The Winter Fuel Payment will be the difference between eating and heating for many struggling pensioners this winter.
The Government must save this vital payment.
Over 138,000 of you have signed our petition so far. Will you join us?
Sign the petition: http://bit.ly/3A4hoyo
The Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, has set out the timetable for the election of chairs of select committees following the General Election on 4 July 2024.
Since 2010, most committee chairs have been elected by the whole House by secret ballot using the alternative vote system, under which MPs rank candidates in order of preference.
The period of nominations will run until 4pm on Monday 9 September, with the ballot scheduled for Wednesday 11 September.
How do Chair elections work?
The Speaker’s announcement follows the allocation of particular committee chairs to political parties, agreed by the House on 30 July. The number of chairs allotted to each party relates to their strength in the House of Commons. The chairs of the Committee of Public Accounts and the Committee on Standards are required to be from the Official Opposition.
The rules for the election of chairs of select committees are set out in Standing Order No. 122B. The Chair of the Backbench Business Committee will also be elected at this time although this takes place under a different Standing Order, No. 122D. The chair of the Backbench Business Committee must be elected from a party which is not represented in the Government.
Which committees are electing a Chair?
Select committees appointed under Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments) and their allocation:
Other specified select committees:
Further information
Tyler McCallum is missing from the Aviemore area and was last seen there around 11.45am on Saturday, 3 August, 2024.
Tyler is 14 years of age. He uses buses and regularly travels to Edinburgh.
Anyone with information should contact 101 (reference 4110 of 3 August).
NHS Lothian recently led a project to reduce waste and carbon emissions caused by incorrectly disposed inhalers.
Across Scotland, respiratory disease is common, however the treatment for this is a major carbon hotspot. Emissions caused by incorrectly disposed inhalers contribute to air pollution, potentially exacerbating respiratory conditions and affecting the overall health of our communities.
Jane Hopton, NHS Lothian Environmental Sustainability Lead said: “The carbon footprint of respiratory disease is largely due to the current propellant gases found in some inhalers. These gases have 1,430 or 3,220 times the global warming potential of CO2, depending on the brand of inhaler.
“By disposing of used, unwanted, or expired inhalers properly, we can ensure the safe destruction of the residual propellant gases and in doing so, help to reduce their carbon footprint.”
This project, which was funded by NHS Lothian Charity as part of their Climate Challenge Grant initiative, asked participating community pharmacies to add stickers to dispensing bags containing inhalers. The stickers stated, “please return unwanted or expired inhalers to your pharmacy for environmentally safe disposal.”
In total, five community pharmacies took part in the pilot project. After 10 weeks of adding the stickers to bags, the number of inhalers returned was four times more than prior, representing a 300% increase.
Jane added: “This has been an important project, and one which demonstrates how small changes can make a valuable contribution to supporting our sustainability goals.
“Our thanks go to staff within the Community Pharmacies that were involved for their support in making this pilot such a success. I look forward to seeing this work develop, as collectively we explore all opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint.”
While dry powder inhalers do not contain propellants, they are currently not recyclable due to the multiple types of plastic and components in them. Patients, however, are encouraged to dispose of these items safely and can return them to a pharmacy to do this.
The second phase of this project aims to increase effective prescribing for respiratory conditions by improving access to information that supports clinical decision making and promotes good inhaler techniques.
This is in recognition of the new Scottish Government quality prescribing strategy for respiratory conditions which recognises that the most environmentally friendly inhaler is one that patients can, will and do use correctly.
Resources have been developed to support this, including posters for healthcare staff and educational posters to support patients with their inhaler technique. These have been distributed to staff in primary and secondary care by the Respiratory Managed Clinical Network.
Katie Johnston, Respiratory Lead, Primary Care Pharmacist, NHS Lothian said: “Lots of people use inhalers and often do not think about the environmental impact these can have.
“Community pharmacies are ideally positioned and essential to support improved respiratory care and to help reduce the environmental impact of all medicines.
“Feedback regarding the resources has been very positive and the Managed Clinical Network plans to continue to develop and share information to ensure inhaler waste continues to be reduced, the carbon footprint from inhalers is minimised and every patient is prescribed an inhaler device that is suitable for them.”
LISTINGS from 31 JULY
Exhibitions & displays
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Game On
29 Jun – 3 Nov 2024
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Tickets on sale spring 2024
Get set for Game On – the largest interactive exhibition of the history and the culture of video games. Game On, an exhibition conceived and curated by Barbican Immersive, examines the creative and technological advances that have established a new medium and artform.
