An inquiry into the cause of increased excess deaths in Scotland since the start of the pandemic has been launched by the COVID-19 Recovery Committee.
Recent data published by the Scottish Government shows deaths in Scotland are 11% above the average for this time of year and have been above the average for the last 26 weeks. The Committee will investigate whether this rise in deaths is being caused by COVID-19 directly, or the indirect health effects of the pandemic.
The Committee is seeking views on the following questions:
• Has the public health emergency shifted from COVID-19 deaths to deaths from non-COVID-19 conditions? • Is there evidence that patients are now presenting with greater acuity? • What accounts for the deaths from non-COVID-19 conditions? • Is there enough of a strategic focus on the indirect health impacts of the pandemic? • What are the realistic options open to the government in addressing the indirect health impact of the virus in winter 2021/22?
Speaking as the inquiry was launched, Siobhian Brown MSP, Convener of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee said: “The latest data released by the Scottish Government shows an alarming rise in the number of excess deaths since the start of the pandemic.
“Recent media reports suggest the pandemic has led to delays and decreases in the number of patients being diagnosed with illnesses, such as cancers, which can negatively impact the efficacy of treatment.
“We are keen to learn more about the indirect health impacts of the pandemic and whether the public health emergency has shifted from COVID-19 deaths to deaths from non-COVID-19 conditions.
“Every death is a tragedy, whether caused by COVID-19 or not, and it is essential that we establish the root causes of these deaths and find out what has led to this spike in the number of lives being lost.”
A Bill which would pardon miners convicted of offences during the 1984-1985 miners’ strike is to be scrutinised by a Scottish Parliament Committee.
The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee is seeking views from the public, academics and other interested stakeholders on the Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill.
If passed, the Bill would automatically pardon those convicted of offences which occurred during the course of a miner’s participation of a picket line, demonstration, or other similar gathering in supporting the strikes or while travelling to or from a picket line or demonstration.
Recognising the strain placed on police and community relationships during the strike, the legislation is an attempt to bring reconciliation between those upholding the law and those who were fighting to protect their jobs, livelihoods and communities.
Committee Convener Joe FitzPatrick MSP said:“Many of those who took part and were convicted for their participation in the miners’ strike have had to live with the consequences and the resulting stigma for decades.
“This Bill seeks to provide some closure to communities across Scotland by pardoning those found guilty of certain offences during those bitter disputes.
“As we launch this inquiry, we want to find out if this legislation is the right approach to achieve reconciliation and right those historical injustices or if there are alternative ways we can reach that goal.
“In seeking views to aid our scrutiny, we particularly want to hear about how far the proposed pardons go and whether they cover the right people and offences.”
The call for views closes on 14 January 2022 and you can share your views here:
Tougher action on the sale and use of fireworks and tackling the misuse of pyrotechnics has been backed in a new consultation.
The public consultation, which attracted a total of 1,739 responses, asked for views on the Scottish Government’s Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill.
The proposed Bill follows the report of an independent Fireworks Review Group which recommended tightening legislation to reduce the harm fireworks can cause.
The consultation, published today, shows that of those who responded on these individual issues:
92% agreed with the introduction of a new offence to criminalise the supply of fireworks to under-18s
84% backed the introduction of a fireworks licensing system
77% backed a new offence of being in possession of a pyrotechnic in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority
70% agreed with extending police powers to allow a stop and search provision in relation to pyrotechnics
more than 60% agreed with restrictions for the general public on the days fireworks can be sold and used
Community Safety Minister Ash Regan said: “The consultation builds on a significant programme of engagement and evidence gathering and demonstrated the range of views among those who responded.
“I am committed to making our communities safer and we have already moved quickly to introduce regulations restricting the times of day and the volume of fireworks that can be supplied to the public – as well as the times fireworks can be set off.
“We are intent on further improving safety for communities across Scotland by taking forward the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill at the earliest opportunity to ensure appropriate action is taken over the sale and use of fireworks and to reduce the misuse of pyrotechnic devices such as flares.”
Annual investment of £20 million to help low income households
A consultation has been launched on a new heating benefit that will give around 400,000 low income households the reassurance of a guaranteed £50 payment every winter.
The Low Income Winter Heating Assistance will be introduced from winter 2022 to replace the current UK Government Cold Weather Payment scheme.
