Amazon has launched its latest analysis of the company’s regional investment across the UK. The 2022 Amazon UK Economic Impact Hub shows that the company has invested more than £1.9 billion in Eastern Scotland since 2010.
The Amazon UK Economic Impact Hub provides regional data on jobs created by Amazon locally, the number of regional independent small businesses supported by the company, the level of economic activity driven by Amazon’s investments and the export sales recorded last year by small businesses in Eastern Scotland selling on Amazon.
If you click on the Eastern Scotland section of this interactive map, you will see a breakdown of Amazon’s investments and export sales figures for SMEs in Devon.
Below are the key stats covering your region and a quote from the general manager at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.
Since 2010, Amazon has invested over £1.9 billion in Eastern Scotland.
This investment led to the production of goods and services that contributed an estimated £2 billion to the region’s GDP since 2010.
To date, Amazon has created around 2,500 full and part-time jobs in Scotland.
More than 50 apprentices in Scotland have qualified from the Amazon Apprenticeship programme since 2010.
In Eastern Scotland, there are more than 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses selling on Amazon as independent selling partners.
Small businesses from the region selling on Amazon recorded over £30 million of export sales in 2021.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at the Amazon Fulfilment Centre in Dunfermline, said: “Amazon is a proud member of the community in Eastern Scotland, investing over £1.9 billion in the region since 2010 to support local businesses, create jobs and make a positive contribution to the regional economy,
“We help more than 1,000 small businesses across West Central Scotland sell on Amazon and reach customers around the world, and we also continue to support community organisations across the region through donations and volunteering. Recently, we have donated to a range of good causes including Children’s Hospice Across Scotland (CHAS).”
More details about Amazon’s economic impact in the UK can be found here:
Work continues to bring the Heart up to the state where it can open fully to the public, but in the meantime, those of you who missed our Enliven event recently, need not worry. We’re holding another taster event on Saturday 26th November, from 2 to 4pm.
This is a Coorie-In as winter approaches, where you’ll be able to take part in all sorts of craft activities and visit different parts of the site – the Anchor Building, The Creel Building and the Victoria Building. Different activities will be taking place in each.
Some of our recently trained volunteers will be ready to welcome you to a reminiscence session in the Atrium; The History of Education Centre will invite you to visit the transformed classroom on the first floor which will be the new home of the Victorian Schoolroom; The Men of Leith’s Shed will welcome you to their workshop in the Creel Building and tell you about their new Repair Shop, while the Anchor Building and the old gym hall will host numerous physical activities and craft sessions.
Do come along and see what’s on offer. There will even be food tastings!
Don’t miss it.
Can you help?
If you’ve visited the blog page on the website, you will have seen that there are various questions being posed of you. If you haven’t visited, check it out.
We’re searching for the families of two men who taught at VPS during the First World War. Please do have a look and see if you can help.
The latest blog also features an intriguing find in the Victoria Building. Do you recognise it? It is burned into the floor on the first floor.
Those of you who have volunteered to help out at the Heart are being invited to a chat with our Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan, a tour of the site with our Manager, Roger, and maybe even a sandwich or a coffee and cake, on Saturday 19th November, from 11 till 2.
Please register to volunteer via the volunteering page on the website and let us now what activities you would be interested in helping with.
We would like to know by Tuesday 22nd if you will attend the event so that we can get the catering right.
Finally, we are pleased to welcome the Edinburgh-based youth theatre group Lyra to present our very first public performance in the Heart.
This will be Snowstorm, a charming winter’s tale for children aged 5-8. It will take place on Monday 21st November at 6pm.
Tickets are free but are strictly limited and must be booked in advance.
Email admin@heartofnewhavencommunity.co.uk with Snowstorm in the title, to enquire about availability, and pass the word along to those who might not otherwise have heard about it.
