Toradh Seville Orange Floured Gin hits shelves for just £14.99
Aldi Scotland is adding to its range of own brand premium gin, with the addition of the new Toradh (pronounced Tor-ig) Seville Orange Flavour Gin.
Hitting shelves across all 102 Aldi Scotland stores, it is the latest Scottish gin to be offered by the value supermarket selling for just £14.99 for a 70cl bottle.
The perfect way to be-gin summer, the new addition to the Toradh range is a rich and vibrant gin, bursting with flavour. Boasting notes of light lemongrass and a delicate, floral orange blossom, when topped with ice and a cold splash of Ridge Valley Tonic Water (500ml, £0.99) customers get an incredibly smooth and delightful G&T with a fruity twist.
The Seville Orange Flavoured Gin is the sixth edition in Aldi Scotland’s own brand premium Toradh range, which also includes Plum and Pink Grapefruit Gin; Tropical Gin and the classic Original Gin, meaning Scots shoppers have an incredible selection to choose from.
The range is inspired by Scotland’s natural landscapes and its world-class larder. ‘Toradh’, meaning ‘produce’ in Gaelic, celebrates Scotland’s fertile lands and the abundance of fine ingredients grown here.
Aldi Scotland pride themselves in working with a wide range of Scottish suppliers who are passionate about bringing the best of Scotland’s vibrant food and drink industry to their customers.
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland said:“Our Toradh Gin range is already incredibly popular, and the Seville Orange Flavour Gin will make the perfect addition to the collection.
“It is an incredibly refreshing drink, bursting with flavour and vibrant notes, that is sure to delight our customers.
“Scotland has such a rich abundance of fresh ingredients, which is almost unmatched by any other country in the world. Our Toradh range was created in homage to our land and to the fresh produce grown here, and we are fortunate to work with such a high calibre of suppliers to bring it to shelves.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is highlighting how businesses are playing their part to protect Scotland’s water environment as part of Water Saving Week 2022.
The annual event has been created by Waterwise to raise awareness of the issues around water use and takes place between Monday 23 May and Friday 27 May. Today, the final day of the campaign, focuses on water and the natural environment.
Scotland’s climate is changing, and communities are coming to terms with the impacts of more frequent extreme weather events like water scarcity. Climate change is likely to bring more uncertainty and cause problems in new areas.
Many rivers and watercourses require groundwater to supplement rainfall during the summer months. However, due to a drier than average winter, we are already seeing lower groundwater storage and this could result in water scarcity.
The latest water situation report, published this week, continues to show an east-west split in the risk of water scarcity:
Conditions in the west remain at Normal level and there has been some recovery in the south. However, without above-average rainfall in the next few months, the risk of impacts from water scarcity will increase and therefore most of this area stays at Early Warning.
In the east, despite some rainfall over the last week, this has not been enough for recovery and these areas also remain at Early Warning.
Groundwater levels at monitoring sites in the east and south-west remain low for the time of year, while the north and north-east are within normal range.
SEPA works with businesses all over Scotland to help manage the range of conditions they face and to avoid water scarcity issues where possible. This includes key sectors such as food and drink production, energy, farming and golf.
Royal Troon in Ayrshire, a world-famous golf club which has hosted several Open Championship tournaments, has demonstrated its commitment to protecting water resources and the environment by investing in more efficient equipment.
Club Secretary, Stephen Anthony, said: “A reliable clean water source is essential for care and maintenance of the course. The environment and use of water is one of our primary concerns and over watering can actually have a detrimental impact on the species of grass and the playability of the course.
“Over the past three years, the club has made a major investment in a state-of-the-art replacement irrigation system on all courses, from abstraction from a burn that discharges into the sea after passing through the course, to storage, and to delivery via the sprinkler heads.
“Unlike our previous system that was virtually all on or all off, this one enables us to target water to where it is needed. We could have one single sprinkler working and all others off. This allows us to use water more efficiently.”
Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, Nathan Critchlow-Watton, said: “Our aim is to work with businesses to do the right thing and help protect our water environment.
“Golf is just one industry that is fundamental to that, and it is great to see a club like Royal Troon making such an investment in their irrigation system. This not only ensures the best possible outcome for their own operations but eases pressure on nearby burns and rivers when they are at risk of drought.
