£50,000 available for projects to support Scotland’s diaspora
A fund to help strengthen Scotland’s international diaspora has opened for applications.
The £50,000 Scottish Connections Fund is open to bids from any individual or organisation with a Scottish connection, whether that link is through heritage, education, business, culture, or a broader affinity.
Grants ranging from £2,000 to £5,000 will be awarded to support at least 10 new innovative projects that will help bring together Scotland’s diaspora and promote Scottish connections worldwide.
This year’s funding follows a successful pilot last year, which supported four projects, including work by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society to help descendants of enslaved Americans document their Scottish connections.
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said: “This is a fund that I’m extremely passionate about. We’ve long believed that better engaging our diaspora – family and friends of Scotland globally – can benefit Scotland economically and enrich our culture. It can also improve Scotland’s connections and reputation and we want our efforts to benefit our diaspora too.
“The Scottish Connections Framework, which was launched in 2023, laid out our commitments to support and expand this global community. These connections raise Scotland’s profile and reputation and encourage individuals and companies to visit, study, live, work and do business here.”
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society was one of the beneficiaries of the pilot fund, using the funding to engage expert researchers in compiling a guide and resource for those researching the Scottish ancestry of enslaved individuals or enslavers in North America.
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society President Joshua Taylor said: “With a generous grant from the Scottish Connections Fund, our organisation had the singular opportunity to explore and share an important but unexamined part of the Scottish diaspora— descendants of enslaved Americans and their connections to Scotland.
“We engaged two genealogists to conduct comprehensive research in Scotland and the United States, compiling a list of resources that will serve as a primary reference for individuals tracing biographical and genealogical connections to those enslaved ancestors with ties to Scotland.
“We are grateful for programmes like the Scottish Connections Fund, which enabled us to develop an important tool that empowers more people to discover and learn more about their family history as part of the Scottish diaspora.
“We encourage any organisation engaging in Scottish culture and heritage to explore this vital resource.”
Support for workplace learning and promoting fair work
Reaffirming the Scottish Government’s commitment to advancing Fair Work and tackling inequalities, First Minister John Swinney has announced a continued funding package to support trade unions in developing, organising, and delivering work-related learning in Scotland’s workplaces in 2024/25.
The £2.38 million funding is managed by the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) and will be split between the Scottish Union Learning and the Fair Work in Action Funds.
The First Minister confirmed the funding during a meeting with the 2023 and 2024 STUC Union Rep Award Winners, who are being recognised for their work in areas such as learning, organising and equalities.
First Minister, John Swinney said: “Trade Unions play a vital role across Scotland’s economy in the workplace and communities and I am pleased to continue this support.
“This funding helps to put into action the Scottish Government’s clear commitment to promote fair work, and to lifelong learning, which in turn support the government’s priorities to eradicate child poverty, grow the economy and improve public services.
“The continuation of this funding will ensure that workers across Scotland benefit from opportunities to develop their skills and boost their career prospects, which will help to increase people’s productivity and earnings potential, benefiting themselves and their families and the economy.
“I was thrilled to meet with the STUC’s Award winners who represent the very best of what our trade unions have to offer – they have excelled in the promotion of workplace learning, equalities, health and safety or organising for a stronger collective voice.”
STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: “The STUC Union Rep award recipients are the lifeblood of our movement. We congratulate them for leading the way in educating, empowering, and organising workers throughout the country.
“We further thank the First Minister for recognising their achievements and for recommitting his government’s support for workers and Scotland’s wider trade union movement.
“The funding announced today validates the work of our Union Rep Award recipients and is a recommitment to the power of the delivery of workforce development and skills through union and employer co-operation with the support of government.
“This support is welcome. It should act as a catalyst for others to see the value of investing in the education and empowerment of the next generation of workers and workplace reps throughout Scotland.
“It also reflects our shared aim of making Fair Work a reality for all. Fair work and a skilled workforce are the building blocks we need to build Scotland’s sustainable economy and boost growth.”
Over 4,000 households and businesses across Edinburgh and the Lothians can now get connected to the UK’s most reliable broadband through the Scottish Government’s Reaching 100% programme.
The £600m R100 rollout has reached more than 57,000 of Scotland’s hardest to connect properties, with people in places like Cockenzie, Dechmont, Fairmilehead, Gifford, Kirknewton and Loanhead among those gaining access to full fibre internet connections2.
Delivery partner Openreach today confirmed more hard-to-reach properties in Auchengray, Bo’ness, Kirkliston, Mid Calder are Philpstoun are next in line for upgrades, as work continues on the ground this summer.
Full fibre broadband is more than 30 times faster than the Scottish Government’s original commitment to make superfast services available to homes and businesses with existing connections of less than 30 Megabits per second (Mbps).
People can check if the rollout has reached their address yet and register for progress updates at www.openreach.co.uk/r100. Once full fibre is available, people need to arrange for their service to be upgraded through their chosen provider. This R100 video explains the build and order process.
Scottish Government Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur said: “Digital infrastructure is a key enabler of economic growth and an increasingly vital part of our everyday lives.