+ UN warns world on track for catastrophic 2.8C of heating + Call for Scotland to finally join global Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance + UK Gov’t urged to ‘Free Alaa’ from Egyptian prison + Scottish Climate March planned for Edinburgh
Ahead of the UN climate talks in Egypt, campaigners have issued a warning to the UK and Scottish Governments that they must ‘set an end date’ for oil and gas if the world is to stay within agreed climate limits.
The UN recently warned that the world was on course for a catastrophic 2.8C of climate warming by the end of this century, saying that emissions must fall significantly by 2030 if we are to stay within agreed climate limits. However the UK Government is opening new oil and gas fields, encouraging companies to explore for more fossil fuels and briefly tried to bring back fracking.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who will join the talks in Egypt, said at COP26 that Scotland would work towards becoming part of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance – a group of nations who have committed to a managed phase out of oil and gas in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
One year on this commitment has not been made. The forthcoming Scottish Energy Strategy must establish a phase out of oil and gas for any chance of meeting our climate targets.
Demonstrations are all but banned in Egypt, which has a dire track record on human rights. Consequently there will not be any mass protests during the talks but instead Egyptian activists along with allies across African countries and the Arab world, have called for a global mobilisation to draw attention to demands for climate justice and human rights.
Edinburgh will host a Climate Justice March on Saturday 12 November as part of this Global Day of Action during COP27.
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s head of campaigns Mary Church said: “In the 12 months since COP26 ended we’ve seen yet again the devastating impacts of global heating at only 1.1C of warming – 30 million people flooded in Pakistan, famine across east Africa, wildfire and drought in the UK during the summer heatwave, and thousands of premature deaths from that same heatwave.
“Politicians did a lot of backslapping at COP26 with the UK presidency claiming to have kept the goal of 1.5C alive but these are empty words without the action to deliver on them. Over the last year the UK Government has actively made the climate crisis worse as it opened up new oil fields, tried to bring back fracking and is still considering opening a new coal mine.
“The UK and the Scottish Governments need to set an end date for fossil fuels well within the decade and redouble efforts for a fair transition away to a renewable powered economy, with affordable heat and transport for all.
“For COP27 to have any chance of success the talks need to see rich historical polluters like the UK come to the table willing to deliver their fair share of climate action, which means deep and rapid cuts to climate emissions in line with our responsibility for causing the crisis. A fair outcome would also include paying our climate debt to those nations who have done the least to cause the crisis and yet find themselves on the sharpest ends of its extreme impacts.
“Yet none of the big historical polluters including the UK is committing to anything near what is needed or owed. Instead, governments and corporations are greenwashing business as usual and relying on fantasy techno-fixes like carbon capture and storage and hydrogen to save the day.”
Commenting on the human rights situation in Egypt, and the ongoing hunger strike of British-Egyptian blogger and activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, one of Egypt’s highest profile prisoners of conscience who has been in prison for most of the last 8 years, Church continued: “The human rights situation in Egypt is atrocious, and we stand in solidarity with Egyptians and call for the release of all political prisoners and the opening up of civic space.
“There can be no climate justice without human rights and without public participation in shaping the transition to a world freed from fossil fuels.
“The UK Government must not return from Egypt without British citizen and human rights defender Abdel Abd El Fattah who is currently on hunger strike in an Egyptian jail for the so-called crime of sharing a Facebook post.”
FoES Head of Campaigns Mary Church will be attending the second week of COP27.
The First Minister will today call on world leaders to deliver on the commitments they made in the Glasgow Climate Pact, as she attends the first full day of the COP27 climate conference in Egypt.
The First Minister will take part in an all-female panel discussion on financing decarbonisation with government leaders, including the Prime Minister of Barbados.
The First Minister will also meet representatives of countries from the Global South to hear their experiences of the climate crisis and what they want to see delivered at the climate talks.
Ahead of the formal opening of COP27 the First Minister met on Sunday with the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Simon Stiell, Director General of the International Organization for Migration Antonio Vitorino and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados.
