The illuminated trail to return with new route and magnificent new installations
The magic of the festive season is set to return to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh this winter as Christmas at the Botanics, the outdoor after-dark spectacular, opens for its seventh year.
Reimagined for 2023 with new installations from around the world and a fresh route, organisers have introduced off-peak tickets on selected evenings in November and December.
The magical, botanical trail will once again transform the Garden by illuminating one of the city’s most beautiful visitor attractions with a one-mile illuminated trail, running for six weeks from 16 November to 30 December for 37 nights.
New installations already confirmed for 2023 include:
Crocus has been created by leading designers of illuminated flowers, Jigantics who were behind the stunning Lilies on the Botanic Pond in 2022. This meadow of 100 crocuses, measuring in at over a metre high, will gently sway and transform through different shades of colour in time to enchanting music.
Pampas has been created byTILT, a French artistic studio founded in 2001 that focuses on the exploration of light and its interplay with art, architecture and space. In this installation, visitors can explore the groves of luminous pampas plants which are animated with bright colours.
Light a Wish has been created by OGE Group, courtesy Light Art Collection and visualises the moment the dandelion seeds disperse in the air, taking your wish with them into the world.
Other returning favourites include the magnificent Christmas Cathedral and the Inverleith House projection.
All the installations are low in energy and selected to be sympathetic to the Botanics’ environment.
Commenting, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Simon Milne said: “Part of the joy of the trail is for visitors to be in the Garden after dark and to experience and enjoy a new perspective on our plants and landscapes.
“The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a Scottish charity, and tickets sales from Christmas at the Botanics help to fund our international plant research, conservation work and education programmes.
“We are more mindful than ever that the festive season can be costly, so the introduction of off-peak lower-cost tickets this year will enable event more people to join us for this fabulous show without breaking the bank.”
Tickets for this year’s show are on sale now. For further ticket information, pricing, and timings, please visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas. Visitors are encouraged to book in advance to guarantee their preferred timeslot.
Christmas at the Botanics is one of nine illuminated trails staged across the UK by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music. Christmas at the Botanics is presented in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and creative producer Culture Creative.
The 2022 trail at the Botanics attracted its biggest audience last year, welcoming more than 95,000 visitors over its six-week run.
For more details visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram.
It is a challenging time for renters, with rental prices rocketing and demand far outweighing supply – a recent study revealed that for every 100 rental ads in Scotland, 197 people are looking for a room to rent.
And while renters face greater financial hurdles, they are also dealing with more problems with landlords. According to the UK Housing Ombudsman, landlords were issued a record number of complaint handling failure orders between July and September 2022, a 105% increase on the previous quarter.
With this in mind, Online Mortgage Advisor wanted to discover where in the UK and the wider world tenants are most and least satisfied with their landlords. They found that renters in both Glasgow and Edinburgh are some of the most dissatisfied in the UK, despite the implementation of rental controls in Scotland.
How did we do it?
We analysed 276,000 rent-related geotagged tweets across the UK, US, and Europe, as well as other OECD nations, using an academic tool called SentiStrength.
SentiStrength is an AI tool which detects positive and negative sentiment levels in short pieces of text and assigns them a score from 5 (extremely positive) to -5 (extremely negative).
Belfastis the UK city with the highest proportion of dissatisfied renters with 43.5% of tweets analysed recorded as negative, followed by Glasgow (41.7%) and Bradford(38.7%).
Edinburgh came in at number 7 with 36.1%, meaning two Scottish cities appear in the top 10.
The UK ranked 9th overall in the list of OECD countries with 34.8% tweets deemed as negative out of those surveyed, with Sweden, Denmark and Irelandoccupying the top three spots.
The most commonly mentioned words in negative tweets about rent were: “people”, “money” and “time”.
Renters in Glasgow and Edinburgh amongst the most dissatisfied in the UK
Using the academic tool SentiStrength, Online Mortgage Advisor analysed 276,000 geotagged tweets related to renting to find out which cities had the least satisfied renters.