From Sonic the Hedgehog to Mario, explore gaming’s rich history through over 100 playable games from the last five decades.
Find our more nms.ac.uk/game-on
Cold War Scotland
13 Jul 2024 – 26 Jan 2025
10:00 – 17:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free
Scotland’s unique geography and topography provided a useful base for Allied military preparations and research during the Cold War, a 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union following the end of the Second World War.
Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling.
The project explores how the Cold War heritage is represented and how museums can adapt to tell this story in future. The exhibition will explore both the visible and invisible legacies of the war in Scotland.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/ColdWarScotland
Theravada Buddhism
Until 12 Jan 2025
Gallery 3, Level 1
Free
A thought-provoking display charts the history and influence of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition across the world, including its role in Scotland today. The display includes a Buddha on loan from The Dhammapadipa Temple in Edinburgh. The Buddha was designed and made in Thailand in 2013, then later gifted to Temple where it is now used in their garden meditation room.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/theravadabuddhism
Events
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Summer Family Fun
Until 12 Aug
Mondays & Fridays
10:30 – 15:30
Grand Gallery and spaces across the museum
Free, drop in
Join us every Monday and Friday during the holidays for a range of fun drop-in activities for all the family. Our friendly Enabler team will be bringing our favourite themes to life from dinosaurs to outer space and from ancient Egypt to Vikings. Plus, we will be powering up with brand new activities inspired by our summer exhibition Game On.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/SummerFamilyFun
Gilded Balloon at the Museum
31 Jul – 26 Aug
Auditorium
Tickets from £10
Start your day with a musical note, enjoy a bit of politics at lunchtime and slide into evenings filled with comedy, plus everything in-between from Friend(s), magic and musicals.
Book now nms.ac.uk/GildedBalloon
BSL Museum Tour
12 & 16 Aug
11:00 – 12:00
Meet at the Lighthouse Lens in the Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, booking required
Join BSL tour guide Barbara Brown for a themed, guided tour of the museum. The tour will last around one hour with the chance to explore the museum independently afterwards.
Book now nms.ac.uk/BSL-Museum-Tour
Faovale Imperium
16 – 18 Aug
15:30 – 16:30
Facing the Sea gallery & Level 1
Free – sign up on the day
Limited spaces available
Join comedian James Nokise and DJ Don Luchito for a funny and thought-provoking exploration of the National Museum of Scotland’s Pacific collections through poetry and music.
Find our more: nms.ac.uk/faovaleimperium
Morning Curator Tour: Cold War Scotland
Thu 22 Aug, Wed 25 Sep, Tue 29 Oct
09:15-10:00
Meet at Tower Entrance, Level 1
£12, £10 Members & Conc.
Join our exhibition curators for an exclusive early morning tour of our Cold War Scotland exhibition. Dr Meredith Greiling, Principal Curator of Technology, and Cold War Research Fellow Dr Sarah Harper will delve deeper into stories explored within the exhibition, from the emergence of nuclear energy in Scotland to the vibrant anti-nuclear protests and political activism of the period.
Book now nms.ac.uk/MorningTour
Collection Centre Tours
28 Aug – 26 Mar 2025
National Museums Collection Centre
Discover the secrets of how we store our Natural Sciences, Science & Technology and Scottish History & Archaeology collections, and find out how these objects and specimens are used in international research. This is an in-person event at the National Museums Collection Centre in Granton, for those aged 14 and over.
Book now nms.ac.uk/CollectionCentreTours
National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open daily 10:00 – 16:00
Second World War Satchels
2 Jul – 29 Aug
10:00 – 17:00
Concorde Hangar
Free with museum admission
Bring the history of the Second World War to life with our summer activity satchels for adults and families. Pick up one of our summer activity satchels and delve deeper into the history of the Second World War.
Separate satchels are available for adult and family visitors. The satchels are free to borrow and can be collected from The Concorde Hangar.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/SecondWorldWarSatchels
Second World War Puzzle Room
24 Jul – 29 Aug
Wed – Fri, 14:00 – 16:00
Building 26
Free with museum admission
Problem solving skills and the ability to work out codes were essential skills for people working in the RAF during the Second World War.
Work together as a family in our puzzle room and see if you can produce the answers. Only by solving four different challenges will you know if you have got what it takes.
