Nearly £5 billion of support has been paid to help households with their energy bills this winter
Over £4 billion was paid to pensioners between November and March through the Winter Fuel Payment and Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
An estimated £550 million has been spent this winter as part of the Warm Home Discount to support three million households
Over 1.1 million £25 Cold Weather Payments have been made to households in England and Wales
Halving inflation has ensured everyone’s money goes further, however we remain committed to supporting households across the country with 11.8 million pensioners receiving up to £600 in Winter Fuel Payments and Pensioner Cost of Living Payments.
On top of this, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has today estimated over 1.1 million Cold Weather Payments worth £29.6 million were paid out from November until the end of March – with over £9 million of this going to low-income pensioners receiving Pension Credit.
Further support was also made available through the Warm Home Discount – to support three million households at risk of fuel poverty, allowing families to keep costs down and more money in their pockets. The Government expects partnered energy suppliers to have spent around £550 million this winter across Great Britain, through direct bill rebates as well other financial and energy efficiency support.
This support was needed to protect everyday Brits from the inflationary impact of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine – helping millions of people get through the winter. Now – with energy bills dropping, wages rising, and taxes being slashed – people are set to have more cash in their pocket to help fire up the economy and beckon in more growth.
We have turned a corner after the shocks of the past few years, and we are in a new economic moment and 2024 will prove to be the year that the economy bounces back.
Minister for Pensions, Paul Maynard said: “This Government’s actions have provided vital support to pensioners most in need.
“Halving inflation has helped everyone’s finances, and we remain committed to protecting our older loved ones across the country, with 11.8 million pensioners receiving up to £600 in Winter Fuel and Pensioner Cost of Living Payments.
“And we are uprating the State Pension further from next week, meaning the full yearly basic State Pension will be £3,700 higher than in 2010, whilst the full rate of the New State Pension will rise above £11,500 a year.”
From this week people will start to see an increase in their Local Housing Allowance rates – benefitting some of the poorest families on either Universal Credit or Housing Benefit who will gain around £800 a year on average. This puts more money in the pockets of the lowest earners – giving them more spending power to boost their local economy.
The UK Government is delivering £108 billion of support over 2022-2025 – worth an average £3,800 per household – and will continue to drive down inflation to help everyone’s money go further.
These measures are boosted in April with Universal Credit and other benefits rising in line with inflation by 6.7 percent, and the State Pension increasing by an inflation-busting 8.5 percent – making sure that targeted support is going to those who need it most.
Proposals to make Dalry greener, healthier and more vibrant are now being presented for consultation.
Plans to make the town centre a more attractive place have been designed to make it easier to access local shops, schools and services with wider pavements and better cycling provision. Ideas include features to create better spaces to spend time, with trees and nature, planting, public art, and opportunities to rest.
Improving public transport is a key focus, with measures to reduce travel times through the area put forward alongside more space at bus stops and resurfaced roads. Better cycle connections and safer routes to local schools are also presented.
Dalry Living Well Locally is one of the first projects that implements the recently announced Our Future Streets approach to provide both a more integrated transport network, and a greener, more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone in Edinburgh’s neighbourhoods and key travel corridors.
It is part of a new 20-minute neighbourhood strategy to help local people meet most of their daily needs within a short walk, wheel or cycle from their home.
To make these changes possible, proposals include measures to reduce traffic driving through Dalry on the way to somewhere else, while retaining vehicle access for everyone. This would be achieved through a proposed filter for cycles, buses and taxis just south of the Haymarket junction, operating between 7am and 7pm.
All homes and businesses would still be accessible by car, but most traffic heading from or to the city centre would use alternative routes such as the West Approach Road instead of Dalry Road. The Council will also use this is an opportunity to review the weight restrictions on the West Approach Road.
If approved, the works would be undertaken alongside the Council’s scheduled road renewal programme to minimise disruption to everyone using the area.
There are also proposals to introduce more one-way streets in the area including along Caledonian Road, Caledonian Place, Orwell Place and Orwell Terrace, and the streets around Murieston Park.