“It’s why the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring communities across the length and breadth of the country will benefit from full fibre broadband and making record investment of over £600 million in its rollout.
“The R100 programme is a critical part of the upgrade to full fibre technology. As one of the most ambitious and complex digital infrastructure programmes in Europe, it is delivering future-proofed digital connectivity across the country and enabling more homes and businesses – including in our island and rural communities – to access a fast and reliable connection.
“It’s exciting that thousands more premises are now able to access a full fibre connection, and we’ll continue to work with Openreach to deliver further connections up and down the country.”
Robert Thorburn, Openreach partnership director for Scotland, said:“The R100 build is a monumental effort to upgrade and connect Scotland’s most challenging locations. There’s over a thousand people working on the build, with three million metres of new cable installed so far this year – enough to run up and down the A9 seven times.
“We’re seeing really positive, steady growth in take-up across the country, and our teams are all set to carry out further upgrades, working closely with local authorities across the Lothians.
“We do our best to avoid disruptive operations by reusing existing poles and ducts and deploying engineering innovations instead of digging up roads. But we do want residents to be aware that sometimes civils work or new poles are needed, to include as many local homes and businesses as possible.”
Full fibre broadband provides more reliable, resilient and future-proof connections; with fewer faults; consistent speeds and enough capacity to meet ever-growing data demands across multiple devices.
It supports everything people do online at home, including streaming movies, TV and sport as well as online gaming, with a lot less buffering and slowdown at busier times.
For businesses, a full fibre connection can help with productivity, efficiency and security and support everyday operations like video calls, staff training, online banking and interactions with customers.
Research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) last year predicted that full fibre across Scotland could add £4.5 billion to the nation’s economy by 2030.
The R100 programme has recently brought, or is currently bringing, full fibre broadband to selected households and properties in the four Lothian council areas as follows:
First Minister John Swinney has announced that an innovative bus industry consortium will deliver 252 new zero-emission buses and coaches to Scotland’s roads, backed by Scottish Government investment.
£41.7 million grant funding will support eight operators, led by electric vehicle fleet specialist Zenobē, to deliver the buses along with a Scotland-wide charging network for use by all buses, coaches and HGVs.
The investment completes the second and final round of subsidy from the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB 2), which brings together businesses from across the bus, energy and financial sectors, and builds upon £113 million the Scottish Government has already invested in zero emission buses and supporting infrastructure.
First Minister John Swinney said: “Supporting zero-carbon buses as a sustainable means of public transport across Scotland will connect communities and open up new economic and social opportunities.
“This investment will deliver 100 new inter-city bus routes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 600,000 tonnes over the lifetime of the fleet by encouraging more people to swap the car for efficient public transport, which is crucial to reaching net zero by 2045.
“Every £1 from the Scottish Government will leverage £3.20 of private sector investment – demonstrating that our shared decarbonisation goals can be met by working together when it comes to removing carbon emissions from our bus and coach fleets.
“All bus and coach operators, including those operating in smaller towns and communities, will benefit from both the novel approach to financing and the Scotland-wide charging network that will be delivered, helping other modes of transport make the switch to electric vehicles too.”
Steven Meersman, Co-Founder Director of Zenobē said: “We look forward to delivering an additional 252 vehicles and associated charging infrastructure with our consortium partners – this is on top of our existing 110 vehicles in Scotland and alongside our £750 million commitment to battery energy storage systems in the region.
“The consortium brings together family-owned coach companies, well established bus operators, an innovative electric bus start-up and the NHS, showing how private capital can help public funding go the extra mile.”
Policy lead for the Road Haulage Association, Chris Ashley said: “Today’s announcement of additional investment via ScotZEB 2 in the charging network for buses, coaches and HGVs marks another significant step forward as the commercial vehicle sector seeks to reduce its carbon emissions.
“Moving away from fossil fuels requires a change of mindset on how everyone operates. The access to charging infrastructure via ScotZEB 2 is a welcome initiative to help commercial vehicle operators plan the introduction of zero emission vehicles into their fleets.”
£41.7 million grant funding from the ScotZEB 2 Fund will be provided to Zenobē Energy Ltd. who will administer the funds as appropriate amongst consortium members to develop a Scotland-wide charging network for use by all buses, coaches and HGVs.
The successful project is comprised of Ember, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Premier Coaches, McGills Buses, Stagecoach, Hairy Haggis Tours, Maynes Coaches, and D&E Coaches, who will work together to deliver 252 new, zero-emission buses for Scotland, and enable further decarbonisation of road vehicles through the implementation of an accessible charging network.
Zenobe | Discover Zenobe is an EV fleet and grid-scale battery storage specialist, headquartered in the UK. It has around 25% market share of the UK EV bus sector and over 1,200 electric vehicles supported globally. The company is the largest owner and operator of EV buses in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Galloway has been confirmed as the proposed location for Scotland’s next National Park with a further investigation to be carried out on its suitability.
