Detectives are appealing for information following an attempted murder in West Pilton.
A 24-year-old man suffered serious injuries after being deliberately knocked off his motorbike by a car on Ferry Road Drive around 1.45pm yesterday (Thursday 28 July).
The man was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where his condition is described by medical staff as stable.
The occupants of the vehicle made off and enquiries are ongoing. The car, a black Fiat Panda, had previously been reported stolen from the local area.
Officers believe this was a targeted attack and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has dashcam footage of what happened, to contact police.
Superintendent Mark Rennie said: “Violence of this nature won’t be tolerated in any part of the city. This is a prime example of a small number of young people creating fear and concern in a local community.
“Our investigation is progressing well and we will have an enhanced policing presence in the area to reassure local residents and prevent any further disorder. Every single person involved in recent incidents in the area will be pursued and arrested and we will ensure that identified offenders are quickly put before the courts.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 1820 of Thursday, 28 July, 2022. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Businesses asked to reduce water use as nearly all of east and south Scotland sees impacts of water scarcity.
SEPA may have to impose restrictions on abstractions.
Mid and north Fife are expected to reach Significant Scarcity in the next week.
The Tweed catchment in the Borders is at Moderate Scarcity.
Businesses in Scotland could soon be required to stop abstracting water, with 2022 seeing the driest January in the east since 1940. Groundwater and river levels are also severely impacted by a lack of rainfall in the east and other parts of the country are being warned to brace for similar conditions.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for managing Scotland’s natural water resources and issues licenses to businesses abstracting large amounts for agriculture and other industrial uses.
The latest water scarcity report, published by SEPA on Thursday 28 July, reveals areas in mid and north Fife are likely to reach Significant Scarcity within the next week, meaning SEPA has the power to suspend abstraction licences.
Businesses affected are already being contacted to discuss what this will mean for them and to offer support. There is also reassurance that, if suspension is required, it would only be for the minimum length of time necessary.
Elsewhere the Borders saw less rainfall than most of the country last week with the Tweed catchment at Moderate Scarcity, the second highest level. Areas around River Ythan, Dee, Don, Almond, Tyne as well as the Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay also remain at Moderate Scarcity.
Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, Nathan Critchlow-Watton, said: “Water resources are critical in the east, with groundwater levels the lowest they have been since records began in 2009 and conditions not expected to improve in the short term.
“Even in parts where there has been some rainfall and an immediate increase in river flows, the areas still remain vulnerable due to longer term rainfall deficits and very dry ground conditions.
“That is why it is important for businesses that abstract water to take action and reduce their current usage, minimising the effects on the environment. SEPA is here to offer support and guidance, and each week we set out the key measures abstractors should be taking to conserve water.
“Climate change means water scarcity will become even more frequent. We want to work with businesses to plan their water usage long-term, so that we can preserve this vital resource as effectively as possible. Not only will that protect Scotland’s rivers and lochs, but it will minimise business risks as well.”
Water is a resource that underpins key sectors across Scotland including hydropower, golf, whisky production and farming. SEPA works with a number of industry bodies to help businesses manage the range of conditions they may face throughout the year.
NFU Scotland’s Environmental Resources Policy Manager Sarah Cowie said: “Water is a vital resource for the agriculture sector as we cannot produce food without a consistent and plentiful water supply.
“With significant areas of Scotland experiencing a prolonged dry spell, it’s important farmers take steps to ensure the continued supply of water and avoid disruption.
“Farmers are encouraged to irrigate when, and only as much as, absolutely necessary. When irrigating land, they should check equipment isn’t leaking, don’t over spray, and use trickle irrigation where appropriate.
“We also encourage irrigators to stagger abstractions with other operators in their catchment area, reduce the volume used, and irrigate at night where possible. They should consider whether they could switch to using groundwater rather than river water in times of water scarcity. Looking at longer term resilience, if a new borehole is needed to do this, then contact SEPA.”
Water abstractors concerned about meeting licence conditions or wishing to discuss contingency measures are encouraged to contact SEPA by emailing waterscarcity@sepa.org.uk.
For more information on water scarcity and to view the latest report, visit www.sepa.org.uk/waterscarcity
Edinburgh Homeopathy – which offers free homeopathic care to people who would otherwise be unable to access it – is returning to face-to-face consultations after Covid forced the clinic to move online.
