Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee has today launched a new call for views into civil legal assistance, covering Civil Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance for civil issues, and grant funding for advice organisations.
The call for views is part of a new inquiry, which aims to explore what is and is not working within the current legal aid system. It also aims to find out what changes could be made to the system in the short and long term to improve access to civil legal assistance.
The inquiry follows evidence the Committee heard which highlighted significant issues that make it difficult for people to access civil legal assistance. It is taking place against a backdrop of continued commentary about the fall in the number of solicitors offering to undertake legal aid work in recent months.
The Committee’s work will focus on civil justice issues, which are the branch of the law which deals with disputes about rights and responsibilities. These can include important issues around housing, relationships or social security issues.
Short-term and long-term reforms to the legal aid system are currently being considered by the Scottish Government and the Committee will share its findings to contribute to that work.
The Committee’s call for views opened yesterday and runs until 17 April 2025.
Reflecting on the launch of the call for views, Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, said:“Civil legal aid is a vital tool that helps ensure that everyone can have access to justice. It’s particularly important for the most vulnerable in our society who can face financial and societal challenges when trying to access legal advice and representation.
“Whether in relation to our work on the Regulation of Legal Services Bill, Civil Court Fees or with our scrutiny of the work of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, increasing challenges with access to legal aid have been repeatedly raised as a significant concern.
“In this inquiry, we’re keen to understand more about what could be done to improve access to legal aid. We’re particularly keen to hear from solicitors, organisations offering advice on civil justice issues and organisations that support people in accessing civil legal assistance.”
Ending NHS England will ‘reduce bureaucracy, make savings and empower NHS staff to deliver better care for patients’
Major reforms to empower NHS staff and put patients first
Changes will drive efficiency and empower staff to deliver better care as part of Prime Minister’s Plan for Change
Move will reduce complex bureaucracy and undo the damage caused by 2012 reorganisation
Reforms to reduce bureaucracy, make savings and empower NHS staff to deliver better care for patients have been set out today by the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
NHS England will be brought back into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to put an end to the duplication resulting from 2 organisations doing the same job in a system currently holding staff back from delivering for patients.
By stripping back layers of red tape and bureaucracy, more resources will be put back into the front line rather than being spent on unnecessary admin.
The reforms will reverse the 2012 top-down reorganisation of the NHS which created burdensome layers of bureaucracy without any clear lines of accountability. As Lord Darzi’s independent investigation into the state of the NHS found, the effects of this are still felt today and have left patients worse off under a convoluted and broken system.
The current system also penalises hardworking staff at NHS England and DHSC who desperately want to improve the lives of patients but who are being held back by the current overly bureaucratic and fragmented system.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “This is the final nail in the coffin of the disastrous 2012 reorganisation, which led to the longest waiting times, lowest patient satisfaction and most expensive NHS in history.
“When money is so tight, we cannot justify such a complex bureaucracy with 2 organisations doing the same jobs. We need more doers and fewer checkers, which is why I’m devolving resources and responsibilities to the NHS frontline.
“NHS staff are working flat out but the current system sets them up to fail. These changes will support the huge number of capable, innovative and committed people across the NHS to deliver for patients and taxpayers.
“Just because reform is difficult does not mean it should not be done. This government will never duck the hard work of reform.
“We will take on vested interests and change the status quo, so the NHS can once again be there for you when you need it.”
Sir James Mackey, who will be taking over as Transition CEO of NHS England, said: “We know that while unsettling for our staff, today’s announcement will bring welcome clarity as we focus on tackling the significant challenges ahead and delivering on the government’s priorities for patients.
“From managing the COVID pandemic, the biggest and most successful vaccine campaign which got the country back on its feet, to introducing the latest, most innovative new treatments for patients, NHS England has played a vital role in improving the nation’s health. I have always been exceptionally proud to work for the NHS – and our staff in NHS England have much to be proud of.
“But we now need to bring NHS England and DHSC together so we can deliver the biggest bang for our buck for patients, as we look to implement the 3 big shifts – analogue to digital, sickness to prevention and hospital to community – and build an NHS fit for the future.”
Incoming NHS England chair, Dr Penny Dash, said: “I am committed to working with Jim, the board and wider colleagues at NHS England to ensure we start 2025 to 2026 in the strongest possible position to support the wider NHS to deliver consistently high-quality care for patients and value for money for taxpayers.
“I will also be working closely with Alan Milburn to lead the work to bring together NHS England and DHSC to reduce duplication and streamline functions.”
Work will begin immediately to return many of NHS England’s current functions to DHSC. A longer-term programme of work will deliver the changes to bring NHS England back into the department, while maintaining a ‘laser-like focus’ on the government’s priorities to cut waiting times and responsibly manage finances.
