday in India. The Prime Minister raises the red national flag of India and addresses the nation.

Residents enjoyed an afternoon of cultural learning and a mini celebration themselves as they took part in some sari and sherwani dressing.

Those residents who had visited India previously shared their experiences of their trips and one carer Diane gave a wonderful display of traditional dancing.

There was a fabulous spread of delicious Indian dishes including a variety of different curries with samosas, bhajis, pakora, kofta, poppadum, naan, with raita, lime pickle and mango chutney all washed down with lots of delicious hot tea.

Gordon Philp, General Manager at Strachan House, said: “We celebrate all cultures and religions and we try to mark as many cultural events as possible.

“Indian Independence Day has given our residents a wonderful opportunity to find out more about India and its traditions, and our residents have enjoyed sharing their experiences of times they spent visiting India”

Bernard Lennon, a resident, said: “It is so important to mark occasions like this and to remember the history behind the date.

“I really enjoyed watching the dancing and learning how to wear the traditional dress for a gent. It was very comfortable. But sampling the different dishes was the best bit!”

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.

Support for Scotland’s museums

£500,000 fund towards capital costs and resilience

In recognition of the important contribution museums make to our communities, the sector is to benefit from a new fund for crucial repair and maintenance work.

The Scottish Government is to give an additional £500,000 to Museums Galleries Scotland to enable organisations across the country to reduce their running costs and increase resilience.

Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said: “Given the current cost of living challenges and their impact on the ability of museums to run their services for the public, this £500,000 in funding will enable the museum sector to be more energy efficient.

“In particular the fund will prioritise projects that will directly reduce carbon use or have a positive environmental impact.

“As well as encouraging the sector to be more sustainable, the aims of the fund align with our national priorities and will contribute to Scotland’s target of net zero emissions by 2045.”

CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland Lucy Casot said: “We welcome this additional funding from the Scottish Government to support the resilience of museums and galleries to continue their important work engaging with communities and telling the stories of their places and people.

“Focusing on lowering running costs and increasing energy efficiency will safeguard these spaces for years to come. and better support our ambitions to become sustainable organisations that aspire to reach net zero.”