The First Minister said: “COP26 in Glasgow delivered real progress on tackling the climate crisis, with strengthened commitments to curb emissions, build resilience to climate change, and provide the finance needed to reach net zero. World leaders must use the next two weeks to take meaningful steps to deliver on the promises made in the Glasgow Climate Pact.
“We are gathering against a tense backdrop and the geopolitical landscape has changed significantly in the last year, not least as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. However the climate crisis has not gone away and the answer to many of the global crises we face, such as energy security and food shortages, lies in going faster.
“For many countries, particularly in the global south, this must be the COP where the global north not only delivers on our promises to finance adaptation and mitigation, but recognises the need to address the loss and damage experienced by countries already impacted by climate change.
“Last year, Scotland became the first developed nation to pledge finance to address loss and damage and others have now followed suit, including Wallonia and Denmark. This shows just how important the action of smaller governments can be, and I know many countries and campaigners hope to see other countries, particularly in the north, step up and make COP in Egypt the loss and damage COP.”
· Overall, nearly a third of adults in Scotland have less than £100 put away.
· Almost half of people who use credit are anxious about how much they owe.
· Over a third are anxious about the number of credit products they have.
· Free help is available, but six in seven people still struggle to talk about money.
Almost a million people across Scotland have no savings and another 450,000 have less than £100, according to new research from the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).
The survey of 301 adults, carried out for Talk Money Week (November 7-11), shows that one in five (20%) have nothing put away and another one in ten (10%) have £100 or less.
This leaves almost a third of adults living without a financial safety net to cope with the rising cost of living or unexpected bills, meaning some may have to use credit.
MaPS says although credit is an important tool when used and managed well, it’s crucial that people understand what they can afford and have a plan to pay it off.
However, the figures also reveal that many people are already finding this difficult. Among the 82% of Scotland residents who use credit, two in five (43%) are now anxious about how much they owe. Two in five (40%) are worried about the number of different products they have.
As cost of living pressures start to hit home, MaPS says it’s more important than ever to talk about money before problems set in. However, the survey also reveals that 85% of people still avoid discussing their finances.
Asked why, the most common responses were ‘not wanting to be judged’ (24%), ‘shame or embarrassment’ (20%) and ‘fear of burdening others’ (17%).
During Talk Money Week, MaPS is encouraging everyone to open up about money, plan for their financial future and take free debt advice as soon as they need it.
The organisation says its MoneyHelper service can be people’s first port of call, offering free guidance on topics like everyday money, savings and where to find free debt advice.
It also provides a range of information on dealing with money issues, including step-by-step guides on how to talk to your creditors or discuss money with family and friends.
Allison Barnes, Scotland Manager at the Money and Pensions Service, said: “Over a million people across Scotland find it a challenge to save and this leaves them vulnerable when sudden expenditure items arise. When you add in the anxiety that they feel with their credit commitments, the weight of that worry can quickly become overwhelming.
“This Talk Money Week, we want everyone to start the conversation with family or friends and share the burden of any money worries. By dealing with the problem head on, people can discover just how helpful free debt advice can be and see the importance of talking to their creditors early. They can also begin to find a way forward, no matter how difficult their situation might feel.
“Free help and guidance on how to do all of this is available via our MoneyHelper service and I’d urge everyone who needs it to get in touch today.”
The week is an opportunity for everyone to get involved with events and activities across the UK which help people have more open conversations about their money – from pocket money to pensions – and continue these conversations year-round.
This year’s Talk Money Week will focus on the theme of ‘credit’ – to help demystify some of the jargon, build people’s understanding of credit products, and what their options are, including other forms of support that might be suitable. However, we encourage people to use the week as an opportunity to talk about any aspect of money.
Hawksmoor Edinburgh is launching the latest edition of their multi-award-winning cocktail list, which has been in the making for three years. The menu has been designed to celebrate the second golden age of cocktails, 1995-2005, a period credited with the revival of cocktail culture around the world.