It will also realise the untapped potential of the NHS as a single payer system, using its centralised model to procure cutting-edge technology more rapidly, get a better deal for taxpayers on procurement and work more closely with the life sciences sector to develop the treatments of the future.
The reforms to deliver a more efficient, leaner centre will also free up capacity and help deliver significant savings of hundreds of millions of pounds a year, which will be reinvested in frontline services to cut waiting times through the government’s Plan for Change.
The changes will crucially also give more power and autonomy to local leaders and systems – instead of weighing them down in increasing mountains of red tape, they will be given the tools and trust they need to deliver health services for the local communities they serve with more freedom to tailor provision to meet local needs.
The number of people working in the centre has more than doubled since 2010, when the NHS delivered the shortest waiting times and highest patient satisfaction in its history. Today, the NHS delivers worse care for patients but is more expensive than ever, meaning that taxpayers are paying more but getting less.
Too much centralisation and over-supervision has led to a tangled bureaucracy, which focuses on compliance and box-ticking, rather than patient care, value for money and innovation. In one example, highlighted by Dame Patricia Hewitt’s 2023 review, one integrated care system received 97 ad-hoc requests in a month from DHSC and NHS England, in addition to the 6 key monthly, 11 weekly and 3 daily data returns.
The review also revealed the challenges caused by duplication – citing examples of tensions, wasted time and needless frictional costs generated by uncoordinated pursuit of organisational goals that do not take account of their wider effects.
Substantial reform, not just short term investment, is needed to deliver the government’s Plan for Change mission to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future, and this announcement is one of a series of steps the government is taking to make the NHS more productive and resilient so that it can meet the needs of the population it cares for.
NHS England’s new leadership team, Sir Jim Mackey and Dr Penny Dash, will lead this transformation while re-asserting financial discipline and continuing to deliver on the government’s priority of cutting waiting times through the Plan for Change.
These reforms will provide the structure necessary to drive forward the 3 big shifts identified by government as crucial to building an NHS fit for the future – analogue to digital, sickness to prevention and hospital to community.
Since July, the government has already taken significant steps to get the NHS back on its feet, including bringing an end to the resident doctor strikes, delivering an extra 2 million appointments 7 months early and cutting waiting lists by 193,000 since July.
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement that NHS England is to be abolished, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Everyone wants more to be spent on frontline services so the sick and injured can be treated sooner.
“Delays and long waits for operations and appointments have left several million unable to work, with a knock-on effect on economic growth.
“More of a focus and greater investment in the entire NHS team of staff, not just nurses and doctors, would help turn around the fortunes of a floundering NHS.
“Put simply the health service needs thousands more staff and to be able to hold on to experienced employees. At the moment, it’s struggling to do that. Giving staff a decent pay rise would help no end.
“But this announcement will have left NHS England staff reeling. Just days ago they learned their numbers were to be slashed by half, now they discover their employer will cease to exist.
“The way the news of the axing has been handled is nothing short of shambolic. It could surely have been managed in a more sympathetic way.
“Thousands of expert staff will be left wondering what their future holds. Wherever possible, their valuable skills must be redeployed and used to the benefit of the reformed NHS and patients.
“Ministers have to reassure employees right across the NHS that there’s a robust plan to rejuvenate a flailing NHS and deliver for working people.”
Following Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement to scrap NHS England, a leading cybersecurity expert has warned the move could leave the health service dangerously exposed to cyberattacks.
While the proposed reforms aim to cut bureaucracy and streamline services, he warns that removing NHS England’s centralised cybersecurity infrastructure is “like a hospital suddenly removing its emergency department and expecting patients to fend for themselves.”
Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point Software, said, “While the Prime Minister’s sweeping reforms cover everything from cutting red tape to reining in bureaucracy, one critical area must not be left in the lurch: our cybersecurity defences. Scrapping NHS England’s centralised services is not just a bureaucratic shake-up; it’s like a hospital suddenly removing its emergency department and expecting patients to fend for themselves.
“At present, NHS England provides the backbone for our cyber defences, from a unified email service to specialised threat protection. Removing these central functions risks leaving individual NHS Trusts to fend off cyberattacks with a patchwork of under-resourced teams. As the adage goes, ‘a chain is only as strong as its weakest link,’ and our cyber chain is already under severe strain with attacks on the rise.
“Moreover, dismantling these central services could open the door for a surge of third-party suppliers to step in. While more suppliers might seem like a win for competition, it also fragments our defence and leaves us vulnerable; each new supplier is a potential weak link in our security armour.
“We need a robust, unified security system that acts like a digital fortress, not a hodgepodge of outsourced patches. In the midst of these broad reforms, let’s ensure the cyber element isn’t left out in the cold. Our digital defences must be retained or replaced with an equally robust solution; otherwise, we’re setting the stage for a cyber disaster.”