The current UK Government benefit triggers a £25 payment only when temperatures are recorded or forecast at below zero degrees Celsius for seven days in a row. The replacement Low Income Winter Heating Assistance benefit from the Scottish Government will provide financial stability, no matter the weather.
Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said: “Low Income Winter Heating Assistance will be an investment of around £20 million every year to reliably support people towards the costs of heating their homes irrespective of the weather, temperature, or where they live in Scotland.
“Although Cold Weather Payments have been a valuable support for some during periods of very cold weather, there have been some years when hardly any payments have been made at all by the UK Government.
“If winters, as predicted, are due to become generally wetter and warmer then this may also reduce the numbers of Cold Weather Payments in the future. We want people to have certainty about receiving a payment.
“Our proposed new benefit will be the equivalent to two payments of Cold Weather Payment and should ensure that most people will be better off. Significantly, it will also enable us to provide assistance to more households that are at risk of fuel poverty.
“This is another important milestone in our ambitious programme, using the devolved social security powers we have to deliver more effective benefits for the people of Scotland, and is also part of our broader approach to support people who need extra help with heating costs during the coldest months of the year.”
The public is to be given the opportunity to view proposals by Tarmac for an exciting residential-led mixed-use development on land including the former Cement Works to the west of Baird Road, Ratho.
The Bairdview development, if approved, will deliver an ambitious residential neighbourhood and sustainable extension to the village. The fully integrated neighbourhood will provide a new and attractive entrance to Ratho and afford the potential to provide enhanced community and commercial facilities.
Proposals for the 56-acre site will deliver circa 300 homes, including family, market, and affordable housing, with a range of tenures, house types and densities built to the highest environmental standards. This will serve to address housing pressures in the village and West Edinburgh over the next 10 years.
A 60-bed care home and retirement housing for the village are also outlined in the proposals.
Tarmac intends to bring forward a Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) application, establishing the principle of development on the partially brownfield site for the mixed-use development. It believes that the environmental impact can be mitigated and that the wider social and economic benefits would be significant.
Delivering a high-quality, low carbon sustainable development at Bairdview will re-balance the village to the north of the Union Canal with local amenities, a green network of parks and woodland and a central hub of enhanced community facilities. The proposals have specifically been aligned with the new City Plan 2030.
Supporting the delivery of business, retail, and leisure development in the village, the development would also provide scope for the expansion of Ratho Primary School and public realm, landscape and active travel improvements at the northern gateway to the village.
Proposals will also improve transport infrastructure and connections with the A8 and A71, including more effective public transport bus services. It will also aim to deliver improved footpath linkages, including safe routes to the primary school.
The development has also been designed as “20-minute neighbourhoods”. These are places that are designed so residents can meet their day-to-day needs within a 20-minute walk of their home; through access to safe walking and cycling routes, or by public transport.
Development at Bairdview will assist in reducing the need for car journeys and reducing the carbon footprint in line with the City’s zero-carbon strategy response to the climate crisis.
Development proposed is within acceptable walking distance of local facilities, walking distance to any employment cluster and bus and cycle routes. Provision is made for public transport and the National Cycle Route also lies near the site.
Consultations have been ongoing with Ratho Community Council and local stakeholder groups for this unique investment proposition. Tarmac wish to bring forward a wider Place Plan for Ratho and has indicated that the community could receive a share of any land capture uplift from the development in the form of a unilateral obligation.
Due to ongoing developments surrounding the COVID-19 virus and social-distancing measures, the Scottish Government has issued guidance encouraging developers to use online or digital engagement methods whilst public gatherings are prohibited.
On Wednesday, 1 December 2021, between 4 pm and 8 pm, the development team will be available at www.bairdview.scot to answer your questions through a dedicated chat system as part of the digital consultation.
This will enable visitors to communicate directly with the design and advisory team and for them to answer any questions.
Visitors who do not have online access to hard copies of exhibition materials can request them from hello@bairdview.scot or contact Orbit Communications on 0131 202 3259 orat 4 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JE.
Proposals are available to view online now.
A representative for Tarmac said: “We’re excited to be giving the local public the chance to view exciting proposals for Bairdview.
“The development would bring significant environmental, social and economic benefits to the local community for existing and future generations in the medium to long term.
“These proposals will greatly assist in the regeneration and expansion of this part of the city, and we are consulting extensively to ensure that people from across the local area have an opportunity to input their views and shape our ambitious proposals.