From modern takes on classic steakhouse cocktails, to sub-zero martinis, all the way through to digestifs and dessert-inspired night caps, this menu combines the comfort of recognisable drinks mixed with the tongue in cheek irreverence, artistry and skill that Hawksmoor is known for.
Head of Bars, Liam Davy, has overseen a list which, as ever, is replete with deceptively simple drinks that belie the hours of research and technique that have gone into them.
Credited with creating the ‘Coldest Martini in the World’ (Punch), Hawksmoor’s Martini section is dedicated to honouring the king of the cocktail, each one chilled to a bracing -12c.
The Pink Gibson is a tantalising mix of sweet and savoury, with Boatyard Vodka, Audemus Umami Gin, Aperitivo Co. Dry Vermouth and pink pickled onion whilst the The Ultimate Gin Martini, made with Hepple gin, Aperitivo Co. Dry Vermouth and Filicudi lemon oil, is bright and punchy,
Steakhouse Sharpeners is a deep dive into the classic aperitifs of the American steakhouse, with drinks such as the Classic Champagne Cocktail made with champagne, cognac, verjus, pineau de charente, all poured over a sugar cube saturated with bitters. The Ranch Water pays homage to a popular US drink originating from West Texas; mineral and fresh with a gentle agave hum, it’s a carbonated mix of tequila, mezcal, pineapple soda, hopped kombucha, jalapeño salt and agave syrup.
Second Golden Age is a tribute to the era that resurrected cocktail craft, with much loved favourites tweaked after hundreds of tiny iterations across Hawksmoor’s bars. Tommy Verde, which uses tequila, mezcal, cucumber agave, olive brine, green tabasco, and green tomato juice, is complex and vegetal, with a hint of smoke.
The Sacred Six section of the menu, where the MVPs of the Hawksmoor cocktail list sit. These timeless classics include Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew, the Reformed Pornstar, and the rich and buttery Fuller Fat Old Fashioned.
Nightcaps are the ultimate after-dinner drinks, a silly and serious mix of sweet pudding-style cocktails and sultry dark and bitter digestifs. For a sweeter treat, The Spiced Plum Sazerac is neat and subtle with a bright bitterness, with plum distillate, Calvados, plum syrup with star anise and Absinthe.
For those looking for drinks with all the flair and flavour but none of the alcohol, the Temperates section of the menu has a delicious range of 0% ABV drinks, from non-alcoholic cocktails to a selection of brewed and fermented delights. The menu includes L.A Brewery Kombucha and Saicho Sparkling Teas, and to harness the luxury of sparkling wines and champagnes, try Blurred Vines 0% Wine – effervescent and sharp with bright floral and fruity notes.
About Hawksmoor Edinburgh
A short walk from Waverley station, Princes Street and just off St. Andrew Square, Hawksmoor Edinburgh is located in the beautiful former National Bank of Scotland Banking Hall, a Grade A listed ‘building of national importance’.
The restaurant has been sensitively refurbished to celebrate the building’s original features, and boasts two private dining rooms, seating up to 12 guests and up to 48 guests, serving our sharing style menus to ensure you get a taste of our wide range of cuts and sides
In Edinburgh, Hawksmoor draws on the amazing produce that Scotland has to offer, featuring seafood from around the Scottish coast and beef from grass-fed native breed cattle from both sides of the border. Hawksmoor serves some of the best steak in Edinburgh, as well as snacks at the bar alongside cocktails created by our award-winning bartenders.
Hawksmoor has always taken its bars and cocktails every bit as seriously as its restaurants and steaks, believing as they do that a night out at Hawksmoor should be fun as well as special. They have developed a reputation over the years for being amongst the best bars in the world (having won multiple awards at the Oscars of the cocktail world, Tales of the Cocktail, including taking home the Best International Restaurant Bar twice), with some of the great British bartenders currently or previously working for the group.
