DFM calls for Autumn Statement funding to support key missions
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement must deliver more funding for public services, net zero and cost of living support instead of cutting taxes, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison has urged.
Ahead of the Scottish Budget next month, the Deputy First Minister called for the Chancellor to provide a funding settlement to support the Scottish Government’s key missions of equality, opportunity and community.
Ms Robison, who is also Finance Secretary, is urging the Chancellor to:
increase the Scottish Government’s capital budget in line with inflation to help deliver vital infrastructure
deliver additional funding across the UK to fund public services and fair public sector pay awards
commit to increasing working-age benefits in line with inflation next year
legislate for an essentials guarantee giving basic necessities to those who need them most
prioritise investment in net zero, including funding for offshore wind projects in Scotland
The Deputy First Minister said: “The UK faces a combination of low growth and high interest rates. The Autumn Statement must learn the lessons from last year’s ‘mini budget’ – it must not compound these problems with ill-timed tax breaks which would place even greater pressure on the public finances.
“The Scottish Government is using the levers available to us to support people through this difficult time. However, it is important that the UK Government uses its full range of reserved powers to address these challenges. With many families continuing to struggle with the cost of living, the Chancellor must not use this statement to cut benefits.
“The Autumn Statement provides an important opportunity for the UK Government to support us to deliver the investment and services that Scotland needs, to demonstrate its commitment to net zero, and to help people and businesses with the economic challenges they face.”
Aye, I’m sure Jeremy Hunt will be hanging on to her every word! -Ed.
The UK Government has launched a new disability awareness campaign, #AskDontAssume (writes TUC’s EMMA KOSMIN). Disabled people have had to point out that the campaign is offensive and harmful. But the government are not listening to disabled people.
The campaign encourages the public to ask disabled people questions about their lives. This can often be intrusive and upsetting.
The irony is that this is the same government that have done so much to stigmatize disabled people. They have cut services to the bone, and used disabled people as a scapegoat. And they have taken no meaningful action to address systematic barriers.
In fact, disabled workers are on the sharp end of the pay and cost of living crisis created by the government.
Seven in ten (69%) disabled workers now earn less than £15 an hour. That’s compared to half (50%) of non-disabled workers.
And disabled people are much more likely to be on zero hours contracts.
We need action from the government, not a fluffy PR campaign that will lead to even more harm.
Here are five things that the government should do, that would actually be helpful:
1. Raise the minimum wage to £15 an hour as soon as possible, to tackle the low pay that impacts disabled workers.
2. Stamp out insecure work by banning zero hours contracts and ending fire and rehire.
3. Make employers put reasonable adjustments in place for disabled workers. And bring in fines for employers that don’t.
4. Bring in disability pay gap reporting. Employers should have to publish how much they pay disabled workers, compared to non-disabled workers.
5. Make flexible working the norm for everyone.
Disabled workers need a pay rise and better terms and conditions at work – not another meaningless PR exercise.
· More than 300 Scottish SME leaders complete Help to Grow: Management Course
· Recently published data1 from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) reveals nine in 10 (91%) would recommend Help to Grow: Management to other business leaders
· Scottish SMEs looking for support are encouraged to sign-up to next cohort
· Edinburgh-based narrowboat operator doubles turnover after completing course
More than 300 business leaders across Scotland have now completed the Help to Grow: Management Course in a bid to strengthen resilience and innovation, according to new figures from the Department for Business and Trade.
The 12-week Help to Grow: Management Course was founded in April 2021 to help business leaders and senior managers to increase resilience, innovation, and growth within their organisations.
In Scotland, 320 SME leaders had finished the course by February 2023 across six Scottish business schools at University of Strathclyde, University of the West Scotland, Heriot-Watt University, Robert Gordon University and University of Stirling*. Throughout the UK, 3,340 people had completed the course across 52 UK business schools.
Research2, published in May and undertaken by Ipsos, highlights the impact Help to Grow: Management has had on UK businesses. Seven in 10 (69%) report greater confidence in leading and managing their business while two thirds (66%) felt their leadership and management skills had improved.
SME leaders across a variety of sectors have benefitted from taking part in the training including those in manufacturing, construction, professional services, scientific, and technical industries, and information and communication. Help to Grow: Management compromises four waves of three modules, 1-2-1 business mentoring, peer-learning and access to the Alumni Network.
Encouragingly, six in 10 (61%) UK business leaders now have a better understanding of how to innovate their business model and are more aware of factors that drive business productivity and growth. Over nine in 10 (92%) say they have shared what they learned or gained with others in their business within six weeks of completing the programme.
The advice given to help business leaders embrace working in a post-Covid era also resulted in almost four in five (78%) reporting improved employee engagement.