The right to guaranteed hours for zero hours workers.
Protection from unfair dismissal from day one in the job.
Sick pay for all workers, from the first day of absence
The right for unions to access workplaces to speak to workers.
The establishment of a state Fair Work Agency to bring together existing bodies to better enforce the law.
The common sense reforms take a step towards resolving key issues for many workers, such as being parked on zero hours contracts for months or years on end. Or workers being afraid to take a better job because currently they can be dismissed for no reason within the first two years.
Such steps take the UK closer to equivalent countries in the strength of its employment law.
After consultations with businesses, trade unions and the wider public at the end of last year, the government tabled a number of other notable changes when the Bill returned to parliament this week.
Here are some of the key ones:
Zero hours contracts
Agency workers will have to be offered guaranteed hours contracts reflecting their normal hours, based on a 12-week reference period. This closes a loophole that could have allowed employers to switch from employing zero hours workers directly to hiring them via an agency.
There is a provision that new rights to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of a shift and payment for cancelled, moved and curtailed shifts can be changed if workers and an employer agree alternative arrangements in a collective agreement. This means arrangements can be tailored to suit particular workplaces.
Sick pay
The government has confirmed that workers will be entitled to receive minimum sick pay of 80 per cent of their normal wages or statutory sick pay, whichever is the lower. This largely affects workers who are not currently entitled to statutory sick pay. The government had modelled a rate as low as 60 per cent.
Union access
The right for a trade union to access a workplace to support workers and talk to them about joining has been extended to a digital right of access as well. This will be especially important where workers work outside an office and are better contacted by digital means such as email or intranet posts.
Unions have been given stronger rights to access workplaces when workers are seeking recognition. Employers will be barred from carrying unfair practices to undermine unions from the start of the process.
Trade union rights
Current law deliberately ties unions up in red tape, which gives employers great opportunities to challenge strike action in the courts on technicalities. This will reduce somewhat as the government reduces the amount of information unions must disclose to employers when they launch a strike ballot.
Meanwhile, notice for strike action will be cut from 14 days currently to ten days. And the mandate for taking strike action after a vote in favour doubled to 12 months.
Industrial action is a last resort for trade union members. After all, workers usually suffer a significant loss of income. But a vote for action can give real weight to union negotiations and kickstart talks when progress has stalled.
These changes mean some of the artificial barriers to action have been removed.
Work still to do
While the Employment Rights Bill will take important steps towards a fairer economy, there are further reforms required. These include:
Some workers could receive less sick pay under these changes than they currently receive. This should be remedied and a review conducted to improve the paltry headline rate of SSP.
A huge amount of detail will be set out in subsequent regulations laid by the government. It is crucial that new “initial periods of employment” during a worker’s first nine months in the job provide sufficient protection from unfair sacking, including a route to take a case to the employment tribunal. And that loopholes are not opened up stopping workers getting guaranteed hours contracts.
The Bill makes it easier for workers to gain recognition for their trade union. But leaves in place a law requiring a three-year gap between recognition attempts, benefiting union-busting employers. This gap should be significantly reduced.
The government will delay the repeal of a Tory measure that requires a 50 per cent turnout for a strike law to be valid until after it has introduced electronic balloting.
The government has pledged to reform current employment status rules that govern whether someone is self-employed, a worker with some rights, or an employee with full rights. An overhaul is needed to stop exploitative employers attempting to deny workers their protections.
The passage of the Employment Rights Bill represents another significant step forward for working people.
The recent amendments further strengthen government efforts to crack down on worker exploitation and strengthen their voice in the workplace.
TUC: Work-related ill-health is costing the UK economy over £400 million a week
New analysis shows that number of days lost due to work-related ill-health has rocketed by a third since 2010 to 34 million days
Work-related ill-health reduced economic output by £22bn in 2023
TUC says findings highlight the importance of driving up job quality in the UK and stronger rights at work ahead of Employment Rights Bill returning
Work-related ill-health is costing the UK economy over £415 million a week, according to new TUC analysis published on Monday.
The analysis of official statistics shows that the number of days lost due to health conditions – including stress, depression and anxiety – has shot up by a third since 2010.
In 2023 to 2024 (the latest year for which figures are available) 34 million working days were lost to work-related ill-health – compared to 22 million in 2010.
The TUC says the findings – which are published as the Employment Rights Bill returns to parliament – show the “urgent importance” of improving the quality of work in the UK.
In 2022 to 2023 (the latest year for which figures are available) work-related ill-health is estimated to have reduced economic output by £21.6bn.
Boom in insecure work
The TUC says the rise in days lost to work-related ill health has coincided with a huge boom in insecure work.