Belfast, is the city with the most dissatisfied renters in the country with 43.5%of all rent-related tweets being recorded as negative.
Glasgow, ranks 2nd with 41.7% of tweets made by renters in the area being recorded as negative.
Edinburgh came in at number 7 with 36.1%.
This means that two Scottish cities appear in the top 10 of our analysis, despite Scotland implementing a rent freeze at 0% from September 2022 until March 2023. The Scottish government then increased this to a cap of 3% in most instances from April 2023. Find the ranking below:
UK cities which are least satisfied with their rental experiences
Rank
City
Negative tweets (%)
1
Belfast
43.5%
2
Glasgow
41.7%
3
Bradford
38.7%
4
Bristol
38.3%
5
Brighton & Hove
37.4%
6
Sheffield
36.5%
7
Edinburgh
36.1%
8
Nottingham
35.9%
8
Plymouth
35.9%
10
Birmingham
35.2%
The most common rental grievances
We found it was ‘people’ that tenants take issue with most frequently, with 60 mentions for every 1,000 tweets. Issues range from landlords turning up unannounced to fellow tenants failing to pay their share of the rent and never taking the bins out. The second and third most commonly listed complaints referred to ‘money’ and ‘time’.
Here are a few of the issues people have voiced on twitter:
We have an extra special week coming up at Blackhall Library with our Dinosaur Day on all day Wednesday and our Open Garden Day on Saturday!
For Dino day you can book in for specific activities or just come along, there will be fun Dinosaur themed activities for children running all day!
Our Open Garden Day is being supported by our wonderful Friends of Blackhall Library group – there will be plants, books, light refreshments and other goodies for sale along with activities for children and prizes to be won!
Looking for an action-packed day out for the whole family? Join us at Scotland’s only Water Safety Open Day, Tuesday 25th July at the Helix in Falkirk!
Water Safety Scotland, in collaboration with The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Scottish Water, Falkirk Council, Scottish Canals, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), is hosting a Water Safety Open Day in support of the third World Drowning Prevention Day. The event takes place at Helix Park, Falkirk on July 25, 2023, between 11am – 4pm and is free to attend.
The theme of this year’s World Drowning Prevention Day, facilitated by The World Health Organization (WHO), builds on last year’s “Do one thing” for drowning prevention and suggests a series of calls to action, namely “Do one thing, improve one thing, ask one thing” to prevent drowning.
At the Water Safety Scotland event, members of the public are invited to visit information and activity stands and watch and participate in water rescue demonstrations.
A fun programme of activities includes free facepainting, beat the goalie, cold water challenge, as well as throwline and bandaging challenges. There will be the chance to win some prizes on the day too.
The aim of the day is to raise awareness of safety in and around water and promote the water safety code and other work done by WSS. This includes water safety school resources, local approaches to water safety through Partnership Approach to Water Safety (PAWS) groups and enhanced data capture in Scotland through the Drowning and Incident Review (DIR).
Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown said: “I welcome the opportunity to support the UN’s World Drowning Prevention Day. We are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and surrounded by waterways that can appear tempting during hot weather so this family friendly event is vital to provide key safety messages to people.
“It is critically important people exercise extreme caution if venturing into open water and everyone heed all the safety advice as entering any waterway has an element of risk and can have tragic consequences.
“The Scottish Government takes the issue of water safety very seriously and we are committed to continuing to work closely with all relevant organisations to help reduce harm and raise awareness around this vital issue.”
Carlene McAvoy, Secretariat and Founder of Water Safety Scotland, said: “Supporting World Drowning Prevention Day through this public event is extremely important given the fact that on average 96 people drown in Scotland each year.
“If we can reach many people in Scotland with our water safety guidance through events such as the water safety open day, we can help to reduce the number of drownings in Scotland.
“Our event is underpinned by our key message – the Water Safety Code. We want to provide life-saving information and advice in a fun and memorable way to help people in Scotland have a positive and safe experience in and around water.”