Help to Grow: Management has supported leaders from often under-represented demographics. More than a fifth (17%) of participants identified as being from ethnic minority backgrounds, compared to 6% of all UK SME owners, whilst a third (34%) were women, compared to 24% of UK SME owners. A broad range of ages were also welcomed to the course with one in five aged between 50-65 and a quarter aged between 25-34.
Report findings3 also showed that 91% of participants would recommend Help to Grow: Management to other business leaders.
Clare Halliday, Managing Director of Refreshing Scotland Ltd, in Roslin, participated in the course at Strathclyde University Business School. She said: “I signed up for the Help to Grow: Management Course because I wanted to find out how to take my business forward.
“One of my biggest takeaways was that it taught me how to say no and offload customers that weren’t the right fit for us, and that’s a really difficult thing to do when you haven’t got a very big business.
“It definitely made me brave and it’s paid off, in the full financial year since I did the course we have doubled Refreshing Scotland’s turnover.”
Michael Hayman MBE, Chair, Small Business Charter, said:“The success of the UK’s SME sector is critical to the growth of the wider economy. The Help to Grow: Management Course is designed to directly benefit our vibrant SME sector, equipping today’s leaders and future leaders with the tools, knowledge and confidence to identify and lead change, innovation and growth.
“It’s also brilliant to see the course attracting a wider diversity of business leaders, something we want to continue embracing as the programme progresses.
“We look forward to continuing to support business leaders across Scotland and the rest of the UK as they take the steps needed to introduce change that will help them for years to come.”
Delivered by Small Business Charter-accredited business schools, the course is available in more than 50 locations across the UK with 90% of the fee participants pay covered by the government.
The value of the programme continues long after participants have finished the course with the majority (86%) continuing to interact with other SME leaders outside of their firm through networking and informal discussions.
Almost one in four (23%) also continue to be mentored by their Help to Grow: Management mentor while many are exploring further courses (67%), attending alumni events (59%) and gaining new accreditations (43%).
*Scottish business schools that now offer the Help to Grow: Management Course include:
· Aberdeen Business School at Robert Gordon University;
· School of Business at University of Dundee;
· School of Business, Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University;
· School of Business & Creative Industries at University of the West of Scotland;
· Strathclyde Business School at University of Strathclyde;
· Stirling Management School at University of Stirling.
COVID-19 and flu marketing campaign launches in England today encouraging eligible people to get their vaccines ahead of winter
A new country-wide marketing campaign urging millions of eligible people to get their flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines to top up their immunity will launch today (Monday 24 October), as almost 10 million people in England have already received their boosters.
Over-50s in Scotland can book their winter vaccines from today (October 24) protecting them from COVID-19 and flu, easing pressure on the NHS this winter.
Adverts will air across television, radio, social and digital media, stressing the importance of people getting both vaccines to increase their protection this winter.
Targeted communications for individuals with long term health conditions, pregnant women and ethnic minority communities, with a particular focus on those with low vaccine confidence, will also appear, and will include examples of where vaccine uptake rates have been low in the past.
More than 10 million people are expected to have received their COVID-19 autumn booster in England by today, with 49.5% of those 65 and over getting their flu jab, helping protect against serious illness throughout the winter.
Latest COVID-19 data has shown continued high rates of cases and hospitalisations in recent weeks.
Cases of flu have climbed quickly in the past week, indicating that the season has started earlier than normal. This is leading to increased pressure on emergency departments, with rates of hospitalisations and ICU admissions rising fastest in children under 5.
Deputy Prime Minister and Health and Social Care Secretary, Thérèse Coffey received her autumn booster this week and urges those eligible to take up the offer as soon as possible, saying: “Our COVID autumn booster and flu vaccination programmes are in full swing. Vaccines are our best line of defence against both viruses and will help keep people out of hospital this winter.
“While we have made great progress with almost 10 million people already boosted, including me, we are actively encouraging, through our new marketing campaign, everybody eligible to come forward for both jabs as soon as possible.”
Vaccination for flu is currently behind last season for pre-schoolers (12.1% in all 2 year olds and 12.8% in all 3 year olds), pregnant women (12.4%) and under 65s in a clinical risk group (18.2%).
Vaccines are the best defence against both viruses and will help reduce the amount of people requiring hospital treatment, reducing pressure on the NHS.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Thomas Waite said: “The restrictions we had in place to curb the spread of COVID and protect the NHS last year also prevented the flu virus from spreading as we would normally expect to see, so levels of immunity in the population are likely quite low.
“Flu has started circulating at low levels, mainly in children and younger people at the moment. As winter approaches, we can expect flu and COVID cases to rise in all age groups. Getting vaccinated against both viruses is the most important thing you can do to reduce your chances of getting seriously ill.
