Feb Holiday means PY Lunches are back!
Monday to Friday during the break come pick up a lunch, from 12:30 – 1pm!
Please let staff know of any allergies or dietary requirements so we can make sure everyone can enjoy a lunch
Following a special meeting yesterday (Friday 9th February) Council Leaders are seeking an urgent further meeting with the Deputy First Minister in relation to the Budget settlement for Scottish Local Government, highlighting the dire consequences of the Government’s current spending plans on communities throughout Scotland.
Commenting following the meeting the COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said: “Leaders were clear today that an urgent meeting with the Deputy First Minister is a priority.
“Leaders expressed anger at the Budget setting timetable which has left Councils unable to set their budgets due to a lack of certainty from Scottish Government and as a result of having to wait until UK Government Spring Statement before knowing what additional funding could be passed on.
“In addition, there was a clear direction from Leaders to seek restoration of the £63m cut to the core Local Government budget on behalf of their communities and the essential services they rely on at the meeting with the DFM.
“Leaders also agreed that the council tax freeze should be on a voluntary basis with agreement that the £147m, already earmarked by Scottish Government for this purpose, is distributed to all Councils with flexibility to raise Council Tax by up to 5%. There should also be no penalty or reduction in funding in line with the principles of the Verity House Agreement.
“Leaders were clear that Councils should be given full flexibility of funding to deploy within Schools, and the wider community, to provide the right support for the diverse needs of children and young people across Scotland, therefore recognising that a wide range of people who contribute to a child’s education.
“Finally, Leaders agreed to seek a guarantee that the £45m Barnett consequentials resulting from the UK Government’s recent announcement will be passed in full to councils, also in accordance with the Verity House Agreement so it can be used to address local priorities.”
Labour Lothians MSP, Sarah Boyack today slammed the Scottish Government for failing patients suffering with heart and circulatory disease.
Stats given to Ms Boyack by British Heart Foundation Scotland revealed there has been a 71% increase in people in the Lothians, waiting for an echocardiogram since 2021.
This is compared to an increase in 16% for Scotland as a whole.
Seven individuals have been revealed to be waiting over a year for the scan.
The concerning figures also stretch to outpatient cardiology appointments, where it was revealed in September 2023, that 55% of people were wating longer than the 12-week Scottish Government target.
These statistics come as it was revealed by NHS Lothian Board papers that NHS Lothian must make savings of 7%.
The papers also highlighted that the Scottish Budget also provided “no additional resource to cover inflationary costs and other new and emerging cost pressures”
Commenting on these statistics, SARAH BOYACK said: “These figures highlight the Scottish Government’s disgraceful failures in regard to heart and circulatory disease patients.
“It is even more troubling that while the situation is getting worse, the Scottish Government will not provide any additional resource to NHS Lothian.
“This is particularly worrying given Lothian’s population growth.
“If the Scottish Government does not act urgently, then this situation will continue to spiral into an emergency.
“People suffering heart and circulatory diseases deserve the top notch care our NHS is supposed to deliver.
“Instead, they are forced to endure unacceptable delays due to the Scottish Government’s lack of investment.
“If the Scottish Government doesn’t deliver additional funding soon, they will be letting down heart condition patients across the Lothians.”
Sight Scotland, and Sight Scotland Veterans, have slammed the Scottish Government for placing lives at risk by forcing blind and partially sighted people to play tactile paving roulette in train stations across the country.
In August of last year, the Minister for Transport confirmed that tactile paving was installed in eighteen train stations around the country and said that all the remaining one hundred and forty-eight stations owned and managed by Scotland’s Railway will have tactile paving installed by the end of 2023. Unfortunately, this promise has been reneged on.
For most people living with a visual impairment, public transport is the only means they have to make journeys around the country. Tactile paving is a system of textured ground surface indicators that are primarily designed to assist individuals with visual impairments.