The Water Safety Open Day is free and open to all, and will be hosted at Helix Park, Falkirk on Monday 25 July 2023 – 11am – 4pm.
Come along, have some fun & learn all things #WaterSafety!
The Scottish Ministerial Code has been updated to further strengthen transparency and propriety.
Updates to the Code include:
New text reflecting the updates to the procedure for handling complaints by civil servants about the behaviour of a Minister or former Minister, making clear that for future complaints certain information about concluded cases will be made public, including the Minister’s name, the nature of the complaint and the outcome of the complaint, even after a Minister has left office, and setting out the obligation on Ministers to cooperate with the procedure.
The introduction of an annual review of Ministers’ private interests, and proactive publication of these interests on an annual basis, to enhance integrity and transparency around actual or perceived conflicts of interest. In addition, new text has been introduced to provide additional clarity for Ministers on managing overlaps between their Ministerial responsibilities and constituency interests.
General updates on provisions for maternity leave and to reflect the introduction of the Bute House Agreement, as well as minor amends to take account of digital developments, new published strategies and changes in Ministerial titles and responsibilities.
The First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “This new edition of the Ministerial Code sets the highest standards of propriety and transparency for Government Ministers.All Scottish Ministers, including myself, are bound by its terms and are committed to uphold the Principles of Public life, ensuring integrity, accountability and honesty at every level of leadership.
“Scottish Ministers are committed to building a better future for the people of Scotland while facing the profound challenges of our time. This will mean taking some tough decisions to ensure that we support those in greatest need, and it is vital that we are guided in this mission by a clear set of principles.”
With summer in full swing, there’s ample opportunity to get out and about this season. Being able to get out and explore is important for our physical, mental and emotional health. While this is true for people of all ages, it can be critically important for over 60s.
But getting out and about doesn’t need to break the bank. Many companies and UK institutions provide amazing concessions for older people. From museums and castles to historic homes and gardens, there are loads of discounts to take advantage of – and that can include travel too.
As a result, the team at New Care Homes has compiled an updated list of some of the best concessions to take advantage of this season.
The list covers a wide array of amazing discounts including travel, food and drink, national heritage sites, cinemas and more.
Great Outdoors
The National Trust of Scotland
The National Trust of Scotland owns and manages around 130 properties and 180,000 acres across the country which includes castles, ancient small dwellings, historic sites, gardens, coastline, mountains and countryside.
Historic Environment Scotland is a public body that plays a crucial role in preserving Scottish natural heritage. It functions in the same way as English Heritage does for England and Cadw for Wales, allowing millions of visitors the chance to experience Scotland’s national landmarks like Stirling, Edinburgh and Urquhart Castles and other heritage attractions across Scotland.
Tickets for HES landmarks have an admission price which can vary from location to location. However, there are concession discounts for over 65s. Ticket prices can be checked and booked online. There’s also a concession for annual membership starting at £42.00. Members will also be able to claim half-price entry to English Heritage and Cadw sites in their first year.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is the UK’s leading gardening charity. They provide a Senior Life Membership package for members over 60. Members will receive:
Unlimited entry to RHS Gardens
Free access to more than 200 RHS Partner Gardens
Privileged entry and discounted tickets to RHS Shows (including the Chelsea Flower Show)
Booking access
Monthly magazine
Gardening advice from experts
Special events
Membership packs also include a handbook, pin badge and engraved RHS Life Member secateurs.
A full list of information on the RHS locations in Scotland can be found here.
Cinema
Odeon
Odeon is a popular cinema chain which shows everything from the latest blockbusters to absolute classics- so there’s always something for everyone. As well as films, most Odeon cinemas will also have an onsite coffee and ice cream shop where you can enjoy a treat before your screening.
Odeon cinemas provide special screenings for patrons over 60 through their Odeon Silver events. These screenings tend to happen during quieter periods so you can avoid the rush, and they even provide tea, coffee, and biscuits with your ticket.