One staple of the Hawksmoor cocktail menu is the signature Bloody Mary, a smoky-yet-spicy amalgamation, blending lemon juice, vodka, Tongue in Peat tomato juice, and expertly paired with our bespoke Bloody Mary Paste.
Paired alongside The Hawksmoor Sunday Roast, this is more than a hangover cure or Sunday staple but a delightful end of week treat. And the Roast is famous for good reason: two-time winner of ‘Best Sunday Roast in the UK’, this iconic dish proves why a classic done right will never go out of style.
On Mondays, corkage is £5 all day and on Sundays, there are roasts that Observer Food Monthly named amongst the best in the UK. Our Express menu is available lunch and early evenings every Monday – Saturday.
These Scottish universities give you the best chance of working for a Big Four Accounting Firm
Heriot-Watt University ranks as the best Scottish university for landing a job at a Big Four Accountancy Firm, with 991 graduates working for PwC, Deloitte, EY or KPMG.
University of St. Andrews and The University of Edinburgh rank second and third respectively in Scotland.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) ranks as the best university in the UK for landing a Big Four job.
Heriot-Watt University ranks as the best Scottish university for landing a role at a Big Four Accounting Firm (PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG) according to a new analysis of LinkedIn data.
As undergraduates return for their final year of university this Autumn, many will have their mind set on a career with some of the UK’s largest and most reputable graduate employers.
However, as places for these graduate roles become more competitive, many will be wondering how their university stacks up in terms of career prospects.
Online trading platform and broker CMC Markets, analysed LinkedIn data for the Big Four Accounting Firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY) and KPMG, to see where their current employees most commonly attended university.
The analysis looked at the UK’s top 60 universities, including all 24 that are members of the Russell Group, to see which universities have the most graduates working for a Big Four Accounting Firm. The figures were also calculated as a proportion of each university’s enrolment size, based on student enrolment for the 2020/21 academic year according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Scotland Universities ranked for Big Four Accounting Jobs
1. Heriot-Watt University – 991 graduates (8.8% of enrolment size)
Heriot-Watt University ranks as the best Scottish university to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four, with a total of 991 university graduates currently employed across these firms. When accounting for the number of students enrolled in a typical academic year at Heriot-Watt, this works out at 8.8% of the total enrolment size placing it top of any Scottish university in the list and 10th overall in the UK.
2. University of St. Andrews – 927 graduates (8.1% of enrolment size)
University of St. Andrews ranks the second-best Scottish university to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four. The university has a total of 927 graduates currently employed across these firms, which works out at 8.1% of the total enrolment size. St. Andrews ranks 12th overall in the UK in terms of graduates in Big Four Accounting roles.
3. The University of Edinburgh – 1,983 graduates (5.2% of enrolment size)
The University of Edinburgh ranks as Scotland’s third best university to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four. The university has a larger total of 1,983 graduates currently employed across these firms, which works out at 5.2% of the total enrolment size. Edinburgh ranks 33rd overall in the UK in terms of graduates in Big Four Accounting roles.
4. University of Strathclyde – 1,202 graduates (4.9% of enrolment size)
University of Strathclyde ranks as Scotland’s fourth best university to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four. The university has a total of 1,202 graduates currently employed across these firms, working out at 4.9% of the total enrolment size. Strathclyde ranks three spots behind at 36th overall in the UK.
5. University of Aberdeen – 580 graduates (3.6% of enrolment size)
University of Aberdeen ranks as Scotland’s fifth best university to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four. The university has a total of 580 graduates currently employed across these firms, working out at 3.6% of the total enrolment size. Aberdeen ranks 40th overall in the UK.
6. University of Glasgow – 1,339 graduates (3.6% of enrolment size)
University of Glasgow ranks as Scotland’s sixth best university to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four. The university has a total of 1,339 graduates currently employed across these firms, also working out at 3.6% of the total enrolment size. Glasgow ranks 41st overall in the UK.