These tactile indicators typically consist of raised patterns or distinctive surfaces that can be felt underfoot or with a mobility aid, such as a cane. At a railway station, without tactile paving to indicate where the platform ends, visually impaired people face a serious risk to their safety and could fall onto the train tracks.
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, explains: “We are launching this campaign as a lack of tactile paving at railway stations poses serious safety risks for many blind and partially sighted people.
“While we welcome the completion of phase 1 to upgrade the eighteen high priority stations, the Scottish Government’s deadline has been and gone for the remaining one hundred and forty-eight train stations without tactile paving.
“This is completely unacceptable and as a result many people with vision impairment are having to play tactile paving roulette, as they do not know what to expect from one station to the next.
“This is not scaremongering, or an over exaggeration; without tactile paving to indicate where the platform ends, visually impaired people face a serious risk of falling onto train tracks. We’re calling on the Minister for Transport to urgently upgrade all train stations in Scotland with tactile paving so that blind and partially sighted people can use our railways safely.”
Samantha Gough, a visually impaired athlete from Edinburgh, who recently had an horrendous experience whilst travelling by rail, is backing the campaign and says action needs to be taken before a serious accident occurs.
“I recently travelled to England by train and needed to change at Doncaster. Unfortunately, no-one was there to help me, and the station did not have tactile paving. It was a nightmare, a horrendous situation to be in, fast trains were screaming past with the wind hitting me and despite screaming on the platform for help, no one heard. People have died falling on the tracks before and I thought it was about to happen to me.”
Please support Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans’ Pave the Way campaign by writing to the Transport Minister to demand that tactile paving is installed on all stations in Scotland: https://sightscotland.eaction.org.uk/tactile-paving-now
For more information visit: sightscotland.org.uk or sightscotlandveterans.org.uk
Plans to continue setting a minimum price per unit of alcohol and to increase it by 15p will go before the Scottish Parliament for approval.
As part of a ‘sunset clause’ when Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) legislation was introduced in 2018, it will end on 30 April this year unless Parliament votes to keep it.
A price increase is required to counteract the effects of inflation and 65p has been selected as the Scottish Government seeks to increase the positive effects of the policy.
If Parliament agrees, it will take effect on 30 September 2024.
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said: “Research commended by internationally-renowned public health experts estimated that our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy has saved hundreds of lives, likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions and contributed to reducing health inequalities.
“Despite this progress, deaths caused specifically by alcohol rose last year – and my sympathy goes out to all those who have lost a loved one.
“We believe the proposals, which are supported by Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, strike a reasonable balance between public health benefits and any effects on the alcoholic drinks market and impact on consumers.
“Evidence suggests there has not been a significant impact on business and industry as a whole.
“Alongside MUP, we will continue to invest in treatment and a wide range of other measures, including funding for Alcohol and Drug Partnerships which rose to £112 million in 2023-24.”
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) says ministers need to value the role of local pubs as part of Scotland’s social fabric and protect them from closure.
CAMRA is calling on the Scottish Government to come up with an action plan to save the nation’s pubs following today’s announcement on increasing the minimum unit price for alcohol to 65p from 30 September.
Representing pubgoers, the consumer group believes that policies like Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) – and a cut in tax specifically on pints served in pubs, which it is calling for ahead of the UK Government’s Budget in March – can encourage people to drink in the regulated setting of the pub instead of drinking cheaper supermarket alcohol at home.
But the Campaign fears that uprating MUP won’t have an impact on its own to encourage pub-going and to safeguard the future of hundreds of community locals at risk of permanent closure due to crippling business rates and a possible return of Scottish Government plans to ban alcohol advertising.
Commenting on the MUP increase, CAMRA’s Scotland Director Stuart McMahon said: “Our pubs and social clubs are a vital part of our social fabric, bringing people together and helping to tackle loneliness and social isolation. But too many are being forced to close due to crippling costs, with pubs in Scotland shutting up shop at a higher rate than elsewhere in the UK.