Silver Cinema Screening prices can cost as little as £4, but this will vary depending on where you are. Check online with your local Odeon to see the Silver Cinema schedule and ticket pricing. Tickets can also be bought on the day but might cost slightly more.
Cineworld
Cineworld cinemas show a wide range of films, including live and recorded events from National Theatre and Royal Opera House – and even international events.
Cineworld provides a senior citizen discount across its film screenings. The price of tickets can vary depending on the location and film type, but all ticket prices can be found online. Tickets can be booked online (with an additional 70p charging fee) or bought inside the venue before the show time.
Vue offers film fans who are 60+ discounts on ticket prices across all film screenings. Prices can vary depending on the cinema’s location and the type of film (2D, IMAX etc) but they can be quite cheap during off-peak show times (Monday-Thursday before 5 pm).
They also operate screenings for over 60s called the Senior Club. Tickets are discounted, and you’ll also receive a cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit when you go in.
Museums and Galleries
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland and features exhibits and collections on Scottish antiquities, culture and history.
Entry is free for everyone, so there is no senior concession available. However, Individual memberships are available for repeat visitors which provide a host of benefits including:
Unlimited free entry to world-class exhibitions
Invitations to exclusive Member Previews for selected exhibitions
Invitations to exclusive events and experiences throughout the year
Behind-the-scenes news and in-depth articles in the members-only magazine Explorer
20% discount in our cafes
10% discount in our museum shops and online
10% off entry to Edinburgh Castle for the National War Museum
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle stands on Castle Rock in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland. As one of the most important strongholds in Scotland and one of the oldest strongholds in Europe, Edinburgh Castle is an important part of Scottish history.
Concession tickets for seniors (65+) are available. Online concession prices are £15.50, while on-the-day ticket prices are £17.60. Pre-booking tickets can save a bit of money and will also guarantee entry in the event of a busy day.
Anyone who already has a Historic Environment Scotland membership will have free entry to Edinburgh Castle as well as a wealth of other perks.
Aberdeen Art Gallery (Archives and Museums)
The Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the UK. For over 130 the gallery has acquired the best and most interesting contemporary artworks.
Spanning over 700 years, the collection includes works by important Scottish artists, designers and makers such as Henry Raeburn, Joan Eardley, Samuel Peploe, Rachel McLean, Bill Gibb and James Cromar Watt, as well as nationally and internationally acclaimed artists from all walks of life.
The gallery is free and is considered an exceptionally accessible venue for visitors from all walks of life. It’s also part of the Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums (AAGM) group which includes a wealth of other venues worth visiting if you’re visiting the city.
More information on The Gallery and other venues can be found here.
Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
GoMA is located in the heart of Glasgow city centre. It is a world-class art museum and a great place for people to gather, share ideas and enjoy art from around the world.
GoMA has four galleries, a well-stocked library and a gallery shop selling ranges inspired by installations and exhibitions. The gallery is currently running an exhibit from the elusive and internationally renowned graffiti artist Banksy entitled: Banksy: Cut and Run for July and August 2023.
Concession tickets are available for £10, and a membership scheme is available for repeat visitors starting at £28 which provides a whole host of benefits. If you ever find yourself in Glasgow this wonderful institution is well worth a visit
Sports
Scottish Football Association
Love to watch the footie? Well here’s some great news Following a campaign by Age Scotland and the Mail on Sunday back in 2019, the Scottish Football Association re-introduced discounts for football fans over the age of 65. Senior tickets will cost from just £15 depending on the match category, and will be available throughout Hampden Park – the home of the national teams.
The Scottish Supporters Club also operates a senior membership discount scheme, however, memberships have already sold out for the 2023/2024 season. But don’t fret – you’ll still be able to get access to general admission tickets when they’re released for specific matches.
Scottish Rugby
More of a Rugby fan? Then you’re in luck! Scottish Rugby provides senior citizen concessions on matches. Concession pricing can differ from event to event but ticket prices are always released in advance so it’s well worth checking in advance for matches this summer. Visit the Scottish Rugby Online Ticket Centre for information on upcoming matches.