“It is vitally important that Scotland is prepared to deal with water scarcity both now and in the future. SEPA is here to help plan and can advise on a series of straight forward steps for businesses to take such as monitoring water usage and equipment and avoiding any unnecessary leakage. We encourage them to work together and stagger their abstractions to minimise any potential impacts.”
Business can find out more information about water scarcity and how to prepare on our website.
The pub is often a destination of choice for putting the world to rights, but could it beused to get people talking about subjects that are still viewed as taboo? Graphic Design student Tegan Bryce’s final year project aims to do just that.
Tegan has designed a bar set-up – including bar top, beer pulls, beer mats and stools – that aims to raise awareness and get men talking about what are traditionally viewed as female-only issues.
Tegan’s bar is heavily led by her use of typography which asks important questions around subjects such as postpartum depression and infertility worries for males.
Studies show that 1 in 10 dads are affected by postpartum depression and anxiety and Tegan was determined to shine a spotlight on this with her exhibition which is now on display as part of Edinburgh Napier’s In Full Bloom Degree Show at its Merchiston campus.
Tegan, 21 years-old from Livingston, works as a stylist and tailor for Levi Strass & Co and has used her embroidery skills throughout the bar set-up.
Asking questions such as “Can men experience hormonal changes due to childbirth?” and “Can men suffer from post-partum depression?”, Tegan has used embroidery to score out key words to highlight the lack of conversation surrounding these issues.
Her bar also incorporates a laser-cut bar top, specifically designed for the degree show, which features more phrases and questions on these topics as well as upcycled bar stools, books, beer mats and vinyl that all come together to raise awareness of these topics and to encourage people to begin to openly talk about them.
For Tegan, her final year project has been an educational journey but one that she feels is incredibly important in helping focus on the lack of conversations around these subjects.
Tegan said: “My work across my fourth year at University has been focused on using design to tackle conversations around taboo subjects, and through reading research and conducting my own, I kept going back to certain subjects such as postpartum depression and infertility.
“We hear lots about how they affect females – and quite rightly so – but we don’t hear as much about how they affect males when they happen. Why is that?
“I think good strides have been taken to increase conversations around subjects such as periods and the menopause but there are still subjects that are viewed as “taboo” and I wanted to shine a spotlight on these.
“The bar set-up was a lot of work. I’ve put my heart and soul into it, utilising my graphic design skills and my embroidery skills to hopefully create something that does get people – specifically males – talking more about sensitive subjects.
“If it helps just one people speak out, ask for help and understand better what a friend or family member has been going through, then it has been totally worth it.”
Tegan’s project, alongside hundreds of others, is currently on display at In Full Bloom, Edinburgh Napier’s Degree Show which runs from 26 May to 2 June at the University’s Merchiston campus.
More information on the degree show can be found here.
Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women in the UK, yet it remains a chronically under-funded area of women’s health
There have been few advances to diagnose and treat this extremely painful condition, for which women can wait 8 years, on average, for a diagnosis
There is no cure for endometriosis, which can significantly affect daily life and fertility
A funding award of up to £250,000 is available for researchers in Scotland – the first country in the UK to introduce a Women’s Health Plan
A new partnership between leading health charity, Wellbeing of Women, and the Scottish Government aims to unlock new advances in endometriosis research to improve outcomes for the 1.5 million women in the UK who suffer from this debilitating condition.
A grant of up to £250,000 is open to applications from researchers based in Scotland. It will enable research to improve prompt diagnosis and ensure the most effective treatments and support for women and girls.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body, usually around the reproductive organs, bowel and bladder.
It is the second most common gynaecological condition and is estimated to cost the UK economy £8.2bn a year in treatment, loss of work and healthcare costs.
Despite this, the condition remains poorly understood and chronically under-funded.
No-one currently knows what causes endometriosis and many women have to wait for around eight years, sometimes longer, before receiving a diagnosis.
Currently there is no cure and relatively few treatment options are available. These include lifestyle changes such as improved diet and physical activity, as well as painkillers and hormonal treatments, including the contraceptive pill and the Mirena coil, and in more severe cases, surgery.