“We encourage all interested parties to speak to the team on 1 December and to put any questions you have to them.”
Prosecution regulations tightened on the use of hand-held mobile phones at the wheel
government strengthening existing laws making it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving under virtually any circumstance
follows public consultation which found that 81% of people supported such a move
highway code will change making it clear that hand-held phone use at traffic lights or in traffic jams is illegal
Police will soon be able to more easily prosecute drivers using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel after the government strengthens existing laws to further improve road safety.
It is already illegal to text or make a phone call (other than in an emergency) using a hand-held device while driving. Next year, laws will go further to ban drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games.
This will mean anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and 6 points on their licence.
Drivers will still be able to continue using a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it’s secured in a cradle. They must, however, always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Too many deaths and injuries occur while mobile phones are being held.
“By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st century while further protecting all road users.
“While our roads remain among the safest in the world, we will continue working tirelessly to make them safer, including through our award-winning THINK! campaign, which challenges social norms among high-risk drivers.”
This follows a public consultation that found 81% of respondents supported proposals to strengthen the law and make it easier for culprits to be prosecuted.
Following the public consultation, the government will revise The Highway Code to explain the new measures. It will also be more precise about the fact that being stationary in traffic counts as driving, making it clear that hand-held mobile phone use at traffic lights or in motorway jams is illegal except in very limited circumstances.
There will be an exemption to the new law for drivers making a contactless payment using their mobile phone while stationary to ensure the law keeps pace with technology.
This exemption will cover, for example, places like a drive-through restaurant or a road toll, and will only apply when payment is being made with a card reader. It will not allow motorists to make general online payments while driving.
Mary Williams OBE, Chief Executive of Brake – the road safety charity, said: “Driver distraction can be deadly and using a hand-held phone at the wheel is never worth the risk. This important road safety decision by government, coinciding with Road Safety Week, is very welcomed.
“This news is particularly welcomed by families suffering bereavement and catastrophic injury due to drivers being distracted by phones. The theme for Road Safety Week is road safety heroes – we can all be road safety heroes by giving driving our full attention.”
Among other findings, the research reveals younger motorists are more likely to have used a handheld device at the wheel, supporting the focus of the government’s award-winning THINK! campaign, which works to boost road safety by targeting higher-risk, younger motorists and road-users.
Workplace expert, Acas, published evidence on the use of fire and rehire practices at work in June.
In response, the Government asked Acas to produce guidance to help employers explore all other options first before considering fire and rehire to change employee contracts.
This new advice has been published today and can help employers maintain good employment relations and reach agreement with staff if they are thinking about making changes to their contracts.
Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews, said: “Our new advice is clear that fire and rehire is an extreme step that can seriously damage working relations and has significant legal risks for organisations.
“Employers should thoroughly explore all other options first and make every effort to reach agreement with staff on any contract changes.
“Organisations that consult with their workforce in a genuine and meaningful way about proposed changes can help prevent conflict at work and stay within the law.”
Acas advice is that organisations that are considering contract changes should fully consult with all affected staff and their representatives in a genuine and meaningful way.
Effective consultation can help maintain good workplace relations as it allows staff to understand the reasons behind proposed changes and provides them with an opportunity to give their views. This can help to build trust and find a solution that works for everyone.
Tensions can arise if employees feel that they have not had the opportunity to inform decisions around proposals or do not support the changes. This can result in staff feeling less committed and can impact an organisation’s performance.
If both sides are finding it difficult to reach an agreement then Acas advice includes tips on how to:
keep discussions constructive;
explore alternative options to reach a compromise; and
stay focused on trying to reach consensus.
Acas advises that the practice of fire and rehire is an extreme step that can damage staff morale, productivity, working relations and can also lead to industrial action.
Other risks for employers in using fire and rehire practices can include:
making it harder for both sides to reach a negotiated solution if employees feel ‘threatened’ by an employer
expensive legal claims from staff who feel that they have been unfairly dismissed or discriminated against;
reputational damage, which can make it difficult for an organisation to attract new employees;
immediate and long-lasting damage to trust with staff; and
losing valued people because they do not accept the offer of a new contract, or staff leaving later due to unhappiness over the change or the way it was made.
Creating more town centre homes and local services to help fight climate change
Planning applications will have to show how they help meet Scotland’s ambitious targets to cut emissions to net zero by 2045 to get approval under new proposals.