“If eligible please come forward for your jabs as soon as you can – it is important to be protected before any winter surges begin.”
Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Immunisations at UK Health Security Agency, said: “The latest data follows the pattern we predicted, and a difficult winter is expected.
“This year we want people to think about COVID-19 and flu as equally important – and both vaccines will provide a ‘boost’ this winter. COVID-19 vaccine protection decreases over time and topping up immunity will help to provide better protection against new variants.
“So far, we have seen millions of people getting their vaccines, particularly older age groups who remain at risk of severe illness and deaths from both diseases. Having both vaccines will help to protect you and to protect the health service so we can continue to treat patients with other conditions.
“I urge everyone who is eligible to book your vaccine as soon as you can and not to delay – you could be in contact with flu or COVID-19 tomorrow.”
NHS director for vaccinations and screening, Steve Russell said: “Thanks to the efforts of staff, the NHS autumn booster programme has vaccinated twice as many people as it had at this stage last year with almost 10 million people getting their COVID-19 boosters already.
“We are seeing evidence of increasing levels of COVID and flu infections in the community and care homes, and so ahead of what will be a very challenging winter, it is vital that everyone eligible gets protected; it has never been easier to get your vaccines, so book in without delay.
Building on the success of the 2021 to 2022 COVID-19 vaccination campaign, this year’s campaign will stress that the protection provided by vaccines wanes over time, so everyone eligible should boost their immunity by getting both vaccines ahead of a difficult winter.
The adverts use blue (flu) and yellow (COVID-19) halos to represent the protection both vaccines provide.
They will run on TV, video on demand, radio, social and digital channels. Highly targeted, eye-catching information on digital channels will help to reiterate the importance of boosting your immunity ahead of a difficult winter by booking jabs early.
The NHS Winter Vaccines chatbot will return, helping to guide those who are searching online for the right information. This instant online conversation tool was first developed to support last winter’s campaign and answers frequently asked questions with trusted NHS information in a single place.
Multicultural community activity will see teams of campaign ambassadors engage with a range of different ethnic groups who tend to be more vaccine hesitant. This will take place across the country in high footfall places of worship and nearby community settings. Dedicated radio adverts and unique social media material will reinforce key messages.
Around 33 million people are eligible for the flu vaccine and 26 million people are eligible for the COVID-19 booster in England.
Over-50s in Scotland can book their winter vaccines from today (October 24) protecting them from COVID-19 and flu, easing pressure on the NHS this winter.
The next review of State Pension age has been launched by the government today.The review will consider whether the rules around pensionable age are appropriate, based on the latest life expectancy data and other evidence.
The Pensions Act 2014 requires government to regularly review State Pension age, and in accordance with law, this latest Review must be published by 7 May 2023.
State Pension age is currently 66 and two further increases are currently set out in legislation: a gradual rise to 67 for those born on or after April 1960; and a gradual rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046 for those born on or after April 1977. The first Review of State Pension age was undertaken in 2017 and concluded that the next Review should consider whether the increase to age 68 should be brought forward to 2037-39 before tabling any changes to legislation.
As the number of people over State Pension age increases, due to a growing population and people on average living longer, the government needs to make sure that decisions on how to manage its costs are, robust, fair and transparent for taxpayers now and in the future. It must also ensure that as the population becomes older, the State Pension continues to provide the foundation for retirement planning and financial security.
Therefore, this review will consider a wide range of evidence, for example, it will:
examine the implications of the latest life expectancy data
provide a balanced assessment of the costs of an ageing population and future State Pension expenditure
consider labour market changes and people’s ability and opportunities to work over State Pension age
and develop options for setting the legislative timetable for State Pension age that are transparent and fair
As set out in the 2014 Act, the Secretary of State is commissioning two independent reports to contribute to the evidence considered during this review: a report from the Government Actuary and a report on other factors.
The Government Actuary will provide a report which must assess the age of entitlement in legislation by analysing the latest life expectancy projections;
The report on other relevant factors will consider recent trends in life expectancy and the range of metrics we could use when setting State Pension age. This is to ensure the way we set State Pension age is robust, transparent and provides fairness to both taxpayers and pensioners. This report will be led by Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE., CMG.
The UK Government agreed during the passage of the Pensions Act 2014 that the State Pension age Review would consider evidence from across the UK. The review will therefore consider differences across countries and regions, including Northern Ireland; it will also consider the effects for individuals with different characteristics and opportunities, including those at risk of disadvantage.
The report on other relevant factors will consider recent trends in life expectancy and the range of metrics we could use when setting State Pension age. This is to ensure the way we set State Pension age is robust, transparent and provides fairness to both taxpayers and pensioners. This report will be led by Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE., CMG. The Terms of Reference for this report can be found here.