Suzanne McKee, 37, was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2016 after struggling for several years. The mother-of-one, who lives in Livingston, West Lothian, said:“I’ve had endometriosis since the age of 11 and it took more than two thirds of my life, 22 years, to diagnose me. I was always told I was having a bad period and to give it time for it to settle.
“Research is really important to find better ways to diagnose and treat it. The more research there is, the more likely it is that women will be able to avoid early menopause, multiple surgeries or coils, injections and implants and have a better quality of life.”
Endometriosis can be a very difficult condition to live with, both physically and emotionally.
Symptoms can include pain in the lower abdomen or back that usually worsens during a period, heavy bleeding, pain during sex and bowel movements, and in some cases, difficulty becoming pregnant. It can also lead to feelings of depression.
Key priority themes for funding include investigating a possible cure; the development of a non-invasive screening tool to help with diagnosis; and the most effective way of managing fatigue and the emotional and psychological impact of living with the condition.
Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Chair of Wellbeing of Women, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Scottish Government, the first in the UK to introduce a Women’s Health Plan.
“After decades of neglect, it is long overdue to significantly invest in and advance research in endometriosis and enable improvements in the care of millions of women and girls who are affected by this debilitating condition.
“It is shocking that so many women, prior to their diagnosis, are told that their excessive pain from this condition is ‘normal’ or even ‘in their head’. This is completely unacceptable, and we need to recognise and listen to their concerns, and ensure health services and research meet their needs.”
Maree Todd, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport in Scotland, said: “Scotland is the first country in the UK to introduce a Women’s Health Plan, with endometriosis being one of its early priorities.
“There are a number of actions to help improve care and support for those with endometriosis, including a vital action to invest in further research to develop much needed improvements into treatment and management options for the condition.
“I am pleased that we will be collaborating with Wellbeing of Women on this important research call and helping to address the need for further endometriosis research. As women make up 51 per cent of the population, it is absolutely essential that clinical research reflects society, and we begin to reverse the gender gap that persists across women’s health.”
Suzanne added: “I am really pleased that the Scottish Government is taking endometriosis seriously.
“Sadly, the condition has been neglected for many years, with little awareness and funding for improving healthcare services for women and girls. I wouldn’t want my daughter to go through what I did.”
£1.275m Fringe 2022 Resilience Fund developed, thanks to support from the Scottish Government’s Platforms for Creative Excellence (PLACE programme)
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Societyis pleased to announce that 13 Edinburgh Festival Fringe producers have been awarded a share of £1.275 million through the Fringe 2022 Resilience Fund, developed thanks to support from theScottish Government’s Platforms for Creative Excellence (PLACE) programme.
The fund, designed to support resilience, recovery and creativity across the festival in its 75th anniversary year, is part of a £1.58m award to the Fringe through PLACE. The remaining £305k has been allocated to support the ongoing resilience of the Fringe Society and includes £55k to support the delivery of Street Events during August.
Venues in receipt of the Resilience Fund are Assembly, BlundaBus, Gilded Balloon, Greenside, Just The Tonic, Laughing Horse, Monkey Barrell Comedy, Pleasance, Scottish Comedy Festival, Summerhall, theSpaceUK, Underbelly and ZOO.
The awarding panel was chaired by the Fringe Society, and included the expert advice of Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council and EventScotland.
Commenting on the fund, Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said:“It’s fair to say that the last few years have been the most challenging in our festival’s history. Now, as we prepare to enter our 75th anniversary year, creatives across the Fringe landscape are working hard to ensure that this incredible festival not only survives, but continues to work hard to be the best version of itself.
“This support from Scottish Government is absolutely vital in helping us to achieve that goal: allowing producers and creatives across the landscape to not only recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic, but to offer enhanced support to artists, workers and volunteers; to continue to programme creative and innovative work; to improve accessibility; to tackle affordability and to ensure that this festival remains true to its founding principles of openness and inclusivity.”
Scottish Government Culture Minister Neil Gray said: “As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, I’m pleased that £305,000 from our Platforms for Creative Excellence (PLACE) Fund will support the activities of the Festival Fringe Society and their street events this year.
“In particular I want to congratulate the 13 producers who will share the Fringe 2022 Resilience Fund. The last few years have been difficult for the venues putting on events so this support will help to ensure the continued success of this flagship summer festival.”