The Scotland Supporters Club also operates a membership scheme. For £45 you’ll receive benefits such as:
Invitation to a Scotland training session
Digital Membership Pack
Pre-sale access to all Scotland home game ticket sales, including the 2023/24 Scotland Season Pass 2023, the Summer Tests: 3-Match & 2-Match Packages and individual match tickets, 2024 Guinness Six Nations: Individual match tickets to Scotland’s home games against England and France and Scotland Women & Scotland U20 ticket sales
Highland Games
Highland games are a series of much-beloved events held in spring and summer in Scotland. Although games are often centred around Scottish heavy athletics, they also incorporate entertainment and exhibits such as music, dancing, poetry, literature and food and drink.
Events include the caber toss, stone put, Scottish hammer throw, weight throw, weight over the bar and the sheaf toss among others. Women also take part in the events, and competitors are known to wear a traditional kilt when taking part.
A full list of upcoming Highland Games events can be found here.
Spring/Summer Shopping
Boots
Beloved UK retailer Boots offer an Over 60s Rewards Card as part of their Advantage Card Scheme. This allows cardholders over 60 to earn 8 points for every £1 spent on brands such as Boots, No7, Soap & Glory, Botanics, Liz Earle, Champneys, YourGoodSkin and more. This can come in handy when it’s time to pick up some sun tan lotion and holiday bits for the season.
Over 60s can also access discounts from Boots Opticians when buying a pair of glasses or prescription sunglasses, and will receive 200 points with a free Hearing Health Check at Boots Hearingcare. All you need is an existing Advantage Card which you can sign up for free here.
Specsavers
Specsavers is one of the biggest opticians in the UK. The Specsavers over 60s discount provides 20% off a pair of glasses from their £69 range or above which includes frames, lenses and any extra car options. The offer also includes sunglasses so you can pick up a flash new pair to enjoy in the sun.
Food and Drink
Dobbies
Bright and bustling, Dobbies is a great day out for those who like to get out and about. The garden centre offers a Senior Citizens Lunch. Visitors can enjoy a delicious main course & a cake for just £11.95 Monday to Friday from 12-3 pm.
They also have a fantastic afternoon tea service and are dog friendly, making it a great choice for a visit this season. Find your nearest Dobbies garden centre online with their store locator.
Patisserie Valerie
Patisserie Valerie is well-known for creating wonderful baked treats that are perfect for a spot of afternoon tea.
Seniors over 60 are eligible for a 10% discount at all Patisserie Valerie stores as well as online orders. To be able to access the discount, simply visit the seniors discount section on the Patisserie Valerie website to enjoy money off a delicious assortment of cakes, biscuits, selection boxes and afternoon tea options.
Greene King
Greene King is one of the UK’s leading pub retailers and as part of their food and drink options, their locations offer a Senior Menu which provides manageable portions at reasonable prices. With over 3,100 locations nestled in areas across the country, it’s well worth visiting for an afternoon lunch or a quiet evening dinner. To find your nearest Greene King pub, visit their Pub Map on their official website.
Waitrose
Waitrose has brought back its incredibly popular ‘free coffee’ scheme for MyWaitrose cardholders. You don’t need to spend a certain amount to qualify for the ‘freebie’ – You just need to swipe or scan your myWaitrose card at the self-service drinks machine after checkout. It’s perfect if you’re popping in for a paper or a drink during a walk around town.
Cardholders will also get access to exclusive savings and members-only rewards which can come in handy if you’re planning a picnic or need a snack for a day out.
Travel
Senior Railcard
Over 60s qualify for a Senior Railcard which allows cardholders to get 1/3 off train travel on all franchised train operating companies in England, Scotland and Wales. A 1-year Railcard is just £30, but you can also buy a 3-year Senior Railcard for just £70 which is great if you plan to do a lot of travelling in 2023.