Book now nms.ac.uk/PuzzleRoom
360 Fest
31 Aug
10:00-17:00
Go full circle at our brand-new big event at the National Museum of Flight. Be wowed with 360 stunts from cycle team, The Clan, plus circus displays and lots of have-a-go activities. Join a hula-hoop workshop, try some plate spinning and learn about the science of spheres with STEM science activities. Ticket price includes entry to the whole museum.
Book now nms.ac.uk/360Fest
National Museum of Rural Life
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Nature Track Packs
Until 1 Sep
10:00 – 17:00
Free with museum entry and Annual Pass
Available to borrow at the museum ticket desk, each pack contains fun ideas and activities to help children use all their senses to explore the countryside on a walk to the farm.
Book now nms.ac.uk/naturetrackpacks
MooFest
14 & 15 Sep
11:00 – 16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Celebrate all things cattle at the National Museum of Rural Life. We are putting our bovine friends in the spotlight at this weekend of hands-on activities, talks and family fun. Find out all about cows, bulls, milk, and meat with our experts, take part in family craft sessions and meet some of the cattle on our working farm.
Book now nms.ac.uk/MooFest
Autumn Explorers
15 Oct – 18 Oct 2024
10:30 – 15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Tickets available August 2024
Our Autumn Explorers family activities are back, with storytelling, sustainable crafts, and the chance to learn all about soil and spiders.
Read more: nms.ac.uk/autumnexplorers
Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot
Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland
Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/
For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789
Are you interested in the rich history and art of Granton and the surrounding area? Granton:hub needs you!
Granton;hub is a Community Based Creative and Cultural Centre in Granton, Edinburgh. The charity is based in Granton’s historic Madelvic House.
We are a volunteer-run charitable organisation that aims to elevate Granton’s profile and provide a focus for Granton’s diverse and evolving communities.
We are looking for Trustees to work with the existing Board during this exciting time of development of the Western Harbour.
We meet for 2(ish) hours once a month at Madelvic House.
Discussions are ongoing with City of Edinburgh Council regarding the refurbishment of the beautiful, listed, Madelvic House.
Also, we are in contact with the Lar housing association who will be developing the Madelvic car factory into 28 flats.
If you think you can contribute during this exciting time, or you would like more information, do not hesitate to contact me at chair@grantonhub.org
Thanks – looking forward to hearing from you!
Dave Harrold
Chair, Granton:hub
Lisa Walsh, a student who graduated from Queen Margaret University (QMU) in July, has been awarded the Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) Apprentice of the Year Award.
Lisa received the accolade after four years on QMU’s Graduate Apprenticeship BA (Hons) Business Management course, which she completed while continuing to accelerate her career.
As a result of participating in the programme, Lisa was able to enhance her business skills and in-depth knowledge and apply them in her workplace, which in turn, helped her thrive at SSE, where she continued to improve and climb the corporate ladder.
She also received this year’s Dean’s List prize for her high course achievements within the Business, Enterprise and Management division at QMU.
Lisa said: “The Graduate Apprenticeship has been a genuinely life changing opportunity for me. As an adult learner I had been out of formal education for nearly 20 years, and it was quite daunting to take the step back into learning.
“However, the experience I have had at QMU has been amazing. Although challenging, having an employer who believed in me and the fantastic support from QMU, has made this an experience I will never forget – for all the right reasons. My confidence has grown, and I am grateful for the career opportunities this has given me. Thank you QMU and SSE!”
Fitting into work commitments, QMU’s Graduate Apprenticeship degree provides a practical and integrated way to develop expertise with a current employer, who will benefit from having a more highly skilled employee.
The programme helps apprentices learn the higher-level management skills that companies will need, and consolidates that knowledge with real-life work experience.
Now in a major role as Learning Systems and Services Manager at the multinational energy company, Lisa’s award highlights her ambition and motivation to continue her studies alongside her full-time employment.
On the day of Lisa’s graduation from QMU, she celebrated with her family and classmates at an impressive ceremony held in Edinburgh’s beautiful Usher Hall, attended by QMU’s Chancellor and TV presenter Dame Prue Leith CBE. Lisa was one of 1300 students who graduated in person from Queen Margaret University across three ceremonies in July.
Dr Lynn Waterston, Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Business Management Graduate Apprenticeship, said: “Lisa is an outstanding student, and the award is testament to the hard work and dedication that she has shown throughout the course, as well as her employer and the teaching team who work to ensure the success of the graduates on the programme.”
