Almost £8 million of funding has been announced to help people and nature thrive in some of the most deprived parts of Scotland.
The latest round of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)’s ambitious Green Infrastructure Fund will support seven major projects in cities and towns across the central belt. Continue reading £8 million nature boost for urban communities
New measures announced as Cabinet meets in Stirling.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has officially opened a new £6 million project which uses cutting-edge renewables technology to harness energy from waste water.
Ms Sturgeon launched the Stirling District Heat Network project while visiting the city as part of the 50th Travelling Cabinet.
The project, which received £2 million support through the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, was developed collaboratively with Stirling Council and Scottish Water Horizons. It is the first of its kind in the UK and will provide affordable and low-carbon heat to the local Stirling community.
The announcement is part of a new package of announcements made in Stirling – which is aiming to become Scotland’s first carbon neutral city – to tackle the global climate emergency. The Cabinet is meeting in the city to discuss key issues affecting the local community, including climate change, and Ministers will also be engaging directly with local residents at a public meeting held in the newly refurbished Engine Shed building.
Carbon emissions resulting from the Travelling Cabinet will be offset by the planting of trees in a local community forest, and the Scottish Government has also committed to ensuring all future similar meetings are as low carbon as possible.
In addition, £300,000 is to be invested to expand the Climate Ready Classrooms initiative to help young people aged 14-17 to develop their understanding of climate change, its causes and potential impacts. The programme aims to engage with at least 50% of Scotland’s secondary schools in the next two years and accredit almost 5,000 young people as carbon literate.
There was also additional support announced for communities across Scotland to undertake their own Big Climate Conversations, which will feed-in to the Scottish Government Public Engagement Strategy on climate change.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Earlier this year Scotland became one of the first countries in the world to acknowledge the fact that we are facing a global climate emergency, and it is only right that we take appropriate action – with all policies being re-examined to ensure they meet our climate ambitions.
“That’s why the action we’ve announced today is important – and it will build on the world-leading measures already underway to address the climate crisis we face.
“We have already proposed one of the most ambitious statutory emissions targets anywhere in the world, and today’s announcements illustrate our commitment to developing new and innovative policies which will make a real difference.
“The Stirling Renewable Heat Demonstration Project is a great example of this, using waste water to help provide energy to local businesses and public buildings.
“We are also changing the way we work as a government to provide an example to others, and our commitment to ensure future meetings are as low carbon as possible is testament to this.”
Publicly funded leisure centres in all local authorities have now banned the sale of high-energy soft drinks to young people under the age of 16.
The restriction will apply to soft drinks with an added caffeine content of more than 150mg per litre. Continue reading Leisure centres ban high energy drinks for under 16s
First Minister warns a ‘no deal’ exit will “inevitably cause disruption”
The Scottish Government will do everything in its power to stop a deeply damaging ‘no deal’ Brexit, the First Minister has confirmed.
At a cabinet meeting ministers also agreed to step up preparations for a ‘no deal’ after the UK Government’s refusal to enter into negotiations with the EU made such an outcome more likely.
The First Minister will chair a meeting of the Government’s Ministerial Group on EU Exit Readiness next week.
The First Minister said: “In its first week the UK Government has shown it is willing to risk a ‘no deal’ Brexit. Taking Scotland out of the EU in any way is deeply undemocratic but the Prime Minister’s refusal to engage with the EU has dramatically increased the prospect that we will face a deeply damaging ‘no deal’ Brexit.
“If the Prime Minister continues with this approach Scottish jobs will be lost and our economy seriously damaged and it will be entirely the UK Government’s responsibility.
“Having assessed the actions of the new UK Government our work to prepare for ‘no deal’ will intensify in the coming weeks and months. But even with the best possible preparations, leaving the EU without a deal will hurt Scotland’s businesses, disrupt trade and impact on all aspects of society. There is simply no way to mitigate every impact that ‘no deal’ will have, no matter how hard we try.
“The willingness of the UK Government to pursue this approach, against all the evidence, shows why we must continue to make preparations for a referendum that will give people the right to decide Scotland’s future, instead of being dragged out of the EU against their will.”
Despite the Scottish Government’s concerns a No Deal Brexit is looking increasingly likely. The EU is not minded to renegotiate an agreement and the Westminster government’s rhetoric suggests that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, deal or no deal.
Yesterday, Communities and Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (above) said local councils should be fully prepared to leave the European Union by the end of October, as he ramped up preparations.
Mr Jenrick thanked councils for all the work they have already done, but said they must step up vital preparations and committed £20 million for councils across England to prepare for delivering Brexit on 31 October, whatever the circumstances.
He has asked each council to designate a Brexit lead to work with central government and oversee teams in every community who will work with stakeholders in their area to plan intensively for Brexit.
The new funding comes in recognition of the central role councils will play to make sure their residents are ready for Brexit, and is expected to support a range of activity including communications, training and the recruitment of staff.
Mr Jenrick will continue to talk to local council leaders to give them the opportunity to discuss preparations and the opportunities of Brexit ahead.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “From Whitehall to town halls – everyone needs to be ready to fulfil our democratic mandate to leave the European Union by the end of October.
“Local government has a vital role in helping to make Brexit a success and it is absolutely right that together we intensify preparations in every community.
“And to do this successfully I have asked every council (in England – Ed) to appoint a Brexit lead to work with government. We’ll be providing £20 million for councils to support the major step up in preparations.