Edinburgh Homeopathy is open to patients in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas two Fridays per month 10am-1pm and one Friday a month 1.30-4.30pm at Mulberry House, 21 Manor Place, Edinburgh EH3 7DX. Appointments and first prescriptions are free of charge.
The clinic is headed up by experienced NHS nurse and homeopath Karen Hooten RSCN BSc (Hons) FFHom (Nurse). Karen qualified as a children’s nurse in 1989 and in 2002 became one of the first national midwifery council registered nurses to qualify as a Specialist Nurse practitioner in homeopathy.
Karen says: “People seem to be increasingly disillusioned with modern medicine and homeopathy offers a real alternative. I have been using it in my clinical practice for more than twenty years and it’s proved to be effective for a wide range of acute and chronic conditions.”
Homeopathy is a natural form of complementary medicine which looks at the whole person rather than just symptoms. It can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional medicine.
Edinburgh Homeopathy – which is funded by charity Homeopathy UK – is part of a network of nine charitable clinics across the UK, including a further three in Scotland. The other clinics are in Coatbridge, Dumfries & Galloway, Scottish Borders, Winchester, Liverpool, Kent, Norwich and a new Virtual Clinic. To make a booking, visit www.homeopathy-uk.org.
Alan Bissett, Jo Clifford, and Niall Moorjani feature in this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, which will celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories.
The Scottish Storytelling Centre’s 2022 Fringe programme sees some of Scotland’s finest storytellers and performers creating new conversations around live issues, or reflecting on past events that resonate fully in the present.
To mark Scotland’s Year of Stories, the venue will also be hosting daily storytelling sessions featuring the wonderful, and sometimes wild, traditional tales that have shaped the myths and legends of this country in Traditional Tales of Scotland.
Across the month, the Scottish Storytelling Centre will also be offering a range of accessible performances – including relaxed, signed, audio described and BSL-interpreted performances – as well as touch tours and at least one socially distanced performance per production.
Among a wide variety of music, theatre, family and storytelling shows, the Scottish Storytelling Centre will host three productions from this year’s Made in Scotland showcase.
Acclaimed playwright Jo Clifford and Maria MacDonell retell the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale andexplore the joys and pains of a life well-lived in a brand new work The Not So Ugly Duckling: A Play for Grownups.Sagas and Seascapes is a concert of three original compositions inspired by Norse tales, performed by ensemble Nordic Viola with accompanying visuals from Craig Sinclair and Orla Stevens; and The Village and the Road is a storytelling performance from Tom Pow that investigates rural depopulation, refugee crises and the great thinning of the natural world, with musical accompaniment from folk group The Galloway Agreement.
Celebrated author Alan Bissett returns with the third in his Moira Monologues series – Moira in Lockdown sees Falkirk’s Hardest Woman facing her toughest challenge: surviving a pandemic with only vodka, fags and BFF Babs on Zoom. Take that, Bear Grylls! Elsewhere in the programme, non-binary, Scots-Indian storyteller Niall Moorjani marks the 75th anniversary of the Indian Partition with Mohan: A Partition Story which retells their grampa’s experience during the upheaval as a refugee.
Hugely acclaimed on its release in album form, Heal and Harrow pays a humanising tribute to the victims of the Scottish Witch Trials, and Shona Cowie’s With the Devil’s Assistance reflects on Scotland’s diminishing high street through the tale of Scottish witch Maggie Osborne, who was burnt at the stake for building a flourishing business overnight. And The Green Knight sees Debbie Cannon take the famous 14th century arthurian poem, and recast it with a woman at the heart of the action.
The Scottish Storytelling Centre will also host some returning favourite productions – including Maria MacDonell’s masterful storytelling performance Miss Lindsay’s Secret, Andy Cannon’s one-man, five-star retelling of The Scottish Play Is This A Dagger?, David Colvin’s highly acclaimed tale of legendary piper Gordon Duncan Thunderstruck, Puppet State Theatre’s multi award-winning adaptation of Jean Giono’s classic environmental tale The Man Who Planted Trees, and the Loud Poets returning with their late night staple Best of Fringe, which brings together the highlights of the Festival’s poetry acts in a raucous night of spoken word!