“Sadly, the Scottish Government doesn’t seem to understand the importance of protecting our local pubs as community meeting places and as a safe, regulated place to enjoy a pint with friends and family, with all the wellbeing benefits that go with it. Once our pubs have closed down, or have been converted into flats or shops, or demolished altogether, it is too late to get them back for the communities they once served.
“That’s why we are calling on the Scottish Government to bring forward an action plan to protect and promote pubs as a force for good in our society and to recognise the mental health and wellbeing benefits of drinking responsibly in your local.
“CAMRA urgently wants to see a rethink on help for pubs with business rates, the closing of loopholes in the planning system that allow pubs to be demolished by developers without the need for planning permission and a commitment not to cripple valued local pubs and independent breweries by bringing back draconian measures to ban alcohol advertising and sponsorship.”
GMB Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to urgently reconsider plans to increase minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol by 30%.
The union, with members across the drinks industry, warned the policy is already risking jobs and investment while its health benefits remain unproven.
Deputy first minister Shona Robison today revealed the government’s intention to continue the policy beyond its initial five years while increasing the MUP from 50p to 65p.
David Hume, GMB Scotland organiser in the drinks industry, said: “The case for continuing with MUP never mind increasing it gets weaker with every piece of research published.
“Ministers must be guided by reliable research and data not wishful thinking and good intentions.
“The potential consequences of this policy are too damaging for it to be justified with anecdote, hunches and hope.
“Five years ago, we were told this policy would help save lives of problem drinkers. Now we are told it is about curbing the intake of moderate drinkers but there is no substantive evidence to suggest it does either.”
“The health benefits of this policy remain theoretical at best but the risk of undermining one of Scotland’s most successful industries threatening investment and jobs could not be more real.
“It is reckless to consider extending this policy and increasing MUP when there is no substantive evidence that it does any good.”
The union polled workers across the brewing, whisky and spirits last year when 64% said MUP should be scrapped because it needlessly risked jobs and investment while doing nothing to discourage problem drinking while a third said it should remain at 50p or be reduced.
Unleashing Scotland’s renewable potential and building Scotland’s economy will be overseen by a single portfolio headed by Màiri McAllan as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy.
Setting out portfolio changes to the Scottish Government, First Minister Humza Yousaf has appointed Neil Gray as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, while Transport becomes a standalone portfolio at Cabinet level, with Fiona Hyslop as Cabinet Secretary.
The reshaped Cabinet of ten – the same number as before – will include seven women, believed to be the highest proportion of any government in the world.
Kaukab Stewart becomes the first Woman of Colour to enter the Scottish Government as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, in place of Christina McKelvie, who has been appointed as Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy.
Jim Fairlie will also join the government as Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity.
Parliament will be asked to approve the new appointments of Fiona Hyslop, Kaukab Stewart and Jim Fairlie after recess.
The First Minister said: “The new, green economy is a massive economic opportunity for Scotland. If we grasp it, we can help the world tackle climate change while delivering well-paid jobs and sustainable growth in Scotland for generations to come.
“That’s why we will now bring these two portfolios together, and Màiri McAllan is the right person to drive it forward.
“As Economy Secretary, Neil Gray has been widely praised for resetting the relationship with business. Now at the helm of the NHS – our most precious institution – and social care, Neil will be charged with continuing its recovery from Covid, driving down waiting times, and reforming the service to improve outcomes for patients.
“I am elevating Transport to a Cabinet level post in its own right, given the importance of the issues within this portfolio. Fiona Hyslop is one of the most experienced and accomplished ministers in government. I am deeply proud of the fact this means Cabinet will become world-leading with seven out of ten women in it.
“I am proud to bring the first ever Woman of Colour into government in Scotland – I believe another sign of the progress we are making as a nation, with the appointment of Kaukab Stewart as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. Kaukab takes this role on from Christina McKelvie, who will now report directly to me as Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy.
“And I am delighted to welcome Jim Fairlie to government, who brings a wealth of business and rural knowledge to his new role as Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity.
“These new appointments reflect this government’s priorities and the missions that drive them – equality, opportunity and community – and I look forward to working with them as we continue to deliver for the people of Scotland.”