The SSE Apprentice of the Year Award is presented to apprentices at Modern and Graduate levels during Scottish Apprenticeship Week each year. Lisa was awarded with her accolade in March 2024 at a formal, online event.
Judy Preece, Apprenticeship Performance & Quality Manager for SSE, said “Lisa thoroughly deserved to win the Apprentice of the Year Award. The award not only recognised her dedication and commitment to her studies, but also how her career has developed as a result of Lisa’s continued desire to succeed.
“As a large employer, we are proud to support the Graduate Apprenticeship pathway – it is one of our key learning pathways used to develop our future workforce to support our journey to net zero.”
Picnics are one of the best parts of summer and a great chance to spend some well-deserved time outside enjoying the sunshine.
The average person has around three picnics a year, so that’s 94 million picnics that happen annually. Dining al fresco doesn’t need to be boring or unhealthy, use this as an opportunity to continue your healthy habits and eat a range of nutritious and heart-healthy foods.
Here we share some tips on how to enjoy a healthier picnic:
Be Prepared
There is nothing worse than tasty food that has been spoilt in the heat. Use this as the perfect time to invest in a cool bag or box that’ll keep your food cold and fresh for optimal enjoyment.
You might find it useful to get a picnic blanket too. This will not only give you somewhere more comfortable to sit, but it will also help protect you and your food or drinks from insects and damp ground.
Make Nutritious Foods
Preparing your own food at home will save you money and provide an array of heart-healthy, tasty options. If you want to eat a classic sandwich, choose a healthier wholemeal bread and fill it with a healthy protein and plenty of salad or vegetables.
Fruit skewers, roasted chickpeas, and homemade hummus with wholemeal pitta breads are great picnic options that are easy to prep in advance.
Heart Research UK’s Greek salad or cheese and courgette savoury muffins also make tasty, heart-healthy choices.
Enjoy Time with Friends and Family
Picnics are great for socialising with friends and family to unwind from the stresses of life. Stress can increase both your heart rate and blood pressure, putting an increased strain on your heart.
Taking time out from your busy schedule to relax and socialise in nature over a picnic can be great for your health.
Add in Some Physical Activity
Why not use this designated time outside to increase your physical activity levels too? You could do this by making the picnic halfway through a nice walk or bike ride in the countryside.
Alternatively, you could take a frisbee or ball with you and play a group game of catch. By increasing your physical activity levels and eating healthier picnic food, you’re keeping your heart healthy.
Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh’s own artefact, a questionnaire complete by John Lennon in 1973, forms a part of an exciting new global treasure hunt, launched in honour of the release of John Lennon’s ‘Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection’.
Hard Rock International is proud to kick off the John Lennon Memorabilia Treasure Hunt alongside the John Lennon Estate and UMe, the global catalog division of Universal Music Group, for fans around the world.
This questionnaire displayed within the Edinburgh venue, filled out in pen by Lennon himself, features 23 categories that offer a candid glimpse into his personal thoughts and feelings at the time.
Signed and dated by Lennon, many of his answers vividly express his deep affection for Yoko Ono, highlighting the profound bond they shared. Each response provides insight into Lennon’s personality, preferences, and priorities during a pivotal period in his life and career.
The document serves as a testament to Lennon’s openness and his willingness to share his innermost sentiments, particularly his love and admiration for Yoko Ono.
The questionnaire is not only a piece of personal memorabilia but also a valuable historical artefact, reflecting the intimate and emotional aspects of one of the most influential figures in music history.
Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia with more than 88,000 pieces displayed at its locations around the globe. Memorabilia highlights to discover through the John Lennon Memorabilia Treasure Hunt include clothing, instruments, sketches, lyrics and more at various Hard Rock locations.
The treasure hunt launch aligns with John & Yoko’s new social website citizenofnutopia.com, a map of the world where fans can sign up, leave peaceful messages, enjoy “Meditation Affirmations” and express their gratitude and admiration for John & Yoko and their core principles of Peace, Love and Truth.
Nutopia is an imaginary country created by John Lennon & Yoko Ono in 1973, promoting the ideas of Peace and Love made famous by John’s songs ‘Imagine’ and ‘Mind Games’.
Citizens of Nutopia can earn points and rewards in the Unity by Hard Rock global loyalty program when they visit participating Hard Rock Cafes, Casinos and Hotels to discover precious John Lennon memorabilia tagged with QR codes that when scanned, provide more stories about the artefacts and points on the website.