Applications that create more town centre homes or help reuse vacant and derelict land will be more likely to succeed, under the draft fourth National Planning Framework which has been published for consultation today.
These proposals promote the creation of 20-minute neighbourhoods, where services are easily accessible on foot or by bicycle, across cities and towns. Tighter restrictions will be imposed on out-of-town retail development.
The Framework will support developments which contribute to nature restoration, drive population growth in rural Scotland, create more homes to meet local needs and encourage green investment.
Proposals for renewable energy, including increasing the power of existing wind farms, will be supported by planners – helping make Scotland an energy exporter.
It proposes 18 national developments including:
a national walking, wheeling and cycling network promoting active travel
mass and rapid transit networks for cities to significantly reduce congestion and reliance on the car
sustainable drainage and water management solutions to protect cities from future flood risk
master planned regeneration and investment along the Clyde and waterfronts in Dundee, Edinburgh and Stranraer
supporting transition of key industrial sites to net zero as well as helping to sustain rural and island communities in transitioning to a net zero society
pumped hydroelectric storage, large scale renewable energy generation and investment in the electricity grid.
Planning Minister Tom Arthur said yesterday: “As COP26 delegates debate the future of our planet, we are proudly publishing our new draft National Planning Framework that proposes planners will have to consider the impact of applications on climate change and our natural environment.
“This plan for Scotland in 2045 aims to transform places so more of us live in well-designed and energy efficient homes, located within walking distance of local services and green space, and puts planning at the heart of delivering green, inclusive and long‑term sustainable development.
“This is a turning point for planning in Scotland. Our proposals will help us achieve our just transition to net zero emissions by helping to deliver more renewable energy, protecting our natural environment and creating better, healthier places to live.”
Today’s theme at COP26 is Cities, Regions and the Built Environment.
An inquiry to consider the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Bill has been launched by Holyrood’s Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee.
The Bill requires Scottish Ministers and certain public bodies (referred to in the Bill as ‘relevant authorities’) to create Good Food Nation Plans which are intended to ensure greater policy coordination and to set out the outcomes to be achieved; clear actions for Scottish Government and public bodies to take; and indicators through which progress will be measured.
The Committee’s focus is to ensure the Bill provides the best framework to make the Scottish Government’s vision of Scotland as a Good Food Nation ‘where people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food they produce, buy, cook, serve, and eat each day,’ a reality*.
Speaking as the inquiry was launched, Committee Convener, Finlay Carson MSP, said: ““Food plays an integral part in all our lives and can have a transformative impact on people’s health and wellbeing, as well as being a key part of our economy, so it’s important that we get this right.
“This Bill provides an opportunity for policy coordination across the public sectors to help create a food system that works for the people of Scotland.
“We want to hear the views of interested individuals and organisations from right across Scotland to fully understand the impact the Bill will have. Will the proposals set out in the Bill legislation help the Scottish Government achieve its aims?”
The Committee has launched a survey looking for views which closes on Wednesday 5 January.
Consultation on new approach to prevent food insecurity
Proposals to end the need for food banks as a primary response to food insecurity have been published.
Views are being sought on the Scottish Government’s draft national plan, which is supported by food bank operators, including the Trussell Trust and Independent Food Aid Network.
The plan follows action during the pandemic to prevent food insecurity through strengthening household incomes and the delivery of cash-first responses to financial hardship.
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We share the same vision as food bank operators – they are not a long term solution to poverty. Our draft plan sets out what we will do within our powers – including introducing a shopping voucher pilot scheme – to make food banks the last port of call.
“Over the last year we have invested around £2.5 billion to support low income households, including nearly £1 billion to directly support children.
“Despite our fixed budget and limited powers we are taking action to support those in poverty, including discussions around establishing a minimum income guarantee for Scotland.
“As part of the right to an adequate standard of living, people need to be able to access food that meets their dietary, social and cultural needs and this plan shows the way forward.”
Sabine Goodwin, co-ordinator of the Independent Food Aid Network, which represents more than 500 food banks across the UK, said: “As the cut to Universal Credit and cost of living increases exacerbate poverty in Scotland, the publication of the draft national plan to end the need for food banks couldn’t be more timely.
“With a cash first, collaborative approach to food insecurity as the cornerstone of this plan, a time when food banks will no longer be needed to plug the gaps left by financial hardship is within sight.”
