Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Don’t miss out on your right to vote

ballot box

Edinburgh residents are being urged not to lose the opportunity to vote in the forthcoming European Elections – you must register to vote by TUESDAY (6 May) in order to cast your vote on 22 May.

Though registration across the capital’s 151 polling districts is relatively high, there are some areas that continue to experience a much lower rate in voter registration – particularly areas with a high volume of rented properties.

Those living in rented accommodation or who have moved house are being reminded to let the Electoral Registration Office know when they move to avoid losing out on their vote.

Getting on the electoral register now will also allow a vote in the Scottish Referendum on September 18.

City of Edinburgh Council leader, Councillor Andrew Burns, said: “With both the European Parliamentary Elections and the Scottish Independence Referendum taking place this year, it’s important that you are registered to vote.

“This is your opportunity to be part of our democracy and make your vote count. Registering only takes a few minutes and being on the Electoral Register has other benefits such as helping improve your credit rating.”

The European Elections will be held in all 28 member states of the European Union, with Edinburgh residents voting to elect six members of the European Parliament to the Electoral Region of Scotland.

Citizens must register to vote by 6 May by filling out an application form, which can be found on the Lothian Valuation Joint Board website at www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk or call the Lothian Valuation Joint Board 0131 344 2500.

polling station

Want a postal vote? Those wishing to vote by post must register by 5pm on Wednesday (7 May).

Letter: More funding needed to protect our parents

Tony Delahoy on the final part of a deeply troubling BBC documentary … 

care

Dear Editor

The third and final part of the BBC television programme ‘Protecting our Parents’ (Thursday 2 May) further illustrated the total inadequacy of the available resources – both staffing and funding – in addressing the human needs of frail individuals who are trying to understand the position they are in, at the same time being asked to decide their future accommodation needs.

Relatives, if available to help, are usually elderly themselves, with limited physical ability and torn by guilt.

One lady, who had dementia and at times could be aggressive, was a changed person after having one-to-one care: it was discovered in these one-to-one sessions that music was very comforting to her.

The extension of one-to-one care will need many more staff, more funding and more training. All authorities, national and local, say money is scarce so it is worth reminding them that all wealth is produced in the first place by people, and that money extracted from that wealth in various taxes still belongs to the people, who in turn elect others to manage to fund what the people need.

The Protecting our Parents series has shown the problems that exist now; the offloading of the elderly from hospital (to prevent ‘bed blocking’) to a sparse choice of expensive care homes, or a home care package which is inadequate, not only for essential needs but for mental inclusion in life.

A rapid increase in building NHS ‘halfway hospitals’ with fully trained staff is urgently needed to cater for the elderly who are in need of other care or accommodation.

Much more funding must be allocated to recruit, fully train and deploy staff to enable all round caring be given in Protecting our Parents.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Housing payment cap powers to be transferred

More help for 72,000 Scottish households 

despair2

Thousands of Scots families can be given more ‘Bedroom Tax’ assistance following discussions between the Westminster and Scottish governments. The UK government has offered to transfer power over the housing payment cap to Holyrood, it was announced yesterday.

Housing help for people on benefits – known as Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) – is currently reserved to Westminster and administered by local authorities in Scotland. This power will now transfer to Scotland, however, and the Scottish Government is now urging Westminster to transfer these powers as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government has already spent up to the previous legal limit in order to mitigate the effects of the ‘Bedroom Tax’. Once the powers are transferred, a total of £50 million can be invested to help the 72,000 households in Scotland who are suffering from the effects.

Welcoming the news, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“We had already set aside the money to be able to help every household in Scotland affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’ – once we have the powers, we will be able to use it and provide vital assistance to thousands of hard-pressed Scots.

“I am delighted that in future anyone who has been affected by this unfair policy will receive the help they need and would encourage them to contact their Local Authority to apply for assistance through the DHP scheme.

“We will never turn our back on people in need, and I am pleased to finally be able to get on and help people. But the fact is that this decision has taken far too long. We have been pressing since January for Iain Duncan Smith to remove this cap – and at last Westminster has seen sense and have given us what we requested. We will now work to ensure the law is changed as quickly as possible.