7. University of Stirling – 293 graduates (2.0% of enrolment size)
University of Stirling ranks as Scotland’s seventh best university to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four. The university has a total of 293 graduates currently employed across these firms, working out at 2.0% of the total enrolment size. Stirling ranks 51st overall in the UK.
8. University of Dundee – 279 graduates (1.7% of enrolment size)
University of Dundee ranks as Scotland’s eight best university to attend if you want to pursue a career at the Big Four. The university has a total of 279 graduates currently employed across these firms, working out at 1.7% of the total enrolment size. Dundee ranks 53rd overall in the UK, nearing the bottom of the list.
Top UK Universities for Big Four Accounting Jobs
1. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – 5,776 graduates (42.9% of enrolment size)
2. University of Cambridge – 3,401 graduates (15.4% of enrolment size)
3. Oxford Brookes University – 2,355 graduates (13.2% of enrolment size)
4. Durham University – 2,702 graduates (13.1% of enrolment size)
5. University of Lancaster – 1,732 graduates (9.9% of enrolment size)
University ranking by percentage of alumni who list themselves on LinkedIn as working for a Big Four firm
Rank
UK University
PwC Employees
Deloitte Employees
EY Employees
KPMG Employees
Total
Total student enrolment (for the 20/21 academic year)
Number of alumni working at The Big Four as a percentage of current enrolment size
1.
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
-Morrisons festive TV ad puts food, farmers and its own foodmakers at the heart of Christmas-
-Stars real Morrisons colleagues alongside Farmer Christmas who swaps sleigh for tractor-
-Launches ‘Officially Approved By Farmer Christmas’ stamp-
-Debuts on Good Morning Britain on 7th November-
Morrisons is bringing back Farmer Christmas for the second year running as part of its latest Christmas campaign.
The character was so well received by customers last year*, that Morrisons is building on that success. Farmer Christmas has been integrated throughout the whole of this year’s campaign to highlight the great quality and value of Morrisons festive range, with his ‘seal of approval’ the common thread throughout.
The 60 second TV ad, created with Publicis•Poke showcases the other hero of Christmas as Morrisons once again illustrates the work British farmers do to help make Christmas so special.
The spotlight is also on Morrisons own colleagues – many of whom feature in the ad – who are the “real life elves” who help make more than half the fresh food that Morrisons sells.
The ad follows Farmer Christmas, who we hear speak for the first time in his rich Welsh brogue, as he travels across his fields on a tractor to his festive workshop.
There we see Morrisons ‘elves’ hard at work preparing festive dishes made by Morrisons. Farmer Christmas introduces a Morrisons baker creating puff pastry mince pies in “magic ovens” (or normal ovens, as the baker clarifies), a fishmonger showing off smoked Scottish salmon, and a butcher who passes Farmer Christmas a traditionally glazed gammon joint, which he describes as being “like a big edible Christmas present”.
Viewers then follow Farmer Christmas as he travels on his tractor to deliver a festive feast to a family, before cheekily inviting himself to sit down and join them.
The ad finishes with Farmer Christmas proudly explaining that Morrisons is the “only supermarket to be officially approved by me” because of its commitment to British farming, its food makers and its great value Christmas products. The ‘Officially Approved By Farmer Christmas’ stamp will be seen throughout the festive campaign in store and across paid media.
While the ad kicks off the festive season in Morrisons, some Christmas products have been on the shelves since mid-September to help customers spread the cost of this year’s festivities.
Other recent activities that have been introduced to help customers with the cost of living include cutting and then freezing the prices of 150 of the most popular products, the introduction of exclusive offers to My Morrisons members and the continuation of the Kids Eat Free All Day initiative in Morrisons cafés.
In the coming days, Morrisons Christmas Collector scheme will go live for eligible My Morrisons members enabling them to receive a significant money-off voucher to spend at Christmas if they meet the criteria and shop in the relevant weeks.