The union body estimates that over a similar period (2011-2023) the number of people in precarious employment also rocketed by a third to over 4 million.
A separate report out this week from the Commission for Healthier Working Lives suggests that poor quality work can harm employee health.It states:
“Most health conditions develop outside work, but for a significant number of people, work itself is the cause. Persistent insecurity, workplace discrimination and extreme demands take a serious toll on health. In some cases, poor-quality work is even worse for health than being unemployed.”
The TUC says driving up employment standards will help improve staff well-being, health and productivity. It will also ensure that more people with disabilities or health conditions can stay in work.
This view was backed up by polling last autumn which revealed that:
Three-quarters (75 per cent) of managers think that strengthened employment rights will improve employee health, compared to just 4 per cent who disagree
Seven in 10 (74 per cent) believe that strengthening employment rights will improve workforce retention, compared to just 6 per cent who do not.
Employment Rights Bill back in parliament
The government’s Employment Rights Bill returned to parliament this week for its report stage. The Bill will deliver “common-sense reforms” which bring the UK closer to the European mainstream on workers’ rights, the union body says.
The TUC says the legislation will help to deliver better quality work in every corner of the country by cracking down on insecure work and banning exploitative zero-hours contracts.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: ”Improving the quality of work in Britain is good for workers and our economy. Work related ill-health is costing us hundreds of millions each week – that’s billions of pounds down the drain every year.
”That’s why the government’s Employment Rights Bill is so important. Cracking down on exploitative practices like zero-hours contracts and giving people more security will boost workers’ health, well-being and productivity. It will also help more people stay in work.
“We need to turn the corner on Britain’s low-rights, low-pay economic model that has been tested to destruction over the last 14 years. Giving working people more control and predictability over their lives will help create a happier, healthier and more robust workforce.”
New era of global instability means Government must go further and faster in delivering missions.
PM to take on ‘cottage industry of checkers and blockers slowing down delivery for working people’.
Digital revolution underpins moves to a more agile, effective and active state – refocused on delivering Plan for Change.
Tech and AI teams will drive improvement and efficiency in public services with 2,000 new TechTrack apprentices.
Taxpayer’s money saved by slashing waste on pricey contractors.
Costs of regulation to be slashed for businesses to boost growth that puts more money in working people’s pockets.
The Prime Minister will today set out how he will “go further and faster in reshaping the state to make it work for working people.”
Reflecting on international events of the last few weeks, he will say that national security is economic security, and therefore “the fundamental task of politics right now is to take the decisions needed on national security, to deliver security for people at home.”
The Prime Minister will set out his belief in the power of “an active government that takes care of the big questions, so people can get on with their lives.”
He will share his diagnosis that the state has become bigger, but weaker and isn’t delivering on its core purpose, before outlining his mission to reshape it. He will say that the new global “era of instability” means that the Government must double down in delivering security for working people and renewing our nation.
The intervention follows the Government’s step change in approach to regulation and regulators, following the abolition of the Payments Systems Regulator as the Prime Minister commits to a government wide target to cut administrative costs of regulation by 25%.
New plans announced to support delivery will include new AI and tech teams sent into public sector departments to drive improvements and efficiency in public services. One in 10 civil servants will work in tech and digital roles within the next five years with 2,000 tech apprenticeships turbo charging the transformation.
The moves come as the Government slashes the costs of red tape by a quarter for businesses.
It is expected the Prime Minister will say: “The great forces buffeting the lives of working people, and an era of instability driving in their lives, the need for greater urgency now could not be any clearer. We must move further and faster on security and renewal.
“Every pound spent, every regulation, every decision must deliver for working people…If we push forward with the digitisation of government services. There are up to £45bn worth of savings and productivity benefits, ready to be realised.
“And that’s before we even consider the golden opportunity of artificial intelligence. An opportunity I am determined to seize.”
Fundamentally reshaping the way the British state delivers and serves working people by becoming more tech-driven, productive, agile and Mission focused will be set out alongside further detail on the digitalisation of public services and the wider British state.
The approach will be underpinned by the mantra that “No person’s substantive time should be spent on a task where digital or AI can do it better, quicker and to the same high quality and standard.”
The digitisation will include the sweeping modernisations, a new apprenticeship scheme, TechTrack, will bring 2,000 apprentices into public sector departments by 2030, making sure the UK Government has the skills needed to overhaul public services using tech – creating new opportunities across the country and delivering on the Plan for Change.
DSIT unveiled this week that initial tests of an AI helper for call centre workers included in the bundle, built in partnership with Citizens’ Advice, showed that it could halve the amount of time it takes call handlers to give responses to complex questions on anything from consumer rights to legal support.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “There is a £45 billion jackpot to secure if we use technology properly across our public sector – but we can’t hope to come close to securing that if we don’t have the right technical talent with us in government.