“The DHP scheme is the only legal way – under the powers that Scotland currently has – to provide regular financial payments to people on housing benefit. But the only way to get rid of the ‘Bedroom Tax’ for good is through the powers of an independent Scottish Parliament.

“We know that Scots want welfare decisions to be made and taken by the Scottish Parliament. The ‘Bedroom Tax’ has been rejected by people right across Scotland, yet is still being imposed on us by the UK Government.

“With independence we will have the opportunity to create a welfare system that really works for us.”

However the UK Government says that their willingness to transfer the power to set the cap on Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) in Scotland demonstrates a ‘commitment to taking a pragmatic approach to devolution and to engaging intensely with local authorities in Scotland.’

In a letter to Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland Office Minister David Mundell has offered to transfer the power to the Scottish Government through a Section 63 Order which will require the agreement of the UK and Scottish Governments before being approved by both the UK and Scottish Parliaments.

If the Scottish Government chooses to accept this offer, it will have the flexibility to pass on more funding from its existing block grant to local authorities – it will be up to to the Scottish Government and local authorities how they choose to allocate their money.

As things currently stand, DHPs can be used by local authorities across Great Britain to provide additional funding for people in receipt of housing benefit who need extra support. At present each local authority must operate within a formula-based spending cap set by the Department for Work and Pensions. The proposal from the UK Government would mean that the Scottish Government would have the power to set the DHP cap for Scottish local authorities in future.

Mr Mundell said: “I have completed a programme of visits to all Scottish local authorities and believe that transferring this power to the Scottish Government is the correct thing to do.

“The UK Government believes in taking a pragmatic approach to devolution and we believe in a United Kingdom that gives Scotland the best of both worlds. I hope that officials from both governments will now be able to take this forward.”

cooncilhooses

 

Support a local food bank at Sainsbury’s

SAM_1784

Sainsbury’s Blackhall are collecting in-store for the food bank at
Granton Baptist Church (pictured above).

Customers can buy an extra grocery item and add to a trolley at the front of the store. Goods are delivered to the food bank three times a week.

Sainsbury’s Blackhall would like to thank all their customers for their
continued support.

Alexander urged to ‘come clean’ on assets share

As we confidently predicted yesterday (!) (see ‘Fantastical’), John Swinney was quick to counter Danny Alexander’s pronouncements on how an independent Scotland’s economy would shape up. Sadly the Holyrood Finance Secretary’s response made no reference to the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest …

Swinney

Finance Secretary John Swinney said any claims about Scotland’s finances from the UK Government must include details on Scotland’s share of UK assets worth nearly £1.3 trillion.

Mr Swinney said the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has recently admitted to the Scottish Parliament that Scotland will inherit a share of UK assets.

He said billions of pounds could be paid to an independent Scotland in cash as many of the assets paid for by Scottish tax-payers will be physically located in the rest of the UK.

Mr Swinney said: “Danny Alexander has said the UK Treasury is examining the finances of an independent Scotland.

“We already know Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the developed world and that over the past 5 years our public finances have been healthier than the UK’s to the tune of around £1,600 per person.

“To have a shred of credibility any Westminster analysis should also set out in detail the assets that will be due to Scotland in the event of a vote for independence in September.

“As part its campaign rhetoric we know the UK Government talks about Scotland’s share of the debt run up by successive Westminster Chancellors. It cannot be taken seriously if does not also talk about Scotland’s share of assets.”

“Scotland’s share of UK assets will be realised in a combination of ways – through physical assets, cash transfer and continued use of assets through shared service agreements.

“Assets located elsewhere in the UK will be included in negotiations, as Scotland has contributed to their value over a long period of time. For physical assets like these, the equitable outcome may be to provide Scotland with an appropriate cash share of their value.

“We note with interest preliminary analysis by academics suggesting that on defence alone Scotland may be entitled to draw upon a notional sum of nearly £5 billion for physical assets located elsewhere

“The apportionment of the UK national debt will be negotiated and agreed as part of the overall settlement on assets and liabilities.