There are plenty of family-friendly shows for the school holidays. Janis Mackay transports us to the northern seascapes in Wee Seals and Selkies, weaving maritime tales with live fiddle music, Shona Cowie uses excellent traditional tales and songs, clowning and masterful improvisation to protect us from wee critters in Beware the Beasts,and the Suitcase Storytelling Company follow our hero Toral on the adventure of a lifetime as she braves many adventures, all to fight a great and terrible dragon in The Girl and the Dragon.
For two dates only, Edinburgh’s prestigious Poosie Nansie Burns Club celebrate Scotland’s Bard in Robert Burns: A Life in Songs and Poetry, while Edinburgh-based Morna Burdon reads a selection of her own poetry packed with observations on life, womanhood, war, class and seagulls in Fire is Not the Only Element.
Scottish Storytelling Centre’s Programme Manager, Daniel Abercrombie says: “If you’ve never experienced the wonder of live storytelling, Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 is the perfect opportunity!
“We have curated a high-quality programme for all ages which reflects the energy and variety in our year-round offer, as some of Scotland’s best storytellers and performers create new conversations around live issues, or reflect on past events which may still resonate fully in the present.
“We value the warmth of our welcome and aim to make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible!”
An exhibition showcasing some of the most thought-provoking photographs produced over the last year will go on display at the Scottish Parliament.
The World Press Photo exhibition will feature over 120 images illustrating some of the major issues facing the world today. From the effects of the climate crisis to civil rights movements, access to education and preserving indigenous practices and identities.
The free exhibition will be displayed in the Scottish Parliament’s Main Hall from Thursday 28 July until Saturday 27 August.
Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, said: “This exhibition connects people to the stories that matter.
“Year after year, World Press Photo highlights the significant contribution of photojournalism to our understanding of the stories and people that make the headlines.
“The Scottish Parliament is the only venue in the UK to host this global exhibition. I hope many of you get the opportunity to come to the Parliament to see this striking display.”
This year the winners were chosen out of 64,823 photographs and open format entries, by 4,066 photographers from 130 countries.
Some of the other images featured in the exhibition include:
World Press Photo of the year by Amber Bracken for the New York Times. Red dresses hung on crosses along a roadside commemorate children who died at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, an institution created to assimilate Indigenous children, following the detection of as many as 215 unmarked graves, Kamloops, British Columbia;
Antonella poses for her photograph in the kitchen at home, while in strict lockdown in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the day she made her promise not to cut her hair till she could resume person-to-person classes, taken by Irina Werning, Pulitzer Center;
Police agents arrest a man while his wife and family resist, during evictions of people from the San Isidro settlement, in Puerto Caldas, Risaralda, Colombia, taken by Vladimir Encina;
A protestor throws back a tear-gas canister that had been fired by security forces, during a march demanding an end to military rule in Khartoum, Sudan, taken by Faiz Abubakr Mohamed.
Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee publishes the Government’s response to the Committee’s report “Missing in action: UK leadership and the withdrawal from Afghanistan”.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) states that “there are fundamental lessons to learn” from the withdrawal, and that it is “determined to raise standards” in preparing for and responding to future crises.
In its report, published in May, the Committee criticised “evasive, and often deliberately misleading” answers from the FCDO, and stated it had “lost confidence in the Permanent Under-Secretary, who should consider his position”. The FCDO responds that “at no stage have Ministers or officials sought to mislead the Committee deliberately” and reiterates its “sincere apologies” for “inadvertently providing misleading evidence”.
In response to the Committee’s criticism of the “Special Cases” evacuation scheme, for Afghans who supported the UK effort without being directly employed by the UK Government, the FCDO concedes that the scheme had “many shortcomings”, was “poorly communicated”, and that prioritisation of cases was “far from perfect”.
The response states that there were “staffing gaps in some teams for some periods” during the evacuation, and that “the impact of the crisis on staff welfare was significant”.
The Committee criticised the department’s approach to two whistleblowers who gave evidence to the inquiry, and called for the FCDO to review its processes for officials to register concerns.
The FCDO states that it has “recently reviewed its whistleblowing policy against industry best practice”, and that the department “would not penalise, any member of staff for raising concerns in line with the procedures and with the law”.