Commons Club, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s flagship restaurant, will bring a new and exclusive culinary experience to its dining offering, The Chef’s Table
Guests will be given a taste of the finest cuisine from around the world through an internationally themed menu each month throughout 2024
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s flagship restaurant, Commons Club, is set to offer a new and unique dining experience, immersing guests in a global culinary journey through collaborations with globally renowned chefs.
Beginning in February, the month-long takeovers will give guests a taste of the finest cuisine from around the world through internationally themed menus as part of Commons Club’s exclusive dining offering, The Chef’s Table, which gives guests a front row seat to experience the creativity behind the culinary craft.
With prices starting at £75 per person, the exclusive menus will draw on inspiration from the finest international flavours. From Peru to Japan, Chef de Cuisine Emma Hanley will collaborate with chefs from around the world to carefully curate bespoke six course tasting menus featuring global culinary delights from their own kitchens.
To begin the series, The Chef’s Table will go to Japan with a menu that allows guests to experience authentic oriental flavours with a twist and paired perfectly with locally sourced ingredients such as the Pan Seared Halibut, caught inScottishwater.
As the Pièce de résistance, this menu features Japanese Black Wagyu Ribeye from Kagoshima Prefecture – of A3 to A5 grade, the highest rating of this delicacy. Praised for its marbling, Wagyu is widely renowned as the best beef in the world and boasts a buttery flavour, tenderness, and juiciness unmatched by other steaks.
Showcasing an array of delicious Japanese inspired treats, guests can also expect an Amuse Bouche of Miso soup, followed by Seven Spiced Seared Tuna, rounded off with the Cherry Blossom and Petit Fours, yuzu pâte de fruits, sesame ice cream cones, which promise a sweet conclusion to an extraordinary dining experience.
Tying in with the flavours of Japan, Commons Club has also partnered with House of Suntory – a House of Japanese artisans, crafting world-class spirits, inspired by Japanese nature and mastered with Japanese craft – to curate a cocktail menu that pairs perfectly with The Chef’s Table dishes.
Expertly chosen by Commons Club’s Head Mixologist, Leon Back, each drink has been skilfully mixed to complement the flavour profile of every dish, from the Japanese Inspired White Negroni, Roku gin, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Martini Ambrato, Lucky Orange liqueur, to the Umami Flavoured Manhattan, featuring Toki Whiskey, Martini Rhubino, Aelder and soy sauce.
Emma Hanley, Chef de Cuisine at Commons Club, said: “Offering a completely unique experience for guests, we want to create an exclusive evening of dining to remember, with the highest quality ingredients and collaborations with world renowned chefs along the way.
“Scotland is home to some of the highest quality produce and we want to showcase that in our Chef’s Table offering, incorporating the best local ingredients with different tastes from around the world. We’re working on a series of menus for the rest of 2024 that aim to excite, inspire, and let our guests try something new.”
With world renowned chef partners still to be announced, takeover highlights for 2024 also include:
Running throughout the month from Thursday to Saturday weekly from 7pm, The Chef’s Table can be booked exclusively as a private event or for individual diners, where guests can expect an intimate three-hour sociable dining experience on a long-shared table.
With more exciting collaborations still to be announced, you can find out more information about Commons Club and The Chef’s Table experience here:
https://virginhotels.com/edinburgh/eat-drink/commons-club/
For reservations, visit: Commons Bar & Restaurant – VH Edinburgh Reservations (sevenrooms.com)
You can also follow along on social media here: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
Promoting Scotland’s world leading university research and economic potential is at the core of the country’s first International Education Strategy (IES).
The IES sets out plans to attract more academic staff, and to encourage and support international students to stay in Scotland after qualifying to work in key growth economies.
As part of the strategy, activity will be increased to promote universities and colleges internationally to prospective students, with global alumni communities and the wider Scottish diaspora being engaged.