“On any reasonable scenario, because national income per head is higher in Scotland than the UK, an independent Scotland will have a lower debt burden as a share of GDP than the UK.

“Both the Scottish and UK Governments have signed the Edinburgh Agreement which commits both governments to working together on matters of mutual interest, good communication and mutual respect.

“The two governments have also said they will work together constructively, whatever the result, so we can expect these matters to be worked out in that spirit of mutual respect and co-operation.”

BUCKS FIZZ: Not mentioned in Swinney speech
BUCKS FIZZ: Not mentioned in Swinney speech

 

Mortonhall tragedy: ‘a lifetime of uncertainty’ as questions remain unanswered

“The great tragedy of these events over many years is that many parents will now be left with a lifetime of uncertainty about their baby’s final resting place.”

mortonhall

An independent report into practices at Mortonhall Crematorium was published yesterday (Wednesday 30 April), but for bereaved parents the 600 page document leaves key questions unanswered – in particular, the final resting place of their child.

The families of more than 250 dead children are affected by the scandal and they are now calling for a full public inquiry. One angry and upset parent said: “”The report is damning of City of Edinburgh Council and of the practices at Mortonhall. What they have done to the families is an outrage and a scandal. There needs to be answers over what has been done.”

The Mortonhall Investigation report was commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council in January 2013 after concerns were raised about practices at the crematorium and has been authored by the former Lord Advocate of Scotland, the Rt Hon Dame Elish Angiolini QC DBE.

The remit of the report was to establish the facts regarding practices relating to the cremation of babies at Mortonhall Crematorium and to learn lessons that will ensure best practice for the future.

Dame Elish interviewed bereaved families, current and former members of crematorium staff, representatives from funeral directors, staff from other crematoria, support groups and health professionals and took opinion from experts in the field of human anthropology, law and forensic accountancy. The report, with annexes, extends to over 600 pages in total.

The report contains 22 recommendations which will now be taken forward by the Council and other relevant agencies.

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council, said: “On behalf of the Council, I would like to offer my sincere apologies to the bereaved families for the distress they have suffered as a result of the practices at Mortonhall Crematorium. I realise that the past year-and-a-half has been very difficult for the families involved and wish to thank them all for their co-operation with the investigation and their contribution to the report.

“I would also like to thank Dame Elish Angiolini and her team for their hard work on this important and sensitive investigation. Dame Elish has made many important recommendations, some of which relate directly to working practices at Mortonhall. I will be working with Council colleagues and elected members to take these forward.

“It is also clear from the recommendations that there are far-reaching implications regarding cremation practices and the legislative framework not just for Edinburgh but across Scotland and the United Kingdom and I will be working with the Scottish Government and other relevant bodies to address these concerns.

“We will now consult with families and relevant organisations regarding their views on a suitable memorial. It is vital that we learn from this and look to the future. We must ensure that the highest possible standards are adhered to at Mortonhall and that nothing like this can happen again.”

All families involved received a copy of the report by courier along with an individual case summary containing details of their case, but some remain unhappy with the findings and are calling for a full public inquiry.

Dorothy Maitland is operations manager at the charity SANDS Lothians, which she set up to support bereaved parents. Her daughter Kaelen was one of the infants whose ashes were interred at Mortonhall, and it was Dorothy’s questions about her daughter’s ashes that initiated the initial investigation.

Commenting on the report, she said: “Some of it I’m not surprised by. In my own case I’ve been told that it would appear my own daughter’s ashes are buried in the garden of remembrance but it doesn’t actually confirm it. I just think babies have been treated so differently from adults – but why?”

She went on:  “Things have moved forward but why didn’t someone think ‘no, we have to do this in a different way’? This has caused so much distress to families. Every baby’s parents should get the ashes for their baby. Staff should be trained and shown how to achieve this.”

Patrick McGuire, a partner at Thompsons Solicitors, which is representing the families, said: “The families only ever wanted the truth and answers. The families care that lessons are learned from this so that nobody has to go through what they have had to go through. By the time all the truth has come out there won’t be a single community that has not been affected by this”.

The Scottish Government is taking action to ensure this can never happen again. 