Ideas for segregated cycle lanes connecting the town centre to local schools, Haymarket and the wider network, including the new Roseburn to Union Canal active travel scheme, are also being put forward. This includes a redesign of the junction between Gorgie and Dalry at Murieston Road to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. It is also proposed to improve and expand the pedestrian space to the front of Dalry Swim Centre, enhancing the setting of the B-listed building. Footways will be widened where possible.
The proposals have been designed using the findings of a survey of local residents and businesses to understand the needs, opportunities, and any barriers that limit people making more active, greener travel choices in Gorgie Dalry.
The survey, conducted between November 2022 and January 2023, identified common issues amongst people who live, work in and visit the local area, including a need for:
Wider and better quality pavements, especially at busy bus stops and around local shops
More and safer pedestrian crossings, with shorter waiting times
Safer and more attractive routes to local schools
More pleasant, greener streets and public spaces with more places to stop and rest
A less car-dominated environment that retains easy access for people with mobility issues and deliveries to shops and local businesses
Safer cycle provision along Dalry Road and Gorgie Road, and secure cycle storage
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Like many of the town and local centres across our city, Dalry has plenty of shops, services and facilities that people need every day but it is divided a busy road with cramped public spaces.
“Residents have told us this makes it a difficult area to access and spend time, and we want to improve the way it works for people, allowing everyone to live, shop, work and move around more easily.
“The local area has one of the lowest rates of car ownership in the city, and we want to create more pleasant streets that are better connected with local services and public transport options.
“We are proposing some changes to the flow of through traffic to achieve this, so people who would usually travel along Dalry Road by car to reach destinations like the city centre will simply use other routes such as the West Approach Road instead. Everyone will still be able to drive into and out of the area to reach homes and support businesses.
“This will help walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport to become the natural first choice for most of the shortest journeys. It will help make Dalry more of a destination in its own right, rather than a place people drive through on the way to somewhere else.
“We will be listening to the local community, and I will make sure all voices are heard. I am also keen to hear from local businesses in the area. I firmly believe high-performing local businesses are at the centre of places like Dalry, and these enterprises need support and a safe and high quality environment for their customers to thrive and grow.
“Residents across Edinburgh tell me they want to be able to access work, leisure and shops easily without having to use their car because they know it’s good for them and the environment. These plans for Dalry could meet that need locally, and become something other parts of our capital may want to follow.”
Sam Valentine, Senior Grant Advisor for Sustrans said: “Working closely with the local community, these early designs present a comprehensive and ambitious vision of a place where people are able to walk, wheel and cycle with ease.
“Safer routes to school and better connections with public transport will create a more inviting space for everyone and restore peace and enjoyment to an area sorely overburdened with car dominance from through traffic. We encourage everyone living and working in the Dalry area to engage closely with these exciting proposals and help make this project a success.
In addition to the 2022-2023 public survey, the Council has organised workshops with local school pupils and engaged with a wide range of community groups. A ‘Community Advisory Group’ (CAG), including local councillors and community organisations, was established in spring 2023.
The project team has also joined local community council meetings, visited local businesses and issued leaflets to residents in the area to encourage them to share their views.
The consultation is being promoted through measures including door-to-door leafletting, lamp post wraps and a local engagement event at The St Brides Centre on Thursday 11 April between 3 – 7pm.
Following the consultation, any agreed changes to local traffic restrictions or redetermination of carriageway or footway will go through the required statutory processes.
As the National Museum of Flight commences seven day opening for the new season this week, the East Lothian attraction is encouraging the public to come and see two of its most iconic aircraft as they mark significant milestones.
This year marks 60 years since the formation of the Red Arrows Display Team. The National Museum of Flight’s 1980 Red Arrows Hawk T.1A, the only Hawk on display in Scotland, has its own special anniversary, with 2024 marking 25 years since it flew in Red 1 position over Edinburgh in celebration of the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
Scotland’s Concorde is also marking a major milestone, having arrived at the National Museum of Flight 20 years ago on 19 April 2004 following an epic, 16-day journey across the UK. The British Airways aircraft was welcomed by cheering crowds and an RAF Tornado flypast and the supersonic superstar has since been seen by over 1.5 million people.