Work to develop a Scottish Exchange Programme will continue, building on the current Test and Learn project, and a Talent Attraction and Migration Service will be launched in 2024 providing information and advice for students considering staying in Scotland post-qualifying.
Launching the strategy at Edinburgh Napier University, Higher and Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “Scotland already has more top universities per head of population than any other country in the world. This strategy sets out our collective aim to create the conditions for our universities and colleges to continue to flourish.
“In the coming months and years, we will continue to work with Scotland’s universities and colleges to help them diversify their international student, research, and staff population by enhancing our reputation as a world-leading safe and inclusive country, with open-minded social policies.
“We will help maximise the social and economic benefits of international higher education, and we will continue to promote Scotland’s world leading research and knowledge exchange sector on the global stage.”
Professor Andrea Nolan, Universities Scotland International Committee Convener, said: “This is Scotland’s first international education strategy, and it gives us a platform, working together with Government and other partners, to further develop these positive links to strengthen the sector’s contribution to the economy, society and culture.
“It also looks to deepen support for the full breadth of universities’ international role.
“We’re already known internationally for the quality of our higher and further education, but what may be less well understood is the role our universities and colleges play as major contributors to inwards investment, and the attraction of talented people who want to live and work in here.
“Working in partnership we will build on all elements of our international work to grow our reach and impact.”
Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care Michael Matheson has tendered his resignation to the First Minister.
Accepting his resignation, the First Minister thanked Mr Matheson for all he achieved during government, including securing £100 million of new annual funding for NHS Scotland to help reduce inpatient and day-case waiting lists, passing the Domestic Abuse Act to strengthen powers to tackle psychological abuse, passing the Transport Scotland Act to ensure Scotland’s transport system was more accessible for the future and introducing the Historical Offenses Bill to pardon gay men convinced under historical discriminatory laws.
MICHAEL MATHESON STATEMENT:
Odd timing, given he hasn’t seen the final report yet. And not a word of apology …
The Scottish Conservatives have been calling for the Health Secretary’s head for some time – and not only over his failure to fully explain the Ipad issue:
‘Waiting times in Scotland’s A&E departments continue to get worse under the SNP’s shameful mismanagement of our NHS.
‘The SNP have not met their target waiting time since July 2020, yet still Michael Matheson refuses to tackle this growing problem – he needs to go.’
HE HAS NOW.
FMQ’s will be interesting today …
More than 43,000 payments have been paid automatically to help parents and carers with the cost of living and starting school, latest official figures show.
The introduction of automatic payments means that tens of thousands of people getting Scottish Child Payment have been awarded Best Start Grant Early Learning and School Age Payments without the need to apply separately.
For each of the two benefits, people are awarded one-off payments of £294.70 per child to help with costs like clothes, toys and school trips.
Some parents and carers don’t get Scottish Child Payment but could still qualify for the two grants and they have been urged to apply.
These include people who opted out of automatic payments and some who get housing benefit.
On a visit to Ibrox Primary School and nursery in Glasgow, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The introduction of automatic payments means we are getting money to families quickly in the crucial early years of their child’s development, as these figures show.
“The majority of eligible people get these payments automatically, but we are urging those who don’t to check if they are eligible and get the support they are entitled to.
“The UK Government makes no equivalent provision to either the Early Learning or School Age Payments and removing the need for separate applications has made things even simpler for people who need this support most.
“While the UK Government chose to continue with welfare cuts in the middle of a cost of living crisis, the Scottish Government has allocated £3 billion each year to protect people as far as possible.
“In 2024-25 we are committing a record £6.3 billion for benefits expenditure, providing support to over 1.2 million people.
“This is £1.1 billion more than the UK Government gives to the Scottish Government for social security, demonstrating our commitment to tackling poverty.”
Satwat Rehman, the chief executive of charity One Parent Families Scotland said: “Many of the single parents we support have limited access to digital devices so automation ensures that children in need will not lose out.
“Due to the inadequate levels of Westminster’s benefits these payments help at some of the most important stages of a young child’s development to give them the best start in life.”