Rachel Eyre, Morrisons Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, said: “We know that customers are having to manage their budgets closely at the moment but they have told us they don’t want to compromise on the Christmas meal.
“We’ve brought Farmer Christmas back this year to show them the food and great prices that, thanks to Morrisons foodmakers and farmers, will be available throughout the festive period, all stamped with his seal of approval.”
Dave Monk, Publicis•Poke Executive Creative Director, said: “Farmer Christmas is back. This year with a twinkle in his eye and a tractor to match.
“As the authority on Christmas food, with a mouth full of his own wisdom and a sack full of Morrisons mince pies, he’s here to remind us all that the most precious moments at Christmas are the ones we spend around the table with our family, and that the presents on our tables make Christmas just as special as the presents under the tree.”
The ad was directed by Frank Todaro of Moxie Pictures and will launch on TV during Good Morning Britain on Monday 7th November, followed by network TV spots that include Coronation Street, Bake Off, I’m a Celebrity and Goggle Box. It will also be shown in cinemas throughout the festive period.
The wider campaign will run across radio, press, digital display, social media and out of home bringing Farmer Christmas to streets, as well as screens, across the UK.
This ad is the first in a series of ten Christmas TV ads showcasing Morrisons fresh food and festive deals to tie in with the World Cup as well as the Christmas period.
A Holyrood committee has warned of difficult tax and spending decisions in the budget if the Scottish Government is to balance the books and address both the cost of living crisis and the lasting impact of Covid.
In a report published today, the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s says an ‘open and honest debate’ with the public needs to be fostered on how to balance spending priorities and taxation.
In its report, the Committee notes that public sector pay rises will be funded, at least in part, through a headcount reduction in the public sector, but calls on the Scottish Government to ensure this is done in a co-ordinated way that minimises the impact on public services.
The report adds it is also now time for the UK Government to concentrate on putting in place measures to bring more stability to the UK economy and recognise the impact of inflation on the Scottish block grant.
Finance and Public Administration Committee Convener Kenneth Gibson said: “Our Committee accepts that the Scottish Government faces difficult choices in balancing its approaches to spending and taxation – especially if it’s to maintain financial sustainability and support households and businesses through the cost of living crisis.
“An open and honest debate with the public about how services and priorities are funded is now needed, including on the role of taxation in funding wider policy benefits for society.”
On the challenges facing the public sector, Mr Gibson said: “We acknowledge the challenge the Scottish Government faces in identifying additional money to fund public sector pay rises which respond to inflation.
“The UK Government should also recognise the impact of inflation on the Scottish block grant.
“We ask for assurances from the Scottish Government that it will approach reducing the public sector headcount in a systematic, transparent, and co-ordinated way. This should be done in tandem with the public service reform agenda, with a view to minimising any impact on the delivery of public services.
“As we say in our report, it is now time for the UK Government to concentrate on putting in place measures to bring more stability to the UK economy.”
Last week, cardiac arrest survivor John McCann, 62, whose life was saved by a first aid trained First Bus driver, shared his experiences with party leaders, ministers and MSPs at a parliamentary reception on behalf of St Andrew’s First Aid, Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity.
John, who lives in the West End of Glasgow, spoke of the great importance of first aid and emphasised the vital need to ensure more people are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to intervene in any emergency. He underlined how his life – and ability to tell his story at the event – was entirely down to the actions of one man.
The reception was attended by Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar, Minister for Public Health, Woman’s Health and Sport, Maree Todd and Collette Stevenson as sponsoring MSP, amongst others.
The event was held to mark the 140th anniversary of the charity and provided an opportunity for political and wider stakeholders to find out more about St Andrew’s First Aid’s mission to transform Scotland into a nation of live savers by providing vital first aid training to everyone.
The reception also included a speech from Molly Jansen, 17, a St Andrew’s First Aid volunteer. Molly spoke about the valuable experiences of being a volunteer and the importance of St. Andrew’s First Aid’s school projects such as the Ready for Life programme which teaches a certificated emergency and mental health first aid course to secondary school pupils.