“Not only will these changes help fix our public services, but it will save taxpayer cash by slashing the need for thousands of expensive contractors and create opportunities across the country across the country as part of our Plan for Change.”
Research published today (Monday 10 March) by the Electoral Commission reveals that nearly three quarters of young people in Scotland (73%) think children and young people should learn more about politics in school or college.Young people are most interested in learning more about political parties and the difference voting makes.
The research, which surveyed 11 to 25-year-olds from across the UK, also found that 81% of young people in Scotland who live in homes where politics is discussed weekly or more often, say they are confident about voting compared to only 30% of young people living in homes where politics is never discussed.
More positively, young people who responded to the survey said that hearing about politics at school or college is, along with at home, the most trusted source of information – more so that TV or social media.
The Electoral Commission is calling for all young people in Scotland to have the opportunity to learn about democracy in school, with better support for educators to deliver engaging and effective lessons.
With the voting age being 16 in Scotland at Scottish Parliament and council elections, it is more important than ever to ensure young people understand our democracy and how they can play an active role in it.
Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said: “Young people should feel empowered to take part in our democracy, yet too many in Scotland feel disconnected from politics and uncertain about how decisions that affect them locally are made.
“It is crucial young people are equipped with the knowledge and confidence they need to engage with democracy and cast their vote.
“The Electoral Commission is expanding its work with schools and youth groups across Scotland to support democratic education, but meaningful change also requires updates to the curriculum and dedicated time for teachers to deliver democratic education in schools, ensuring all young people understand and participate in democracy.
“We will continue to work with the Scottish Government to encourage this positive change.”
The findings are being launched to mark the start of Welcome to Your Vote Week, the Electoral Commission’s annual campaign celebrating democracy and promoting further democratic education.
This year’s theme, ‘Get Informed and Get Involved,’ encourages young people to access accurate information on democracy and elections, helping them take the first steps to engage locally.”
I, Dhruva Kumar, as a former MP candidate for the ALBA Party and a lifelong advocate for Scottish self-determination, write to you with urgency: Scotland stands at a crossroads – and the stakes could not be higher.
The story of the North Sea oil boom is one of lost opportunity, misguided policy, and the biggest wealth gap in European history. In 1970, both the United Kingdom and Norway struck black gold beneath the frigid waters of the North Sea. Yet, half a century later, their destinies could not be more different.
Norway, choosing state ownership over corporate giveaways, transformed its oil wealth into the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund now worth $1.74 trillion, or over $300,000 per citizen. The UK, in stark contrast, sold its reserves to private markets, leading to billions in corporate profits while returning scraps to the public purse. In 2020, the UK earned a paltry £0.2 billion from North Sea oil, compared to Norway’s staggering £9 billion 45-fold difference.
Scotland, as a resource-rich nation within the UK, has been left with little to show for its natural bounty. The revenues that could have provided world-class public services, infrastructure, and economic security instead filled the coffers of multinational oil giants. Meanwhile, Scottish citizens were left with rising costs of living, austerity-driven policies, and no lasting legacy from their natural wealth.
Supporters of the Union argue that Scotland benefits from UK-wide economic stability. But how can one defend stability when London-centric policies have squandered Scotland’s most valuable resource? The evidence is overwhelming: had Scotland followed Norway’s model, it could have built its sovereign wealth fund, securing long-term prosperity for generations.
Norway’s $1.4 trillion fund is not a fantasy-it is proof that sovereignty works. Westminster’s refusal to steward Scotland’s wealth is not a mistake-it is a policy.
Publish this reality: If Scotland had retained control of its oil since 1970, its sovereign fund could exceed $1.2 trillion today to pay every citizen £20,000 annually for life.
Westminster’s track record is clear:
2022 Windfall Taxes: UK oil giants like BP and Shell reported $40 billion in profits, yet contributed minimally to public coffers.
Mismanagement: The UK has no sovereign wealth fund, while Norway’s grows by $150 billion annually (2021–2023 average).
The UK’s windfall tax fiasco of 2022 underscores this betrayal. While BP and Shell raked in $40 billion in profits, Scots faced soaring energy bills. This is not governance-it is exploitation.
GB Energy is as real as a workable heat pump on the Shetland Islands during the dead of winter-a hollow slogan masking systemic neglect.
The question for Scots is simple: do we continue allowing our wealth to slip through our fingers, or do we take control of our own destiny? The answer lies in sovereignty.
Yours sincerely,
Dhruva Kumar
Former Glasgow South MP Candidate
Depute Convenor, Media Officer, Alba Party Glasgow
Scottish Labour has revealed the SNP has cut an eye-watering £660 million from Edinburgh Council’s coffers over the last 12 years.