You’ll be able to enjoy discounts on Standard and First Class Anytime, Off-Peak and Advance tickets. And if you’re living in/visiting London, you can link it to an Oyster Card to get ⅓ Off-Peak travel around London too. Check out the Senior Railcard FAQs for more information.
National Express
If coach travel is more your thing, National Express have a Senior Coachcard offer that’s available for over 60s. Cardholders can save a 1/3 on standard and fully flexible fares to hundreds of locations across the UK.
A Senior Coachcard is only £12.50 a year (+ £2.50 postage), meaning the savings will start to outweigh the costs pretty quickly. For a list of all destinations covered by National Express, visit the website for more information.
Older Persons Bus Pass
Older people’s bus passes are available across the UK, although each country has rules and regulations.
In Scotland, you can apply for a National Entitlement Card (AKA a ‘saltire card’) once you turn 60. To qualify you must be over 60 and a resident in Scotland. You can apply online, or through your local post office and local council.
If your card was issued by the City of Edinburgh Council, you’ll also be able to use them on trams throughout the city.
City Sightseeing Bus Tours
Although NEC cards aren’t valid on City Sightseeing Bus Tours for free travel, concession tickets are available and can save older travellers £1 on their travel.
City Sightseeing buses are available in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, the Isle of Bute and more.
For more information on City Sightseeing tours and experiences check out the official website.
Increased tax relief to boost Britain’s animated film production
Measure is “about backing business to innovate and grow the UK economy”
Draft legislation also published to clarify design details underpinning a simplified Research and Development Scheme
Animated film productions in the UK are set for a boost as the government reveals increased tax relief, to take effect from 1 January 2024.
The creative industry has grown at more than 1.5 times the rate of the wider economy over the past decade, making it an important sector for the Chancellor’s plan to grow the economy.
The new tax changes announced today are expected to be worth £5 million each year to business and come alongside the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit which was uplifted at budget from 33.33% to 39%. This also follows the Creative Industries Sector Vision published last month which set an ambition to grow the creative industries by an extra £50 billion by 2030.
These changes are a key part of the government’s plan to get the economy growing and make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business.
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Victoria Atkins said: “We want the UK to be the best place to start and grow a business and while we have the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7, we are not complacent.
“The changes we are making are about backing business to innovate and grow the UK economy, creating good jobs across the country.”
This measure is part of 23 tax announcements published as part of the government’s ‘Legislation Day’, where draft legislation for an upcoming Finance Bill is published, as well as technical tax documents and consultations mostly from measures announced at the Spring Budget.
Also published is the proposed design for a simplified R&D scheme, which would be born out of a merger from two previous schemes, as well as draft legislation also published to cement a further new £500 million per year scheme to support 20,000 R&D intensive SMEs.
A final decision will be made in the Autumn on whether to merge the Research and Development Expenditure Credit and Small Medium Enterprise relief schemes to form a new scheme. A merged scheme would simplify the system, by creating a single set of qualifying rules, and giving clarity on how much could be claimed before claims are made.
On Legislation Day the government also announced that:
From today, any Ukrainian who has arrived in the UK under the Family, Sponsor and Extension Ukrainian visa schemes will no longer need to register or tax their vehicle. This will last 36 months, in line with the length of their visas, and can be applied retrospectively from one’s arrival, potentially saving them hundreds of pounds.
Income tax will be exempt on payments made under the Family Network Support Package, which are aimed to keep children out of state care and in their family network where appropriate and in their best interests. The Department for Education will set out further details on the pilot scheme in the summer.
It will simplify the process so people who need to start paying the High Income Child Benefit Charge will not need to fill out a Self-Assessment form to pay the charge, but will be able to do it through their tax code. HMRC will set out in due course how it will do this.
The House of Commons adjourned on Thursday 20 July for summer recess and will next sit on Monday 4 September at 2.30pm.
The economy in recent weeks has resembled the Scottish weather: not quite the summer we hoped for but definitely could be worse, and we hope for better to come (writes Fraser of Allander’s Institute’s EMMA CONGREVE).