The National Museum of Flight has also announced a programme of events and activities for the new season. Family activities over the Easter holidays are supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Flying into the Future is runninguntil 5 April and includes technical challenges and Civil Aviation Hangar tours as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival programme.
The year ahead also sees the return of the attraction’s popular Awesome Bricks LEGO® event from 15-16 June where families will be able to celebrate Father’s Day weekend with hands-on building activities and challenges. On 31 August a new all-day festival, 360 Fest, will feature cycle stunt team, The Clan, circus displays and STEM science activities.
The new season includes the chance to hear about the work of the Museum’s conservation team in a series of behind the scenes talks in the Conservation hangar. Outdoors, original Second World War features of the site are also being conserved, including an Air Raid Shelter and a Blast Shelter, which can be explored by visitors later in the year.
Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “The aircraft in our Museum have some amazing stories to tell, including our Red Arrows Hawk which allows people to see this much-loved icon on the ground and to learn about its history as an advanced training aircraft and its involvement in some of the country’s most significant celebrations.
“Scotland’s Concorde is probably our most famous exhibit and twenty years on, is still enthralling visitors who can step on board to see how celebrities such as Sir Elton John and Victoria Beckham used to travel and can learn about the science behind the aircraft’s development.
“Combined with some fantastic family events and the chance to enjoy our full Museum experience, we hope as many visitors as possible will visit this year for a great day out.”
The National Museum of Flight is located on one of the UK’s best-preserved Second World War airfields and includes two historic wartime aircraft hangars which are packed with exciting displays telling the stories of military and civil aviation over the past century. Other aircraft on display include a 1963 Avro Vulcan bomber, the 1952 de Havilland Comet plus an example of the iconic Spitfire that played such an important role in the Second World War.
The attraction houses the family-friendly Fantastic Flight gallery with its interactive exhibits where visitors can explore the science of aviation and discover how aeroplanes fly. They are also able to learn about East Fortune’s wartime heritage in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition.
The National Museum of Flight is now open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm.
Book in advance to save.
Adult tickets from £13.50. National Museums Scotland Members free.
New store marks UNIQLO’s first entrance into Scotland
Global apparel retailer UNIQLO will open its doors to the capital’s highly anticipated store on 25 April 2024, with the arrival marks the regeneration of the shopping scene in Scotland’s capital.
With its longstanding commitment to quality, style, functionality and comfort, UNIQLO promises to bring a fresh perspective to not only Edinburgh, but Scotland’s fashion landscape, offering a spacious store spanning approximately 1,430sq meters across two floors.
Housed in the iconic, modernist purpose-built retail store, designed by Johnson-Marshall and Partners in 1965, the location on Edinburgh’s bustling Princes Street, allows for scenic views of the Castle from the first floor windows.
Customers can expect to find the full women’s, men’s, kids and baby ranges alongside UNIQLO’s signature products such as linen, BLOCKTECH, their smart range of water resistant and windproof items, as well as the high-performing AIRism collection, renowned for its lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics that adapt seamlessly to diverse climates.
Alessandro Dudech, Chief Operating Officer at UNIQLO U.K, said: “At UNIQLO, we are deeply committed to supporting and enriching the communities where we operate.
“The opening of our new store in Edinburgh represents an exciting opportunity to forge lasting connections with local residents, businesses and organisations. Edinburgh is a city of great cultural and historical heritage, and we are excited to partner with a few of the many people who help to make the city so vibrant.
“Together, we will show how LifeWear brings people together, transcending differences in everyday lives. We invite the people of Edinburgh to join us in celebrating the opening of our new store and to be part of this exciting milestone with us.”
UNIQLO SS24 collection available in Princes Street store from 25th April
Edinburgh People Campaign
To mark the launch, UNIQLO is collaborating with Edinburgh natives and those who have made home in the city to showcase the city’s vibrant cultural scene, unique style and diverse creative expressions. The partnership showcases seven locals who represent Edinburgh’s vibrant spirit and embody the UNIQLO LifeWear ethos. UNIQLO LifeWear is innovative, high-quality clothing that is designed to make everyone’s life better.