Local authorities across Scotland are currently being forced to make difficult choices to keep services afloat.
New analysis by Scottish Labour has shown that the SNP government cut a cumulative total of £7.8 billion from core Council budgets across Scotland between 2013-14 and 2025-26.
This includes an eyewatering £660 million in Edinburgh Council alone.
Scottish Labour has said these cuts have pushed Edinburgh Council to breaking point and left Scots paying the price for SNP failure.
The effect of this financial vandalism has been evident with core council services facing extreme financial pressure.
Edinburgh is also in the grips of a brutal housing crisis.
Commenting, Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian Sarah Boyack said: “Services in Edinburgh are under immense pressure because of the austerity the SNP has inflicted on Councils.
“The SNP government has short-changed Edinburgh Council year after year.
“These brutal cuts have pushed Councils across Scotland to breaking point and forced them to make impossible choices to protect lifeline services.
“Our capital is in desperate need of fair funding as the Council is struggling to deliver vital services with less and less resources.
“The Labour UK Government decisively ended the era of Tory austerity, but Scots are still being forced to pay the price for SNP failure.
“A Scottish Labour Government will put an end to SNP mismanagement and cuts and deliver fair funding for Edinburgh so working people don’t have to plug the gaps of government cuts.”
Scottish Labour Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury added: “Years of the SNP Government underfunding our councils is hitting residents harder than ever.
“From social care, third sector services or the extortionate cost of housing the public are being forced to bear the consequences of SNP mismanagement yet again; Edinburgh and Lothian need a new direction.”
Cumulative cuts to core Council budgets, 2013-14 to 2025-26:
Gordon Macdonald MSP has marked “the transformative impact of SNP policies” as new figures show 42,368,125 of bus journeys were made by under 22s in Edinburgh since the SNP Government introduced the policy three years ago.
Earlier this week it was revealed that over 200 million free bus journeys had been made by young people across Scotland. The scheme continues to help eradicate child poverty, tackle climate change and grow the economy by providing free access to education, employment and leisure.
Through the 2025-26 Budget, the Scottish Government will provide £409 million for concessionary bus travel, providing access to free bus travel for almost 2.3 million people.
Commenting, Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “Eradicating child poverty is the number one priority of this SNP Government, and by facilitating 42,368,125 journeys for under 22s across the city – , the highest recorded across all local authority areas – we are making progress towards this goal.
“With over 200 million journeys now made across Scotland, this SNP policy is saving young people and their families significant amounts of money while creating new opportunities.
“This policy has been one of the most instrumental in improving the lives of young people across Edinburgh, supporting our bus services, our community, and our climate.
“This is the SNP under John Swinney delivering on Scotland’s priorities and for the city’s young people.”
Journeys made for the Under 22’s Free Bus Scheme since its launch, broken down by local authority area (as at 1/3/25):
The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee is looking at what changes need to be made to ensure that these can deliver their key role in holding the government to account.
Ensuring committees are structured and equipped to deliver their key role in holding the Scottish Government to account is being considered by the Scottish Parliament’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
The inquiry will look at issues such as the size of membership, remit of committees and the impact, if any, of introducing elected conveners. It will also explore how committees evaluate their work and the approaches to pre and post legislative scrutiny.
Now the Committee has launched two call for views so that those who engage with committees can have their say on what changes need to be made.
Speaking as the call for views launched, Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP said:“The Scottish Parliament is a relatively young legislature. But that does not mean that we do not need to reflect on our practices and procedures to make sure they are meeting the needs of the Scotland in which we find ourselves today.
“Committees play an essential role in the work of the Parliament. Scrutinising legislation and holding the Government to account are vital. But we want to know if there are changes that need to be made to make these work more effectively.
“We know, for example, that elected conveners are in place in other parliaments in the UK and beyond, but what impact might they make at Holyrood? And would changes to the remits structure and size of committees have an impact on how they do their work.
“We want to hear from you if you have worked with or given evidence to a committee about what practices and procedures you think needs to change.”
Committee effectiveness is about looking at how committees work and whether there are things which could help them work better.
The Committee will consider three themes a part of its inquiry:
Structure
Elected Conveners
Evaluation
The Committee is expected to hold oral evidence sessions over the next three months and publish its report with findings and recommendations in the autumn.
More information can be found on the Committee’s webpage.
The Westminster Government will today table amendments to the Employment Rights Bill
The Government has laid amendments to the Employment Rights Bill following weeks of consultation with business groups and unions.
The Bill will support the Government’s mission to increase productivity and create the right conditions for long-term sustainable, inclusive, and secure economic growth, delivering on the Plan for Change.