How the funding will support creativity and resilience across the Fringe:
To address recovery and resilience challenges for the Fringe, funding was considered across four key pillars: Creative Programming; Risk Management; Fair Work and Sustainability.
With this funding, Summerhall are planning a range of creative work at the festival, including supporting two under-represented artists to make new work in response to 75 years of the Edinburgh Festivals.
To address sustainability, they aim to lead the way as a flyer free venue and will implement e-ticketing. Within their workforce, they are looking to create a brand-new Fringe Learning Management System, which will help onboard workers through online learning.
BlundaBus’ funding will support their return to the Fringe after the pandemic. They actively work to programme and support alternative and experimental artists, as well as artists for whom cost is a barrier to participation, offering both performance and ‘green room’ spaces to support artists.
Since 2019 they have been working to develop a programme of work centred around women and LGBTQ+ performers. They are champions of the Pay What You Want ticketing model to support affordability at the festival, and embed sustainability across their practice by reducing single use items and prioritising sustainable materials in their infrastructure.
Greenside’s funding will allow them to continue operating as an open programming venue, giving artists from non-professional backgrounds a route to access the festival.
It will also support them to increase staff pay further, from Living Wage to paying every team member above the Real Living Wage; facilitating the creation of an additional 24 Festival jobs paid above the Real Living Wage.
To address sustainability, they will move to e-ticketing, transition their programme from print to digital, and look to reduce omissions across their technical operation.
Just The Tonic will use the funding to support their programming of high-quality comedy and to support and underwrite costs for artists who are still recovering from the pandemic.
In 2022, their venue The Tron will be programmed with female performers only, with the aim of addressing gender imbalance in the comedy sector. They will continue their Pay What You Want ticketing model to help with affordability, and as part of their commitment to fair work, all staff will be paid Living Wage.
Support for theSpaceUK will allow them to mitigate costs for artists who have been impacted by the pandemic, whilst keeping access to the festival affordable for creatives.
As a champion of both emerging and established artists, they will continue their commitment to open access programming and supporting new and original writing. They will continue to operate as a Living Wage employer and to offer a programme of staff training.
With their funding, Gilded Balloon will continue to support emerging artists and their development. In consolidating their programme, they plan to reduce the number of overall shows to allow for increased turnaround times between shows (allowing for a better experience for artists, staff and audiences alike).
While all staff are already paid the National Living Wage and above, this fund’s support will enable them to increase the number of staff on site and reduce staff hours. They are also investing in e-ticketing to support sustainability and are reducing the number of flyers produced by investing in digital marketing.
Laughing Horse have received support for the delivery of a range of activities associated with the Free Festival. To address sustainability, they are looking to fully replace their printed programme with an app and improved mobile website.
They will run mental health support sessions for performers and staff before and during the Fringe, and they have committed to a BSL interpreter for several performances to improve access to deaf audiences.
Funding will also support them with equipment costs and with the hiring of paid ticketing staff.
Underbelly’s funding will allow them to increase their minimum pay offer for temporary festival staff from the National Living wage (which they already pay) to the Real Living Wage.
They will also use the funds to hire additional short-term staff to support their existing team during the busy Fringe period, thereby improving working conditions and reducing working hours.
To address sustainability, the support will allow them to invest in e-ticketing. They plan to enhance their accessibility programme with extra captioned shows and a range of shows with BSL interpreters.
Support will also help with the build and maintenance of their temporary venues, and accommodation for their staff during the Fringe.
Monkey Barrell are looking to use their funding to continue to programme diverse and inclusive line-ups, whilst creating greater opportunities for local acts, unrepresented performers and those from non-privileged backgrounds.
They are looking to create a community focused artistic hub to enable creatives to come together at the festival. As of 2022, all year-round staff previously on Living Wage are now paid the Real Living Wage.
This fund will allow them to extend this to all temporary staff during the Fringe, and to create a staff development programme to upskill and develop their wider team.
ZOO’s programming in 2022 is aimed at better reflecting the lives of under-represented or minority audiences, and support from this fund will allow them to subsidise core costs for creatives.
Work by disabled artists is already central to their programming, and this funding will allow them to improve access to their audiences with enhanced BSL, audio description and captioned performances.