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat MP, said: “The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, and our failure to manage the consequences, leaves a black mark on Britain’s record. This is a tragedy, first and foremost, for the Afghan people, who are now suffering through a humanitarian crisis and the return of a brutal and oppressive regime.
“After two decades of direct involvement, the UK has a duty people of Afghanistan. I am pleased to see that the Foreign Office agrees with so many of the Committee’s recommendations on the need to engage with, not isolate, Afghanistan. Disengaging will only punish ordinary Afghans, who have suffered enough.
“It is clear that leadership within the Foreign Office fell desperately short before, during and after the UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. The UK’s allies in the country were left with false hope of rescue, while junior Foreign Office staff members were forced to make life and death decisions without proper support. They should never have been put in this position.
“I would like to thank again the brave whistleblowers who came forward for their contribution to exposing these facts.
“I am pleased that the Foreign Office has acknowledged and accepted many of the criticisms put forward in the Foreign Affairs Committee’s report. This disaster has exposed serious failings in the department and I hope that this response signals the start of a sincere attempt to remedy these failures.”
Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chris Bryant MP, said: “The UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan was one of the biggest reversals of a British foreign police in decades and the Foreign Office’s handling of it was chaotic, fatally undermining the public’s trust in the Government’s ability to execute foreign policy – or to give an honest account to Parliament.
“The information we received from the Foreign Office on the Nowzad case in the course of the inquiry varied between intentionally evasive and deliberately misleading. This response fails again to clarify or explain the inconsistencies in their statements to the Committee.
“Our report called on the political and diplomatic leadership of the Foreign Office to make a fresh start and re-commit to transparency and positive engagement with Parliament after this experience. Judging by the continuing evasions in this response, they are not listening.
“So far we have had few signs that the Foreign Secretary and the Foreign Office are able to learn valuable lessons from this experience. If this continues, we risk another catastrophe further undermining our standing on the world stage.”
Big Butterfly Count sees a drop in participants compared to 2020 and 2021, as conservationists urge the public not to forget the benefits of being connected to nature – and it’s not too late to take part!
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation are urging people not to become disconnected from nature, after the start of their Big Butterfly Count saw a significant drop in people taking part, in comparison with the last two years.
Dr Zoe Randle, Senior Surveys Officer at Butterfly Conservation, said: “In 2020 and 2021 we saw a big increase in the number of people taking part in the Big Butterfly Count. During the COVID restrictions people were spending more time at home, and maybe without the day-to-day busyness and distractions, they noticed nature more and were able to enjoy spending more time outside.
“However, since Big Butterfly Count started on the 15th July, we’ve only had half of the Counts compared with the same time last year. It’s left us wondering whether, now there are no COVID restrictions, are people beginning to forget about nature and the wildlife that needs our help to survive?”
It’s something Butterfly Conservation’s Vice President, the TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, is also worried about.
Chris said: “During lockdown many people used the opportunity of having a little bit more time to engage with nature, and many of them found some respite and solace there. Now we are asking people to re-connect and give something back to nature by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count.”
A lack of butterflies could also be putting people off taking part this year.
Chris adds: “Last year was our poorest year ever in terms of the amount of butterflies people were seeing. It’s too early to tell if this year will follow suit, but certainly anecdotally we are hearing that people feel there are fewer butterflies around.
“That might have put people off taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, but it’s equally important for people to tell us that because when it comes to submitting data we need to know where there aren’t these insects as well as where there are.
“Butterflies and moths are important indicators of the wider health of our environment. If they are struggling then so is the rest of the natural world. It is so important people continue to take part in the Big Butterfly Count. If we don’t know what is happening then we can’t deliver good quality conservation.”
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide survey open to everyone, of any age, living in towns, cities or the countryside. Taking part requires you to spend just 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the amount and type of butterflies, and some day-flying moths, you see. It is easy to do and the more people who do it, the greater the benefits to our understanding of nature and how to help it.
There were over 150,000 counts submitted to the Big Butterfly Count last year, more than ever before.
This year’s Big Butterfly Count runs from the 15th July to the 7th August. For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.
More than 16,000 young people across Scotland have been offered workplace opportunities through the Young Person’s Guarantee.
Over 600 employers have signed up to the initiative which aims to connect 16-24-year-olds with an apprenticeship, work experience, volunteering, internships, enterprise opportunities and mentoring.