Inflation easing
This week’s announcement on inflation coming in at 7.9% in the year to June 2023 was lower than markets were expecting.
According to the ONS, the fall was driven by lower motor fuel prices and an easing in the rate of food price growth. We’re sure readers of the FAI weekly update don’t need to be reminded of this, but just in case, remember that a drop in the inflation rate does not mean that average prices are falling.
However, as the Resolution Foundation’s Torsten Bell pointed out in a useful thread on Twitter, in June 2023 it looks like we (finally) had a situation where average wage growth was higher than inflation, meaning that real wages rose.
Of course, averages are just that, and will not apply to all, but it’s a chink of sunshine nonetheless. Many will hope that this easing of inflation will ease the pressure on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee.
The next rate decision is due on the 3rd of August.
Recent labour market news
On the 11th June, the latest labour market statistics were released covering the period March to May 2023.
The employment rate reduced slightly over this period, leading to an increase in both unemployment (people seeking work) and inactivity (people not working and not seeking work).
Inactivity statistics have been moving in opposite directions in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK over recent quarters, although as the chart shows, this follows a period of relative convergence of the UK and Scottish rates, and rates have tended to be higher in Scotland than the UK average over recent years.
Chart: Economic Inactivity Rates in Scotland and UK
“Risky” Finances
According to the OBR, in a report published on the 13th July, the pressure on UK public finances has risen considerably over the last year, due to a combination of inflation and interest rate rises, and accelerated changes in demographic change.
One key part of this is the fact that the UK has a relatively high proportion of inflation linked debt compared to other advanced economies. Their frankly terrifying forecasts see UK public debt rising to over 300% of GDP over the next 50 years, from around 100% now (indeed statistics out today show that the UK’s debt pile is now officially higher than GDP in June 2023).
Nothing is inevitable, and these forecasts are drawn up to provide context and evidence for government decision-making in the years ahead. Difficult decisions, as ever, loom.
That’s it for this week. If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d encourage you to watch our colleague Adam’s presentation as part of this year’s Pride in Economics Event. You can find it on our website.
This summer, avoid the mercury-busting heatwave overseas and explore coasts that rival the world’s best right here in the UK and Ireland with a Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) small group tour.
Stunning South West Seaside
Escape to the beautiful counties of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall to enjoy tales of Arthurian legend and iconic natural wonders. There are few coastal locations more famous than Durdle Door in Lulworth, Dorset. The limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast is one of Dorset’s most photographed landmarks and the coastline it calls home was designated England’s first natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Venture further west and discover Cornwall’s coast, from the clifftop castle of Tintagel where King Arthur is believed to have been born to the cobbled streets, cottages and sandy beaches of the idyllic fishing town of St Ives. Its neighbour, Devon, doesn’t disappoint either, and this tour isn’t complete without a visit to the picturesque coastal resort of Lynton for its incredible natural beauty and rich history. Join Rabbie’s four-day Cornwall, Devon & Stonehenge tour, departing from Bristol, from just £295 per person.
West Coast Exploring
Discover the soaring mountains, spectacular wildlife, and mystical history of Ireland’s West Coast. Take in the rugged beauty of one of the longest-defined coastal routes in the world, The Wild Atlantic Way. The 2,500km-long coastal road boasts historical spots, natural wonders and many of Ireland’s top attractions, including the Cliffs of Moher. Walk cliff-top trails boasting gorgeous views over the rugged Atlantic waves and watch rare seabirds swooping through the air.
At the picturesque, coastal market town of Clifden in County Galway, nestled between the Twelve Bens mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, take in the National Park, you’ll also enjoy the majesty of the Sky Road. Join Rabbie’s three-day West Coast Explorer tour, departing from Dublin, from just €389 per person.
Rabbie’s UK and Ireland tours depart from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, London, Manchester, Bristol, Belfast and Dublin. For more information about Rabbie’s and to book a private or a scheduled tour, visit www.rabbies.com.