They will continue their commitments to paying staff Living Wage and above and to paying freelancers above the recommended rates. They will also continue to support their volunteer programme – which includes budget to address areas such as transport, access needs and childcare.
Funding will allow for Covid mitigations – such as enhanced cleaning, and provision of masks and hand sanitiser.
Pleasance will use the funding to reduce the financial risk to artists attending the Fringe – with targeted interventions which will support debut and early career creatives.
They plan to increase the number of employees in their workforce, reduce working hours during the festival, reduce the ratio of volunteers to paid staff, and provide increased opportunities for staff training. Some funding will also be used to invest in key infrastructure to improve their offering to artists and audiences, such as a reinforced Wi-Fi network to be able to facilitate e-ticketing.
Funding for The Scottish Comedy Festival will enable them to continue their work in programming local acts at the Fringe. Their model is centred around affordability and mitigating financial risk for the artists, and they are especially keen to support working class performers.
To further support affordability, their programme will continue to feature a mixture of Pay What You Want and Pay What You Can shows.
Assembly’s funding will be used to support artists’ attendance at the festival, by assisting with core costs such as accommodation, marketing and underwriting risk. Their programme, which celebrates 40 years at the Fringe this year, includes emerging artists and those from diverse backgrounds, as well as established performers.
Assembly Festival is a Living Wage employer and will use this fund to support increased training for staff and will also use it to mitigate against rising costs. They also aim to undertake research into post-pandemic audience behaviours and will continue their work as a sustainability champion.
Established in 2014, Pilrig Children’s Nursery provides care for up 69 children aged six months to five years. It is ideally located in the heart of Edinburgh City Centre and, over the years, has established an exceptional local reputation for providing high-quality childcare.
Owned and operated by Jen and Eamon Hegarty since 2014, the nursery boasts a strong overall performance and impressive occupancy levels post-pandemic which have since exceeded that of late 2019/early 2020 as the setting continues to go from strength to strength. Jen and Eamon have now taken the decision to retire from the sector and allow a new owner the opportunity to take the nursery to the next level.
Following a confidential sales process, the setting has been sold to ICP Education, the biggest new entrant to the Scottish market.
Speaking on behalf of ICP Education, Mergers and Acquisitions Director, Kirsty Ibbott, comments, “We are thrilled to be welcoming Pilrig Children’s Nursery to ICP Education.
“Jen and Eamon have built a wonderful nursery and a high calibre team over the last eight years. Their commitment to delivering excellent childcare was immediately obvious as soon as we walked through the doors. We are pleased to have added such a well-established nursery to our Scottish region.”
The sale was handled by Director, Rosie Adlem, and Senior Director, Martin Daw, from Christie & Co who work with childcare operators across the Scottish region.
Rosie Adlem comments, “The nursery market across Scotland is particularly active at the moment, and we are delighted to have assisted another client with their retirement plans and to introduce an excellent childcare provider who will continue to nurture the business.
“With demand currently so high, we are finding that quality nursery businesses are receiving exceptional levels of interest within a very short timeframe despite a highly confidential process.”
Pilrig Children’s Nursery was sold for an undisclosed price.
Dementia series kick starts with industry expert event at Edinburgh home
A SCOTTISH care home is bringing together some of the country’s leading dementia care experts to launch its bumper calendar of activities to raise awareness of the disease.
With an estimated 90,000 people living with Dementia in Scotland1, Cramond Residence is launching ‘Let’s talk about…Dementia’ to build support and connections within the community while sharing important knowledge.
The home will open its doors to members of the public on 18 June to host the informal event with experts from Alzheimer’s Scotland and Home Help Me Care in attendance, alongside the Dementia care team from Cramond Residence.
Informative stalls will be set up in the garden for the duration of the afternoon event with three expert presentations covering what the world looks like for those with dementia, how to care for someone living with Dementia at home and when it’s the right time to consider residential care.
Rickie Tank, Registered Manager with local support service, Home Help Me Care which specialises in at-home care, said: “We believe that bringing dementia support services that support people in the community enables them a greater chance of experiencing quality care in later years.