Up to £45 million is being invested in the Young Person’s Guarantee in 2022-23 as part of the ongoing commitment to support young people
Youth Employment Minister Jamie Hepburn met young people working for BAM Construction on the new £60 million North east hub health and care centre in Parkhead, Glasgow.
Mr Hepburn said: “It has been hugely encouraging to see the important role these young people are playing in the construction of this new health centre which will be a vital community asset in the east end of Glasgow for decades to come.
“I would like to thank BAM Construction, and all employers signed up to the Young Person’s Guarantee, for the opportunity they are helping to give our 16-24-year-olds. This will play a key part in our economic recovery.
“With results day just a couple of weeks away, it’s important for young people to realise there are a number routes into the workplace.
“Our Developing Young Workforce (DYW) co-ordinators will continue working across secondary schools in Scotland to link people with local employers, while the introduction of the free bus pass and job grant are also aimed at helping young people into positive destinations.”
Sandy Begbie, Young Person’s Guarantee Implementation Group chair, said: “From the beginning of the Young Person’s Guarantee I’ve stressed the importance of young people being connected to all available opportunities.
“It is great to see how many employers of all shapes and sizes have demonstrated their support and belief in young people by committing to the Guarantee.
“As representatives of Scotland’s industry and employers it remains crucial we work together to communicate to young people that although their futures may still seem uncertain, opportunities are out there and continue to grow.”
The Scottish Government committed up to £45 million in the budget to support young people in Scotland towards employment, training and apprenticeships through the Young Person’s Guarantee, other education, training, skills investment and through the jobs grant.
Young people and employers can find opportunities and support at:
Official statistics for 2021 show decrease of just 1%
While welcoming an end to seven annual increases in drugs deaths, Drugs Policy Minister Angela Constance made clear the situation remains “unacceptable”, and work will continue at pace to address the emergency.
The latest National Records of Scotland statistics show 1,330 people lost their lives in 2021 – a decrease of 1% and Ms Constance says it is clear there remains much work to do to save lives.
A national mission was announced in January 2021 to tackle rising death deaths in Scotland with additional funding of £250 million over the course of this Parliament.
The first year of the national mission has seen the introduction of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards, the expansion of residential rehabilitation provision, the setting of a new treatment target, increased funding to community and grass-roots organisations and the laying of ground work for innovation such as Safer Drug Consumption Facilities.
1,330 people lost their lives to drug misuse in Scotland in 2021, according to latest figures published by National Records of Scotland.
The number is 1% lower than 2020 which makes it the first year since 2013 in which drug misuse deaths have not increased. However, it is still the second highest annual total on record.
Of those who died from the misuse of drugs, 65% were aged between 35 and 54 years old and more than two thirds (70%) were men.
Dundee City had the highest age-standardised drug misuse death rate of all local authority areas (45.2 per 100,000 population for the 5-year period 2017-2021), followed by Glasgow City (44.4) and Inverclyde (35.7).
Julie Ramsay, Vital Events Statistician at NRS, said: “Drug misuse deaths have increased substantially over the past few decades – there were more than five times as many deaths in 2021 compared with 1996. 2021 is the first year since 2013 that drug misuse deaths have not increased.
“In 2021, after adjusting for age, people in the most deprived areas were more than 15 times as likely to have a drug misuse death as those in the least deprived areas. This ratio has widened over the past two decades.”
In 93% of all drug misuse deaths, more than one drug was found to be present in the body, and the type of drugs that are implicated in deaths has been changing. In 2015 there were 191 deaths involving benzodiazepines, last year there were 918, near five times as many.
This increase has mostly been driven by street benzodiazepines rather than those which are prescribed. Of all drug misuse deaths in 2021, 84% involved opiates or opioids (such as heroin, morphine and methadone). 69% involved benzodiazepines (such as diazepam and etizolam).
In 2020 (the most recent year available for the rest of the UK) Scotland’s drug misuse rate was 3.7 times that for the UK as a whole, and higher than that of any European country.
Ms Constance said: “Scotland suffers a terrible toll from drug deaths, leaving families grieving and in pain and my heart goes out to all those affected by the death of a loved one through drugs.