Stuart Callison, Chief executive at St Andrew’s First Aid said: “We’re delighted that the vital work being completed at St. Andrew’s First Aid is being recognised and celebrated.
“We are very grateful to everyone who attended our event and helped us to celebrate these 140 years of providing essential first aid training and support to Scotland.
“As Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, we have a responsibility to train as many people in lifesaving skills and raise awareness of the important campaigns and initiatives we have in place to achieve this.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about the campaign, or first aid training should get in touch by emailing community@standrewsfirstaid.org.uk
UK government launches COP26 Presidency outcomes document, celebrating the successes of the Glasgow summit and the UK’s COP Presidency year
The report details the progress made to tackle emissions, mobilise finance and help those impacted by climate change and calls for further action ahead of COP27 in Egypt next week
The launch took place at Lancaster House with COP26 President Alok Sharma and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
COP26 President Alok Sharma has launched the UK’s COP26 Presidency Outcomes Document. He joined the Prime Minister to host around 80 global business CEOs at an event at Lancaster House on Friday.
The new report, which comes as the UK prepares to hand over to Egypt next week, highlights progress made over the three years since the UK took on the Presidency of the COP. It also acknowledges that more needs to be done at COP27 and beyond to implement the commitments made at COP26.
Under the UK’s stewardship and during a global pandemic, COP26 brought together nearly 200 countries to forge the historic Glasgow Climate Pact. The Glasgow Climate Pact remains the blueprint for accelerating climate action this critical decade to keep 1.5°C in reach.
The report details key achievements across the UK Presidency’s four overarching goals of mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and finance and collaboration.
Highlights include:
Keeping 1.5 degrees alive: Over 90% of the world’s GDP, up from 30% when the UK took on the COP Presidency, is now covered by net zero commitments. More than 153 countries have now put forward new 2030 climate plans, known as nationally determined contributions.
Increasing funding and launching UN work for dealing with climate impacts: record levels of finance to help countries adapt to the effects of climate change have been pledged to the Adaptation Fund and the Least Developed Country Fund under the UK Presidency. In addition at COP26, countries agreed to double 2019 levels of adaptation finance by 2025, the first quantified adaptation finance target.
Accelerating unprecedented low-carbon transitions of industries such as transport and energy, with commitments covering power, coal, methane, fossil fuel financing, forests and land, transport and sectors, including the first ever agreement to coal phase down in a UN climate decision.
Finalising the Paris Rulebook after 6 years of negotiations, which sets out the instructions and products needed to fully implement the Paris Agreement on climate change. These guidelines build confidence and transparency as countries deliver on their commitments to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
This progress has been achieved against the backdrop of an incredibly challenging geopolitical context, driven by Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine which has demonstrated the integral link between climate change, energy security and the vulnerability caused by our dependence on fossil fuels.
The UK’s Presidency has continued to drive action throughout this, working with countries, civil society organisations, and local communities to ensure that the commitments made in Glasgow are delivered to keep 1.5 alive.
Alok Sharma, COP26 President, said: “The last three years have been a unique privilege and I have been inspired by the urgency and the ambition I have heard around the world.
“The decade ahead can be one where we pull back from the precipice of climate catastrophe and unlock a just and sustainable path to prosperity for billions of people around the world.
“To do this we must fully deliver on the promises made at COP26 and in the Glasgow Climate Pact.”
Mr Sharma hosted members of the UN-backed international campaign Race to Zero at Lancaster House to consider how global business take forward the legacy of the COP26 UK Presidency and deliver on the Glasgow Climate Pact, in his final engagement as COP President before COP27.
Before the reception at Lancaster House, the COP President joined His Majesty The King and the Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace to mark the end of the UK’s COP26 Presidency and the beginning of Egypt’s Presidency of COP27.