“I want all of us – central and local government – to be fully prepared for leaving the EU on 31 October whatever the circumstances. I know that we can achieve this, by continuing to work side by side with renewed national focus and intensity.”
The UK government recognises that certain areas face more acute pressures. It is currently considering how best to allocate funding to ensure that those areas where greater impacts are expected, such as high impact ports of entry, get the funding they need in order take appropriate steps.
At his first meeting with senior leaders from English local authorities since becoming the Communities and Local Government Secretary earlier this week, Mr Jenrick told representatives that the government will support them to ensure they are ready to leave the EU in just under 90 days’ time.
Departments will continue to assess and, if appropriate, fund any potential new requirements of local authorities as part of Brexit work they are undertaking.
In January the UK Government committed £58 million of funding to support local authorities in their preparations for Brexit.
A nationwide conversation to discuss action to tackle the global climate emergency will take place in Scotland this summer, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
The Edinburgh event will take place at the Centre for Carbon Innovation in Infirmary Street on Monday 26th August from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Continue reading The Big Climate Conversation: sign up for Edinburgh event 2608
Scottish Welfare Fund annual spend hits £35 million.
People in crisis made more than 165,000 successful applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund in the last financial year, according to the latest statistics.
The Fund paid out £35 million, including £10.4 million in Crisis Grants to people in financial emergency, such as those struggling on low incomes or benefits – a 14% increase on 2017-18. The money helped people with essentials such as food, heating costs and household items.
A further £24.8 million in Community Care Grants helped those facing extreme financial pressures with one-off costs for purchases including beds, washing machines and cookers.
The Scottish Welfare Fund is part of an annual package of over £125 million to mitigate against the impact of UK Government welfare cuts. Since its launch in April 2013, the Fund has paid out more than £200 million to support over 336,000 households, with a third of recipients being families with children.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We would much rather these resources were invested in anti-poverty measures than protecting our people from another government’s cuts – a positon the UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty recently described as ‘outrageous and unsustainable’.
“The fact that so many households in Scotland are in need of emergency financial help is appalling, and a sad indictment of the UK Government’s record on austerity and welfare changes.
“As their welfare cuts continue to cause harm and damage, we continue to do our best to mitigate against them and provide financial support to low income families and carers through new social security benefits.”
In the UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty report published earlier this year, Professor Philip Alston praised Scotland’s “ambitious” schemes for addressing poverty, including the Fairer Scotland Action Plan and the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.
He also noted Scotland’s “promising social security system, guided by the principles of dignity and social security as a human right, and co-designed with claimants on the basis of evidence”
The Scottish Government’s response to the Special Rapporteur’s report shows UK Government welfare cuts have increased the risk of deprivation for low-income families across Scotland
The Scottish Welfare Fund statistics
can be found on the Scottish Government’s website
The NHS will receive a further £32 million to help reduce waiting times.
The investment is in addition to £70 million funding announced by the Health Secretary in April and brings the amount being spent on the Waiting Times Improvement Plan for 2019-20 to £102 million. The £102 million is part of the £850 million set aside to support the delivery of the plan over a three-year period. Continue reading NHS to receive a further £32 million to reduce waiting times
SEVEN projects across Scotland have been awarded a total of £600,000 funding through Screen Scotland’s Film Education Partnership Fund towards Film Education programmes.
Among the successful projects is Pilton-based Screen Education Edinburgh, formerly known as Pilton Video. The project, based in Ferry Road Avenue, receives over £200,000. Continue reading Funding support for Screen Education Edinburgh
First Minister highlights risk of Brexit.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has written to the new Prime Minister to set out the potential impact of Brexit and urge a change in course to protect Scotland’s people and economy.
Full text of the letter:
Congratulations on your appointment as Prime Minister.
I will be shortly writing to you, along with the First Minister of Wales, to set out jointly our position on a range of urgent matters that require consideration by a meeting of the Heads of Government. Such a meeting should be convened as soon as possible.
However, I am writing to you today to draw your attention to work carried out by the Scottish Government which details the likely specific impact of Brexit on Scotland. Given the gravity of the potential damage to jobs and livelihoods, this material should be at the top of your in-tray.
You will be aware that people in Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union. Subsequent Scottish Government analysis shows that a no-deal outcome could cost 100,000 Scottish jobs. Even a free trade agreement could see a fall in Scottish national income of around £1,600 per person compared with continuing EU membership. I urge you to study this analysis closely so that you understand the implications for Scotland of the policy you are pursuing on Brexit and why it is therefore imperative that you change course immediately to avoid causing lasting harm to the people of Scotland.
However, given your public comments about leaving the EU on October 31 with or without a deal, “come what may” and “do or die” , it is now – more than ever – essential that in Scotland we have an alternative option.
In line with the democratic mandate given to us in 2016, the Scottish Government will continue to make preparations to give people in Scotland the choice of becoming an independent country.
The right of the people of Scotland to determine their own future is a basic democratic principle that must be respected.
Similarly any decision of the Scottish Parliament on whether to give people that choice must be respected. The Parliament will consider the necessary framework legislation for a referendum after the summer recess, and I look forward to taking this matter forward with you once MSPs have had the opportunity to debate the issue further.
NICOLA STURGEON
Legislation to introduce an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation for deceased donors will come into force in Autumn 2020. Continue reading Autumn next year for organ donation opt-out system