“Every day we hear the stressful experiences of people trying to secure the right support for loved ones but no one really guides them through the process or explains the timescales involved and this often means people have to get to a crisis stage before they secure care.
“By coming together with like-minded community support groups and companies like Cramond Residence we want to share our knowledge to make the journey easier.”
The event hopes to raise awareness through educational sessions and discussions for those living or caring for someone with the condition or generally worried about dementia.
Ross Bijak, General Manager at Cramond Residence with more than 10 years of expertise in the healthcare sector and recently completed a master’s degree in Dementia studies, said: “I have lived with a passion for making tiny changes to people’s lives since I started my career in care and in particular for people living with Dementia.
“I aspire to support and educate people who are affected by the condition and have provided 97% of the 123 members of staff at Cramond with some level of dementia training.
“Being part of such an event as the General Manager at the home is a privilege to which I hope to lead by example in explaining how Cramond Residence helps people living with the condition to enjoy a fulfilling and dignified life.”
Alzheimer’s Scotland will also be in attended to provide information and support to make sure nobody faces dementia alone with the charity hosting an interactive session on its isolation prevention initiative, Dementia Friends.
The event starts at 12:30 and refreshments will be provided. To book a seat for the expert presentations, please contact enquiries@cramondresidence.co.uk (please note spaces are limited).
Cramond Residence strives to ensure that those living with dementia live a fulfilled life. The home offers a dedicated dementia floor, specially designed for those living with dementia to allowing them to live a richer and more satisfying life with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support and relief.
Dementia training sits at the top of the care home’s agenda with 90% of their staff being provided with vital dementia training.
At 12pm tomorrow (Saturday 28 May), Edinburgh Campaign Against Arms Trade (Edinburgh CAAT), alongside several other groups, will be holding a demonstration outside the Leonardo offices on 2 Crewe Rd North.
Leonardo is one of the world’s biggest arms companies and has a long and shameful history of arming and supporting human rights abusing regimes across the world. In 2021 it posted revenues of €14.1bn, which included a year-on-year net profit increase over 142%.
It is one of the main manufacturers of the Typhoon jet that has been used by Saudi Arabian forces in the bombardment of Yemen.
Likewise, the T-129 attack helicopter – which was jointly developed by Leonardo and Turkish Aerospace Industries – has been extensively used by Turkish forces in its military operations against Kurdish groups.
Leonardo has provided arms and support for the Israeli government, despite the decades of abuses that it has inflicted on Palestinians.Only last month the company secured a $29 million contract to provide military helicopters to Israel.
Protesters will gather for speeches and performances by the San-Ghanny choir, which has been to Palestine, and the ZarifAtToul dance troupe who will be teaching Palestinian dances.
Melanie Scott, a spokesperson for Edinburgh CAAT, said: “Leonardo is one of the biggest arms companies in the world and has armed, supported and profited from human rights abuses around the world.
“It has backed dictatorships like the one in Saudi Arabia and fuelled repression against people in Palestine and beyond.
“Despite its devastating global impact, a lot of people in Edinburgh pass Leonardo’s arms factory every day and are totally unaware of the weapons that are being made inside or who those weapons are being sold to.
“That is why we are bringing people together in unity to shine a light on Leonardo’s complicity in these abuses.”
For over 76 years, we have been at the heart of theatre in the city, with several notable (and now famous) names working with us.
As a registered charity, we work hard to not only put on shows that our members and patrons love, but to safeguard the future of our club. This has been tricky over the years, with increasing maintenance of our club premises and higher production costs.
For the last two years, however, things became even more difficult as COVID-19 removed our main source of funding – the ability to put on shows and make a profit. Now, in May 2022, our latest production of The Odd Couple has been cancelled at the last minute due to COVID within the cast.
We love theatre and we love our club. We want, more than anything, to be around for the next 76 years to do what we do best.
Please please support us in protecting our future. Every small donation will help. Please help us spread the word.
MORE SUPPORT NEEDED, SAYS SCOTTISH FINANCE SECRETARY
The most vulnerable households across Scotland will receive support of over £1,000 this year, including a new one-off £650 cost of living payment
Universal support increases to £400 across Great Britain, as the October discount on energy bills is doubled and the requirement to repay it over 5 years scrapped
This new £15 billion support package is targeted towards millions of low-income households and brings the total cost of living support to £37 billion.