Faces include Balerno-raised singer songwriter, Nina Nesbitt, and freelance music journalist, Aisha Fatunmbi-Randall, who has been at the forefront of the restoration of Leith Theatre in her role as Marketing and Digital Coordinator.
From Edinburgh’s thriving food and drink scene, Darcie Maher, Head Baker and Owner of Lannan Bakery joins the line up alongside the capital’s leading whisky expert, TJ Littlejohn, who also serves as Head of Advocacy and Experience at The Glenmorangie Company.
Completing the lineup of collaborations with Edinburgh’s locals, is artist Arran Rahimian; Dr Stacey Hunter, Design Curator and Creative Director of Local Heroes and Tom Fraser, Principal of the highly acclaimed Chippendale International School of Furniture.
From top: Nina Nesbitt, Aisha Fatunbi-Randall, Darcie Maher, Dr Stacey Hunter, Tom Fraser, Arran Rahiman and TJ Littlejohn
Opening Offers
To celebrate the Princes Street store opening, UNIQLO will be offering the first 100 customers through the door a goody bag, there will also be the exciting opportunity for app scan customers to win a trip to Tokyo, just scan the UNIQLO app with any purchase to be entered into the draw (T&Cs apply). More offers to be announced.
Fans are invited to share their excitement across social channels using #UniqloEdinburgh, when they spot the activity including the UNIQLO branded Edinburgh Trams in the run up to the opening.
UNIQLO currently has 17 stores in the U.K. This new Edinburgh store will open alongside a new store in London, One Oxford Street, in Spring 2024 and will follow the Covent Garden store that opened on 27 April 2023, taking the total number of UNIQLO stores in the U.K. to 19 once opened.
FREE PLACES for young people thanks to Scotmid support
Woodcraft Folk, a leading organisation dedicated to providing empowering experiences for young people, has announced its inaugural Scottish camp will be held in West Lothian this May.
The camp will attract young people from across the country.
With funding from Scotmid, five free places are being made available for young adventurers from West Lothian to participate in this exciting event. The camp will take place from May 10th to 12th at The Craigs Campsite in West Lothian.
Woodcraft Folk’s ‘Camps for All’ initiative aims to create inclusive spaces where children aged 10-15 can develop confidence, learn about the world, and cultivate a deeper connection with nature and community.
Lauren Karstadt, Programme Manager for Woodcraft Folk, expressed her excitement, “We are looking forward to our first Scottish camp and are grateful to Scotmid for funding free places for local young people.
“Our events see young people come together, make friends, find common ground, and enjoy adventurous and fun activities. The events are beneficial for physical and mental health, being outdoors, socialising and learning new skills.”
Kirsty Connell, Membership & Communities Manager (East) at Scotmid, said, “We’re thrilled to support Woodcraft Folk’s first camp in West Lothian.
“It presents a wonderful opportunity for young adventurers to learn new skills, build confidence, and create lasting memories.”
Professionals working with young people who wish to inquire about free places are encouraged to email Woodcraft Folk directly: lauren.karstadt@woodcraft.org.uk
New footage released by the Council shows the tank in the iconic gasholder frame has been infilled in preparation for the site to become a public park in the future.
Work is currently being carried out on the enormous amount of steel making up the structure with every steel member being looked at and repaired if required. This involves replacing corroded sections or filling holes. To repaint the structure the process involves blasting it with cooper ore which removes the old lead paint and corrosion, cleaning it down and prepping the surfaces then priming coats before the final paint colour.
The progress is the latest in the restoration of the site which began last year. McLaughlin & Harvey are completing the work on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council using £16.4m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and an additional £1.2 million from the Scottish Government.
The gasholder, which sits at the heart of the Council’s £1.3bn regeneration project for a new sustainable coastal town at Granton Waterfront, will become an exciting multifunctional public area.
The space within the restored gasholder is to have multi-sensory play zones, a dedicated area for permanent and temporary public art and one for relaxation, outdoor trails, and tracks for exercise as well as a large outdoor space for sports, markets, seasonal events, community use, festivals, performance arts, exhibitions, and play. Work will also be carried out to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers improving biodiversity and local habitat in the area.