“These latest statistics provide yet more heart-breaking reading, and the situation remains unacceptable. While there is so much more work to do, every life saved means one less family grieving and I am determined we can use this halt in the upward trend of recent years as a platform for real change.
“My focus now is on taking action and delivering new investment to improve services and get more people into the treatment which works for them. Residential rehabilitation is one of a range of treatment options available and today I am visiting River Garden Auchincruive to speak to residents and staff about the services provided. Later I will be meeting some families affected by a loved one’s drug use and asking what more we can do to help.
“I am concerned about the rise in deaths among women and will look to expand on current steps we are taking including the provision of two Mother and Child Residential Recovery Houses which will enable women to receive support while staying with their children.
“Despite regional differences, we are focused on a national mission and I’ll continue to use all the powers at my disposal, including holding local leaders to account in implementing the MAT standards, to drive improvements across Scotland.
“We are already implementing many of the recommendations from The Drug Deaths Taskforce, which issued its final recommendations last week, and I will report back on further actions to Parliament.
“In the first year of the National Mission we built the foundations for change. Now, with the backing of £250 million over the course of this Parliament, we will deliver on those foundations and our new Oversight Group will provide scrutiny, challenge and expert advice on the National Mission as we continue our efforts to improve and save lives.”
River Garden Operations Manager Mikael Heddelin said: “We offer a very different approach to recovery which allows residents to leave behind their addictions.
“Importantly that comes from communal support of peers and meaningful and qualitative work via our on-site social enterprises. We provide training, help develop competence in a range of areas and facilitate reintegration back into society.
“Peer support and lived experience are key elements in the recovery journey at River Garden. Our ethos and culture allows our residents to recover without stigma and the local community play a huge part in what we do.”
River Garden resident Paul said: “I grew up in care and began using drugs at the age of 12. Throughout my life I tried various rehabs, none of them worked.
“At the age of 47 I joined River Garden. I have been here almost two years and I have purpose and self-worth. I’m happy and healthy and I feel good about myself.
“River Garden has been totally transformational for me. I really enjoy the work and the camaraderie. I have made many friends amongst the volunteers, the visitors and the contactors who work at River Garden.”
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs commented: ““My deepest condolences are with the family and friends of those who have died due to drugs.
“In Lothian the number of people who died due to drug misuse last year has doubled from ten years ago.
“SNP Ministers approach to tackling drug deaths is an unequivocal failure with drug deaths continuing to rise in Lothian for the last six years.
“If Angela Constance, the Minister for Drugs Policy, can’t reduce drug deaths in her own region of Lothian, then this does not bode well for the rest of Scotland.
“SNP and Green Ministers must get on board with the Scottish Conservatives Right to Rehab Bill, to ensure that everyone who needs rehabilitation for drugs has access to it.
“These latest shocking numbers clearly suggest that there is a particular problem in turning around the situation in Lothian. If that is the case, then SNP Ministers must consider direct control over drug services to drive urgent reforms.”
The UK government sets out further details of the Energy Bills Support Scheme
Households to start receiving £400 off their energy bills from October, with the discount made in 6 instalments to help families throughout the winter period
government confirms today important details of the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which will provide energy bill discounts to 29 million households across Great Britain
today’s announcement comes as the government launches a new online one stop shop setting out ways homeowners can help to heat their properties as part of wider Help for Households campaign
Millions of households across Great Britain will receive non-repayable discounts on their energy bills this winter, as the UK government today (29 July 2022) sets out further details of the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
The £400 discount, administered by energy suppliers, will be paid to consumers over 6 months with payments starting from October 2022, to ensure households receive financial support throughout the winter months.
Those with a domestic electricity meter point paying for their energy via standard credit, payment card and direct debit will receive an automatic deduction to their bills over the 6 month period – totalling £400.
Traditional prepayment meter customers will be provided with Energy Bill discount vouchers in the first week of each month, issued via SMS text, email or post, using the customer’s registered contact details. These customers will need to take action to redeem these at their usual top-up point, such as their nearest local PayPoint or Post Office branch.
In all cases, no household should be asked for bank details at any point. Ministers are urging consumers to stay alert of potential scams and report these to the relevant authorities where they are suspected.
Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: People across the country are understandably worried about the global rise in energy costs, and the pressure this is placing on everyday bills.