New temporary Energy Profits Levy on oil and gas firms will raise around £5 billion over the next year to help with cost of living, with a new investment allowance to encourage firms to invest in oil and gas extraction in the UK.
Millions of households across the UK will benefit from a new £15 billion package of targeted UK government support to help with the rising cost of living, the Chancellor announced yesterday.
The significant intervention includes a new, one-off £650 payment to more than 8 million low-income households on Universal Credit, Tax Credits and legacy benefits to be made in two tranches starting in the summer, with separate one-off payments of £300 to pensioner households and £150 to individuals receiving disability benefits – groups who are most vulnerable to rising prices.
Rishi Sunak also announced that the energy bills discount due to come in from October is being doubled from £200 to £400, while the requirement to pay it back will be scrapped. This means the vast majority of households will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills from October.
The new Cost of Living Support package will mean that the most vulnerable households in Scotland will receive over £1,000 of extra support this year.
To ensure there is support for everyone who needs it, Mr Sunak also announced a £500 million increase for the Household Support Fund. This brings the total Household Support Fund to £1.5 billion.
To help pay for the extra support – which takes the total direct government cost of living support to £37 billion – Mr Sunak said a new temporary 25% Energy Profits Levy would be introduced for oil and gas companies, reflecting their extraordinary profits. At the same time, in order to increase the incentive to invest the new levy will include a generous new 80% investment allowance. This balanced approach allows the government to deliver support to families, while encouraging investment and growth.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: ““I know that people in Scotland are anxious about keeping up with rising energy bills, which is why today we have introduced measures which will take the support for millions of the lowest income households over £1,000.
“As a nation we have a responsibility to help the most vulnerable, which is why this support is mostly targeted at people on low incomes, pensioners and disabled people. But we understand that all households in Scotland will be concerned about the rise in energy costs this Autumn, so every household is set to get £400 off their energy bills from October, with no repayments necessary.
“It is right that companies making extraordinary windfall profits from rising energy prices should contribute, and I’m introducing a temporary energy profits levy to help pay for this support, while still encouraging the investment that generates jobs in Scotland.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “Global issues are causing real pressures in the cost of living for UK families. We understand how tough it is at the moment for many households, which is why the Chancellor has today announced a further £15 billion support package.
“A total of £400 per household towards fuel bills will help protect families from rising energy costs. Cash payments of £650 for low-income households on means tested benefits will target support at the most vulnerable in our society at this difficult time. This comes on top of our existing £22bn support package.
“Some of these measures will be paid for by a temporary levy on oil and gas companies – one which incentivises investment in the UK’s energy security.”
There is now more certainty that households will need further support, with inflation having risen faster than forecast and Ofgem expecting a further rise in the energy price cap in October.
So as part of the UK government’s targeted support, the Chancellor announced that around eight million of the lowest income households on Universal Credit, Tax Credits, and legacy benefits will receive an automatic £650 cost of living payment in two instalments via the welfare system this year.
Yesterday’s announcement is on top of the government’s existing £22 billion cost of living support which includes February’s energy bills intervention and action taken at this year’s Spring Statement including a £330 tax cut for millions of workers through the NICs threshold increase in July and 5p cut to fuel duty.
Energy Profits Levy
Surging commodity prices, driven in part by Russia’s war on Ukraine, has meant that the oil and gas sector have been making extraordinary profits. Ministers have been clear that they want to see the sector reinvest these profits in oil and gas extraction in the UK.
In order both to fairly tax the extraordinary profits and encourage investment, the Chancellor announced a temporary new Energy Profits Levy with a generous investment allowance built in. This nearly doubles the tax relief available and means the more investment a firm makes, the less tax it will pay.
The new Levy will be charged on oil and gas company profits at a rate of 25% and is expected to raise around £5 billion in its first 12 months, which will go towards easing the burden on families. It will be temporary, and if oil and gas prices return to historically more normal levels, will be phased out.
The new Investment Allowance, similar in style to the super-deduction, incentivises companies to invest through saving them 91p for every £1 they invest. This nearly doubles the tax relief available and means the more a company invests, the less tax they will pay.