Councillor Cammy Day, Council Leader, said: “It’s exciting to see this footage and the culmination of all the hard work that has already gone into bringing this fantastic project to life for the area. The transformation of the structure will give the local community a much-needed place to come together to enjoy arts, sports, and culture.
“The project forms part of the wider £1.3bn regeneration of the Granton area where we are unlocking brownfield land to build a new sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood. We’re continuing to work hard to ensure Granton is somewhere residents will be proud to live and I look forward to seeing progress continue throughout this year.
Graham Brown, McLaughlin & Harvey Senior Contracts Manager, said: “We are delighted to have reached another milestone on this exciting project.
“The Gas Holder tank has been dewatered, demolished and infilled alongside the ongoing structural frame refurbishment works. This has involved in-depth logistical planning to ensure both aspects of the project can progress side by side whilst ensuring the safety of our workforce.
“The finished paint surface is also progressing well under the cover of our immense scaffold structure and in the coming months we will commence the public realm works as the final phase of the project.”
Planning Minister, Joe FitzPatrick, said:“Derelict sites can be a blight on communities and often hold back development.
“The Scottish Government’s low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme is helping to unlock these sites by providing investment to create great places for people to enjoy, regenerating communities and tackling climate change.
“I am delighted that £1.2 million from the programme is supporting this transformative project on this historic site with the creation of a biodiverse, multi-use, and accessible park within the frame of the gas holder, opening it up to public access for the first time.”
Enjoy lots of fun spring activities, including a bake sale, face painting, art exhibition featuring artwork from our unpaid carers classes, and our pop up play for under 5s for your littles to enjoy!
People urged to check their tax code as new financial year begins
Progressive changes to Scottish income tax will raise valuable revenue for investing in public services, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison has said.
From today (Saturday 6 April 2024) a new Advanced income tax band will apply a 45% rate on annual income between £75,000 and £125,140. An additional 1pence will be added to the Top rate of tax meaning income over £125,140 will be taxed at 48%.
There are no changes to the Starter, Basic, Intermediate and Higher tax rates for earnings under £75,000. The Starter and Basic rate bands will increase in line with inflation and the Higher rate threshold will be maintained at £43,662.
The independent Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates that overall income tax will raise £18.8 billion in 2024-25.
Scottish taxpayers are being encouraged to check to ensure the tax code on their first payslip in the new financial year is accurate. People paying Scottish income tax should have a tax code that begins with an S.
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said:“Scotland has the most progressive income tax system in the UK. The new Advanced band builds on that progressive approach, protecting those who earn less and asking those who earn more to contribute more.
“Only 5% of Scottish taxpayers will pay a higher tax rate this year compared to last year and the majority of taxpayers are still paying less than they would elsewhere in the UK.
“The money raised through income tax allows people in Scotland to benefit from a wide range of services and social security payments not provided elsewhere in the UK, including free prescriptions and free higher education. Council tax is less in Scotland than in England, even before factoring in a council tax freeze for 2024-25.
“I encourage everyone to check their first payslip in April to make sure their address is correct and that their tax code starts with an ‘S’. This will ensure that people are paying the right amount of tax on their income.”
The Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates that the cumulative impact of Scottish Government income tax policy decisions since 2017 will raise an additional £1.5 billion in 2024-25, compared to the position if UK Government tax policy had been matched during that time.
The new Scottish income tax bands and rates for the financial year 2024-25 are:
2024-25
Band
Rate
Starter
£12,571 – £14,876
19%
Basic
£14,877 – £26,561
20%
Intermediate
£26,562 – £43,662
21%
Higher
£43,663 – £75,000
42%
Advanced
£75,001 – £125,140*
45%
Top
Above £125,140
48%
Policies related to National Insurance Contributions and the Personal Tax Allowance remain reserved to the UK Government. Scottish Ministers continue to call for further tax powers to be devolved so decisions affecting the people of Scotland are decided by the Scottish Parliament.
The UK Government confirmed in the 2023 Autumn Statement that the UK-wide Personal Allowance will remain frozen at £12,570.
*Under the UK Government’s Personal Allowance policy, those earning more than £100,000 will see their Personal Allowance reduced by £1 for every £2 earned over £100,000.