Improving workers’ rights is a key element of the government’s Plan for Change by putting more money in people’s pockets, improving working people’s day to day lives and delivering real life improvements felt by working people.
The Government yesterday tabled amendments to the Employment Rights Bill following weeks of consultation and responses from business groups, trade unions and wider civil society.
The Labour government says these amendments demonstrate the Government’s commitment to working in partnership with businesses and trade unions to ensure the plan to Make Work Pay is firmly pro-business and pro-worker.
Responses to five consultations ranging from zero-hours contracts to Statutory Sick Pay will also be published which show how the Government has listened to the views of stakeholders.
The Government’s Plan to Make Work Pay is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards and create opportunities for people across the country. These amendments will deliver on the Plan for Change by tackling the low pay, poor working conditions and poor job security that has been holding the UK economy back.
This landmark Bill will extend the employment protections already given by the best British companies to millions more workers. This will put the UK back in step with competitors in other advanced economies, who are already acting to adapt to the changing world of work.
The Bill’s impact assessment, which was published last year, showed that many of the policies within the Employment Rights Bill could help support the Government’s Mission for Growth.
It concluded that that the package could have “a positive but small direct impact on economic growth” and will “help to raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all.” This is the result of a pro-business, pro-worker, approach which is going to help usher in a decade of national renewal.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “For too long millions of workers have been forced to face insecure, low paid and irregular work, while our economy is blighted by low growth and low productivity.
“We are turning the tide – with the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, boosting living standards and bringing with it an upgrade to our growth prospects and the reforms our economy so desperately needs.
“We have been working closely with businesses and workers to progress this landmark bill and deliver our Plan for Change – unleashing growth and making work pay for everyone.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Past Governments’ low growth and low productivity economy simply did not deliver what the UK needs, which is why we are choosing stability, investment and reform, not chaos, austerity and decline. This is why our mission to grow the economy as part of our Plan for Change is based on putting more money in working people’s pockets by making wages fairer and work more secure.
“Many businesses already have worker friendly practices in place and can attest to the positive impact they have on retention, productivity and job satisfaction. We want to go further and untap the UK’s full potential by attracting the best talent and giving business the confidence to hire to help the economy grow.”
The amendments set out later today carefully consider different views and needs of workers, businesses and the whole economy and looks to deliver measures that support the mutual interests required to drive a growing, modern economy.
The government says they are delivering reform through the Plan for Change to create a decade of national renewal, meaning increased living standards across every part of the UK and putting politics back in the service of working people.
They come following responses received to five Government consultations:
Application of zero hours contracts measures to agency workersAll workers, including up to 900,000 agency workers in the UK, should be able to access a contract which reflects the hours they regularly work. These amendments will ensure that agency work does not become a loophole in our plans to end exploitative zero hours contracts. They will offer increased security for working people to receive reasonable notice of shifts and proportionate pay when shifts are cancelled, curtailed or moved at short notice – whilst retaining the necessary flexibility for employers in how they manage their workforces.
Strengthening remedies against abuse of rules on collective redundancyThe Government will increase the maximum period of the protective award from 90 days to 180 days and issue further guidance for employers on consultation processes for collective redundancies. Increasing the maximum value of the award means an Employment Tribunal will be able to grant larger awards to employees for an employer’s failure to meet consultation requirements. We want to enhance the deterrent against employers deliberately ignoring their collective consultation obligations and ensure it is not financially beneficial to do so.
Creating a Modern Framework for Industrial RelationsThe government is updating the legislative framework in which trade unions operate to align it with modern work practices. We are ensuring industrial relations are underpinned by collaboration, proportionality, accountability, and a system that balances the interests of workers, businesses and the wider public, with further details in the consultation response.
Strengthening Statutory Sick PayThe Government will ensure the safety net of Statutory Sick Pay is available to those who need it the most, making it a legal right for all workers for the very first time. Up to 1.3 million employees on low wages who find themselves unable to work due to sickness will either receive 80 per cent of their average weekly earnings or the current rate of Statutory Sick Pay – whichever is lower. We are also ensuring employees have a right to Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of sickness absence, so they are able to take the time off they need to recover and stay in work rather than risk dropping out altogether. The changes will also reduce the amount of people going to work when ill and therefore the spread of infections in the workplace – boosting productivity and benefiting businesses.
Tackling non-compliance in the umbrella company marketThe Government will act to ensure that workers can access comparable rights and protections when working through a so-called umbrella company as they would when taken on directly by a recruitment agency. Enforcement action can be taken against any umbrella companies that do not comply.
A strong package of workers’ rights and protections goes hand in hand with a strong economy because a secure workforce will be more productive and have more confidence to spend in the economy. This contributes to growth – both through the work that people do, and the money that they spend.