“While no government can control global gas prices, we have a responsibility to step in where we can and this significant £400 discount on energy bills we’re providing will go some way to help millions of families over the colder months.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “We know that people are struggling with rising energy prices which is why we have taken action with support over the winter months to help ease the pressure on household budgets.
“This £400 off energy bills is part of our £37 billion of help for households, including 8 million of the most vulnerable households receiving £1,200 of direct support to help with the cost of living.
“We know there are tough times ahead and we will continue to do everything in our power to help people.”
Households will see a discount of £66 applied to their energy bills in October and November, rising to £67 each month from December through to March 2023. The non-repayable discount will be provided on a monthly basis regardless of whether consumers pay monthly, quarterly or have an associated payment card.
This means that where a person’s housing circumstances change during the 6-month period, such as those leaving or moving home, they will still benefit from the relevant portion of the total £400.
This also applies to students and other tenants renting properties with domestic electricity contracts from landlords where fixed energy costs are included in their rental charges. In these circumstances, landlords who resell energy to their tenants should pass the discounted payments on appropriately, in line with Ofgem rules to protect tenants.
As part of this package, we are confirming today that further funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the 1% of households who will not be reached through the EBSS. This includes those who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an energy supplier, such as park home residents. An announcement with details on how and when these households across Great Britain can access this support will be made this Autumn.
Details set out today will ensure the scheme is delivered to as many domestic electricity customers as possible over the winter, regardless of which supplier they use or their choice of payment method.
Direct Debit customers will receive the Energy Bill discount automatically as a deduction to the monthly Direct Debit amount collected, or as a refund to the customer’s bank account following Direct Debit collection during each month of delivery
standard credit customers and payment card customers will see the Energy Bill discount automatically applied as a credit to standard credit customers’ accounts in the first week of each month of EBSS delivery, with the credit appearing as it would if the customer had made a payment
smart prepayment meter customers will see the Energy Bill discount credited directly to their smart prepayment meters in the first week of each month of delivery
traditional prepayment meter customers will be provided with redeemable EBSS Energy Bill discount vouchers or Special Action Messages (SAMs) in the first week of each month, issued via SMS text, email or post. Customers will need to redeem these at their usual top-up point
Steps are also being taken to protect consumers from the risk of fraud, gaming, and non-compliance. Suppliers will be expected to report to government action they are taking to ensure the support has been passed onto consumers, including notifying customers in writing they have received the £400 Energy Bill discount from HM Government, and ensuring it is clearly shown on bills or statements for Direct Debit and credit customers.
Greg Hands Energy Minister said: “Today we have set out how the government will deliver discounts to help 29 million households with their energy bills this winter.
“I encourage families across the country to engage with these plans and particularly those customers on traditional prepayment meters who need to take action.
“Coupled with world-leading action to radically enhance our home-grown energy security, we will continue to be on the side of British consumers now and into the future.”
The Energy Bills Support Scheme forms part of the government’s £37 million Cost of Living Support package, providing Help for Households with rising prices, targeted at those most in need.
Households most in need will be eligible for further support in addition to the Energy Bill discount. This includes:
a £650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for around 8 million households on means tested benefits
a £300 one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment for over 8 million pensioner households to be paid alongside the Winter Fuel Payment
a £150 one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment for around six million people across the UK who receive certain disability benefits
a £500 million increase and extension of the Household Support Fund available to councils to support vulnerable households with the cost of essentials such as food, utilities and clothing
Today’s announcement comes as the government launches an online service to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by providing a one stop shop of ways to make properties more energy efficient.
The new GOV.UK website, originally available through the Simple Energy Advice (SEA) service, offers a breakdown of support available through various schemes and how much financial support they can receive towards energy improvements.
This is part of the government’s ‘Help to Heat’ support, investing £12 billion to make homes, particularly for low-income households, warmer and cheaper to heat, already delivering average energy bill savings of around £300 a year.
Lord Callanan, Energy and Business Minister, said: “This is a challenging time for many amidst the rising cost of living, which is why the government is stepping in with direct support.
“From delivering discounted energy bills throughout the winter months to launching a new website providing homeowners with help to make homes cheaper and warmer, we want to make sure UK residents have the information they need to access all the support that is on offer.”