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “I am clear that no parent should ever have to go through a similar experience to those affected by practices like this, at any crematorium in Scotland.

“We are absolutely committed to changing the law and a wide-ranging bill is already planned. On that basis we established the independent commission, chaired by Lord Bonomy, to examine current infant cremation policy, practice and legislation.

“He has advised he expects to deliver their national recommendations to ministers by the end of May. These recommendations will shape and inform the work of our planned legislation.”

 

‘Fantastical’ referendum myths must be debunked – Danny Alexander

HM Treasury

It is time to debunk the calculations and claims that have been put forward by the Scottish government in this referendum, Chief Secretary Danny Alexander will say in a keynote speech to business leaders in Edinburgh today (30 April). And while Europe is a clearly a relevant referendum issue, the Eurovision Song Contest gets a mention for the first time!

Speaking on the day of publication by HMRC of new oil revenue data and ahead of publication of the Westminster government’s most comprehensive analysis of the fiscal consequences of separation yet, the Chief Secretary will challenge some of the ‘myths’ perpetuated by nationalists and call on the Scottish Government to be honest with people about the cost of independence.

He will also call on the Scottish government – and Finance Secretary John Swinney – to publish revised and realistic forecasts of oil and gas revenues.

dannyAlexander

Danny Alexander (pictured above) will say:

“The nationalists’ assertions on Scotland’s finances are at best ill-informed and at worst, deeply misleading to Scottish voters. The fact is that their £1.5 trillion figure for the value of oil left in the North Sea doesn’t include any costs for getting the oil out of the ground and into the petrol pump.

“Over the whole 5 year period of the Scottish government’s Oil and gas bulletin [2012 to 2017], their most cautious forecast for Scottish oil and gas revenues is £41 billion. Yet the independent Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that whole UK revenues will be just £25 billion over the same period. It doesn’t matter how deep you drill into the figures, they simply don’t add up. The indisputable point is that we are better off together.

“It is time for the Scottish government to confirm what we all know: that the White Paper was wrong, to correct the discredited Oil and gas bulletin and the errors at the heart of the White Paper. The Scottish government must confront the fact that it is promising tax revenues and public spending that it cannot deliver. It should revise its oil and gas forecasts or better yet, follow international best practice and follow an independent forecast like the OBR’s. It is the very least that the Scottish voters deserve.

On the ‘myths’ perpetuated about independence, Mr Alexander will say:

It’s perhaps true that the Referendum campaign here in Scotland hasn’t provided many laughs so far and given both the enormity – and the irreversibility – of the choice we face, that is perfectly understandable. But as the campaign continues, when it comes to some of the statements and assertions made by nationalists, you really do need a sense of humour.

On some of the basic financial assumptions made in the White paper, he will say that the nationalists ‘ignore the reality, that when the financial crisis hit, it was the government of the United Kingdom that stepped in to recapitalise RBS and HBOS and the taxpayers of the United Kingdom that extended £275 billion of total support to RBS alone’.

On currency, he will challenge the: “…continued, belligerent, assertion that Scotland could – and would – keep the pound. Alex Salmond has to face up to the fact that the rest of the UK does not have to – and would not want to – continue to share the credit card.”

And on UK institutions, he will say: “There is also the fantastical claim, made in the White Paper that an independent Scotland would share a third of the UK’s institutions and services despite the fact that this is completely unprecedented anywhere in the world. This is a claim we have to listen to whenever an institution crops up that the nationalists haven’t had time to think about.

“So it won’t surprise me if next Saturday night Alex Salmond declares that an independent Scotland will share the UK’s automatic place in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest!”

BROTHERHOOD of MAN: Eurovision no more?
BROTHERHOOD of MAN: Eurovision no more?

The Treasury’s forthcoming fiscal analysis will set out the benefits of the UK and the costs of independence. In the absence of any detailed costings from the Scottish government, Treasury economists have spent months analysing data and forecasts and consulting with independent bodies to calculate in detail the figures that illustrate the benefits of the UK and the cost of independence.

That analysis will be published in coming weeks – but John Swinney’s response to Danny Alexander’s assertions will come considerably quicker than that. Nil points is a fair guess!