As well as creating protections for people at work, the Government is determined to create a modern economy that works for businesses and workers alike. We are delivering these reforms collaboratively, pragmatically, and in a reasonable timeframe where businesses can prepare.
For businesses to thrive they must operate on a level playing field. The Fair Work Agency will take strong action against rogue employers that exploit their workers, and it will provide better support to the majority of businesses who want to do right by their staff.
The Government says they will continue to hold continuous extensive engagement as they develop their Plan to Make Work Pay and as the details of these polices are developed.
Paul Nowak, TUC General Secretary said: “Everyone deserves security and respect at work. These common-sense reforms will improve the quality of jobs in this country, boost growth and put more money into people’s pockets.
“Policies like banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, ensuring protection from unfair dismissal from day one, and tackling ‘fire and rehire’ are long overdue and necessary.
“This is about creating a modern economy that works for workers and business alike. Driving up employment standards in Britain will stop good employers from being undercut by the bad and will mean more workers benefit from a union voice.”
Interim Acas CEO, Dan Ellis, said: “Acas is committed to making working life better for everyone in Britain and we welcome the Government’s focus on improving workplace relations.
“The Government has made some new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill that impacts agency workers, statutory sick pay rules and employers that want to make 20 or more employees redundant.
“The Bill is currently going through Parliament and is subject to further debate and revisions. We will continue to work with the Government and partners to support businesses and workers to prepare for the new law changes.”
Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the BCC, said: “Employers will be relieved to see some amendments, at what is clearly a milestone moment for Government.
“It has consulted business – and this is reflected in some of the decisions on the future shape of the legislation. There is much here to welcome as sensible moves that will help ensure that employment works for both the business and the individual, including the nine-month statutory probation period and the promise of a light touch approach, as well as simplifying rules on collective consultation.
“But businesses remain cautious, and it is important to continue ensuring the Bill strikes the right balance. Employers will look forward to hearing, engaging with and shaping further detail.
“The government must continue its positive approach to engagement with firms and remain open to changes. Doing so will ensure this legislation is proportionate, affordable, and right for both firms and their employees.”
Centrica Group Chief Executive, Chris O’Shea said: “We are fully supportive of this legislation. This isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a foundation for the high-growth, high-skill economy the UK needs.
“While no one business has all the answers, our experience at Centrica shows that our business thrives when our people thrive – so stronger rights for workers mean stronger businesses, and that’s a win for everyone.
“As we look to invest billions in green energy, nuclear, and hydrogen storage, having a skilled and engaged workforce is critical to delivering on the UK’s energy security and net zero ambitions. The Government’s wider growth and energy missions rely on businesses and workers pulling in the same direction—I hope this Bill helps make that possible.”
Julie Abraham, CEO of Richer Sounds said: “At Richer Sounds, we have always put the treatment and wellbeing of our colleagues at the forefront of everything we do. Any responsible business will know that well-treated and well-paid colleagues will be beneficial in numerous ways.
“Happy colleagues are likely to be more productive. This also leads to reduced stock loss and higher staff retention, which in turn, minimises recruitment and training costs, not to mention disruption to established teams.
“We support any government legislation that will help end exploitative working practices and improve the lives of working people.”
Ann Francke OBE, Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), said: “The Employment Rights Bill represents a significant step forward in improving conditions for the UK’s workforce. Many of these measures reflect what successful, responsible and forward-looking employers are already doing.
“CMI has welcomed the Government’s collaborative approach in progressing this Bill, working alongside both businesses and unions to find the balance needed. The real key to success, however, will be the ability of skilled managers to implement these changes, ensuring they get it right and can deliver growth and productivity benefits for organisations whilst ensuring individuals are treated fairly.
“We look forward to working closely with the Fair Work Agency to ensure managers and leaders are equipped with the skills they need to navigate this milestone piece of legislation.”
Simon Deakin, Professor of Law, University of Cambridge said: “The research we have done in Cambridge shows that on average, strengthening employment laws in this country in the last 50 years has had pro-employment effects.
“The consensus on the economic impacts of labour laws is that, far from being harmful to growth, they contribute positively to productivity. Labour laws also help ensure that growth is more inclusive and that gains are distributed more widely across society.”
Claire Costello, Chief of People and Inclusion Officer – Co-op: “The Co-op support the Government’s ambitions to strengthen rights for workers through the Employment Rights Bill.
“It’s our belief that treating employees well – a key objective of this Bill – will promote productivity and generate the economic growth this country needs.”
Neil Carberry, CEO of Recruitment & Employment Confederation, said: “Regulating the umbrella market closes a loophole in addressing non-compliance.
“Recruiters have long called for regulations that ensure a level playing-field. Like all aspects of the Government’s changes, proper enforcement will be key to protecting both businesses and workers.”