The government expects the combination of the Levy and the new investment allowance to lead to an overall increase in investment, and the OBR will take account of this policy in their next forecast.
The Levy does not apply to the electricity generation sector – where extraordinary profits are also being made due to the impact that rising gas prices have on the price paid for electricity in the UK market, which has also been making extraordinary profits partly due to record gas prices but also due to how the market works.
As set out in the Energy Security Strategy the government is consulting with the power generation sector and investors to drive forward energy market reforms and ensure that the price paid for electricity is more reflective of the costs of production.
The Chancellor announced yesterday that the Treasury will urgently evaluate the scale of these extraordinary profits and the appropriate steps to take.
During the announcement, the Chancellor also set out the government’s strategy to control inflation through independent monetary policy, fiscal responsibility, and supply side activism – a plan he said that should see inflation come down and returning to its target over time.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has welcomed the short term action announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but warned more support is needed for households and businesses as the cost of living crisis worsens.
Following calls from the Scottish Government, the UK Government has taken steps to ensure that cash grants, rather than loans, are provided to those on lowest incomes. Ms Forbes has also cautiously welcomed the decision to introduce a Windfall Tax on energy companies benefiting from significant profits but commented that it means Scottish industry is disproportionately funding interventions across the UK.
Responding to the Chancellor’s statement, Ms Forbes has said UK Ministers should have acted earlier and gone further to provide more support that would make a real long term impact, including following the Scottish Government’s lead by doubling the Scottish Child Payment to £20 per week – which is due to increase to £25 from late 2022 helping lift an estimated 50,000 children out of poverty in 2023-24.
Ms Forbes said: “Many households will be relieved to see the support belatedly announced today, but we still need a long term solution to the cost of living crisis and reassurance that the UK Government is going to tackle long term inequalities rather than provide one-off bursts of crisis support.
“Rather than listen to our plea for a comprehensive funding package that fully addresses the unprecedented rise in the cost of living and uses the full £30 billion of fiscal headroom, this piecemeal approach makes it highly likely that more support will be needed later when energy prices rise significantly in the autumn.
“There is also a severe lack of support for businesses – many of them are still struggling to recover from the pandemic and now face crippling increases in energy costs and the damaging impacts of Brexit on supply chains and the labour market. Without urgent economic support there is a real risk that the UK economy is heading for a recession.
“Inflation is at its highest levels in 40 years and the UK Government’s failure to fully invest in increasing incomes, tackling inequality and boosting economic competitiveness will only risk pushing households into further debt and poverty
“The UK Government has almost £30 billion of fiscal headroom, spending only half of this during a cost of living crisis does not go far enough, especially when a further £5 billion from the Windfall Tax will be raised.
“The introduction of a windfall tax is a start, but as a stand-alone measure this means Scottish industry is carrying the weight of UK-wide interventions.
“The removal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift last year was a hammer blow to hard pressed families and the Chancellor’s failure to restore it and increase it to £25 only places a disproportionate burden on the shoulders of those who need help most. The statement was also worryingly silent on public-sector pay with no related consequential funding, when the lowest paid need urgent assurance in the face of rising inflation.
“The refusal to reverse the National Insurance increase implemented in April and temporarily suspend VAT on household energy bills will also cost families hundreds of pounds annually at a time when their budgets have never been more squeezed.
“The Scottish Government has already taken action to support people, communities and businesses as much as possible, with almost £770 million per year invested in cost of living support. We have increased eight Scottish benefits by 6%, closer to the rate of inflation, and introduced a range of family benefits not available elsewhere in the UK.”
Commenting on the government’s cost of living support package announced today (Thursday), TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Unions have repeatedly called for an Emergency Budget to help families, and a windfall tax on energy companies.
“The Chancellor should have acted far sooner after his inadequate Spring Statement. His dither and delay has caused unnecessary hardship and worry for millions.
“While today’s intervention is badly needed, we should have never been here in the first place.
“Years of attacks on wages and universal credit have left many households on the brink.
“The government still doesn’t have a plan for giving families long-term financial security.
“With energy bills rising 23 times faster than wages we urgently need to get pay packets rising and to pay universal credit at a permanently higher rate – not just a one-off boost.
“That’s the best way to protect livelihoods and to support the economy.”
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