Items include:
Additionally, Hard Rock is offering incredible discounts and offers for John Lennon fans when they participate:
The John Lennon Memorabilia Treasure Hunt serves to celebrate the release of ‘Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection’ sets.
The definitive Ultimate Collection puts listeners in the centre of the studio and explores the album’s 1973 recording sessions at the Record Plant in New York City, from inception to the final master, through scores of unreleased outtakes, unadulterated versions, instrumentals, stripped down mixes, studio chatter and more, revealing how fan-favorite songs evolved and came to life.
Sean Ono Lennon says: “We’ve been working on the box sets of Mind Games for years now. Initially I thought, ‘Mind Games’.. game… What if we ‘gamified’ Mind Games? So that’s all I’ll say for now, but there are many levels to this release, including the box sets and far beyond – that will slowly unravel – and I hope will potentially entertain and engage everyone for many years to come.
“I hope you enjoy these Mind Games with Hard Rock and as my Mom says in the intro to the book, let’s see how we can make a positive future with it – to play a positive mind game with one another.
Giovanni Taliaferro, Vice President of Memorabilia and Design at Hard Rock International, said: “Preserving music history is what enriches the Hard Rock travel, dining and gaming experience.
“We are honored to display priceless pieces from John Lennon’s musical and inspirational legacy. We have the utmost gratitude to the John Lennon Estate and Universal Music Group for inviting us to participate in this amazing venture.
“We hope that by learning from Hard Rock’s memorabilia collection, John’s biggest fans can imagine how his artistry and ideals still endure today.”
Visit unity.hardrock.com/johnlennon/terms-and-conditions for more info on the discounts, offers, participating locations and promotions.
Book your table at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh today at:
22 charities have sent an open letter to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, calling on her to urgently review the change to the Winter Fuel Payment for older people.
The change announced by Ms Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Monday mean that people aged 66 and over who don’t receive Pension Credit or a small number of other means-tested benefits, will no longer receive automatic annual payments of between £100 and £300 to help with energy costs through the winter.
Right now, Pension Credit has a low take-up of just 63%, meaning up to 1.2 million older people who are eligible will now miss out on this additional support. Many more are just above the level of eligibility for Pension Credit but still can’t afford to pay their bills.
Independent Age, one of the charities leading the call, has launched an open letter today calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to not make these changes now while Pension Credit is not received by everyone it should be.
The charity also says the UK Government needs to make sure that everyone receives an adequate income in later life so that those who aren’t eligible for Pension Credit but still face financial hardship have enough to live on.
In the letter, the organisations say: ‘Linking the qualification of the Winter Fuel Payment to whether an older person receives Pension Credit could mean up to 1.2 million older people on low incomes miss out on even more vital financial support.
“As a result, many of them will inevitably be pushed further into poverty.
“Restricting the Winter Fuel Payment this autumn does not give the UK Government time to significantly boost Pension Credit take-up to a level that would reduce some of the side-effects of this measure. It will leave many older people on low incomes facing a cold and dangerous winter.”
Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age added: “It is not an overstatement to warn that, in its current form, this sudden change puts lives as risk. Too many people on a low income now face an uncertain winter where their budgets are even more stretched and will be forced to make dangerous and stressful decisions.
“While we understand that the UK Government must make difficult decisions, this is too much, too soon. We urge the Chancellor to not make this change now, and instead ensure every older person has an adequate income to avoid financial hardship before removing the Winter Fuel Payment. Any less risks serious consequences for older people in poverty.”
Members of the public are being invited by Independent Age to email their MP to ask for a halt to the changes. They can do this by visiting this webpage.
Pension Credit is a form of financial support which ‘tops-up’ the income of people over State Pension age who fall below an income threshold of £218.15 for a single person and £332.95 for a couple.
Many of those eligible could also unlock additional benefits worth thousands a year such as the Warm Home Discount, a free TV licence, Council Tax Reduction and free NHS dental treatment.
To apply, visit the gov.uk website on Pension Credit, or you can visit the Independent Age website at https://www.independentage.org/get-advice/money/benefits/pension-credit or call the free Independent Age helpline on 0800 319 6789 during working hours for help with understanding whether you could be eligible.
Open letter with list of signatories here:
https://www.independentage.org/winter-fuel-payment-open-letter