The joint proposal from the Galloway National Park Association and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO biosphere highlights Galloway’s diverse landscapes and stunning coastline, its outstanding biodiversity and rich cultural heritage.
Local residents, communities, businesses and interested parties will be invited to get involved and share their views on whether Galloway should become a new national park and where the boundary for the new park should be drawn.
NatureScot will conduct the public consultation and investigation into whether Galloway should join Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and Cairngorms before submitting its findings to Ministers in April next year.
Rural Affairs Secretary @MairiGougeon announces Galloway as the proposed location for Scotland's new National Park.
NatureScot will conduct a public consultation into whether Galloway should become a new National Park and where the boundary for the new park should be drawn. pic.twitter.com/A4lP4LYn2b
During a visit to Shambellie House within the proposed new park, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “After carefully considering all of the nominations we received, I am very pleased that we are proposing to create a new National Park for Scotland in Galloway.
“The proposal is community led, has the backing of many local businesses and makes a strong case on the benefits that national park status will bring for people who live in the area, for the local economy and for the environment.
“At this stage it is still a proposal. NatureScot will now lead a consultation with local people, communities and businesses to gauge support and to look at specifics like the proposed boundary, and how it should take account of local circumstances and help to meet the needs of communities.
“We received nominations for new National Parks from some really special places – Lochaber, Loch Awe, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest. I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard on these proposals and all other communities who came together to explore the idea of a new National Park.
“The competition was extremely tough and the bids have clearly shown the outstanding natural and cultural heritage we have in Scotland, as well as people’s ambitions for the rural communities they live in.”
Rob Lucas, Chair of Galloway National Park Association said: “This is fantastic news that the case for Galloway to be proposed as Scotland’s third National Park has been recognised. It would bring transformational economic and environmental benefits to the area and strengthen our local communities.
“We are grateful to the thousands who attended events and shared their views over the last seven years which helped to shape our bid. We look forward to contributing actively to the next important step in the process for putting a National Park at the heart of a sustainable future for Galloway.”
Nature Scot Chair Professor Colin Galbraith said: “NatureScot welcomes the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs’ commission to investigate the proposed location of Galloway for Scotland’s next National Park.
“We are looking forward to the extensive opportunity for consultation this Reporter role demands, building on our experience with Scotland’s first two national parks.
“In preparing our advice, we will consult widely with everyone who has an interest in this special place. We will make a particular effort to meet and listen to people who live and work in the area as it is these voices which will be crucial if Scotland is to establish its third National Park that can deliver a successful partnership for people and nature.”
The Scottish Government has committed to having a new National Park by 2026. Following the investigation by NatureScot, the Scottish Government will take a final decision on National Park status and draw up a designation order for further consultation, before approval by the Scottish Parliament.
THE Scottish Government has been formally accused of 28 breaches of the ministerial code in connection with its handling of a planning application for a new fossil fuel power station at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.
Friends of the Earth Scotland lodged the official complaint with civil servants on Friday (19th July) and said there was a “deeply concerning pattern of behaviour right across the Scottish Government”.
The breaches include ministers discussing the planning application with developers, ministers publicly supporting the project and the former First Minister Humza Yousaf appearing in a promotional video for power station developer SSE.
Energy companies SSE and Equinor submitted the planning application for a new gas-burning power station with carbon capture in February 2022 and it is still under consideration by the Scottish Government. Environmental groups have strongly criticised the plan because of the climate pollution it will create and the fact that it will lock households into higher electricity bills linked to fossil fuels for decades to come.
The ministerial code is a collection of standards that must be adhered to to ensure integrity, accountability and transparency. It sets out how ministers should act in the handling of planning applications and states that, to make sure the planning system is fair, ministers “must do nothing which might be seen as prejudicial to that process”, including by meeting developers to discuss a proposal but not meeting all interested parties.
Research including analysing the lobbying register and FOIs by Friends of the Earth Scotland has uncovered:
• Several incidents in which Scottish Government ministers were briefed by civil servants to welcome and offer their support for the controversial Peterhead gas-burning power station application in meetings with the developers SSE and Equinor, including one minister being briefed ahead of a meeting with Equinor to “offer your support in any challenges faced” by the company.
• Ministers undermining the planning process by publicly speaking in favour of the project, including then Cabinet Secretary for Energy Michael Matheson providing a supportive press quote about the fossil fuel plant for an SSE press release.
• Former First Minister Humza Yousaf breached the code with his visit to the existing Peterhead power station in July 2023. The First Minister wore an SSE branded jacket as he posed for press photos and appeared in an SSE promotional video praising the company’s “plans for the future”. The Scottish Government tweeted about the event and issued a press release.
• Repeatedly meeting with developers while refusing to meet objectors. Scottish Government met 61 times with SSE and Equinor between February 2022, when the planning application was submitted, and December 2023 (equivalent to more than once a fortnight) but refused to meet with objectors saying it would be inappropriate to discuss “a live planning application”.
• The Scottish Government has no records, or couldn’t locate records, of another 16 meetings with SSE and Equinor: the public only know about them because of records kept by the developers themselves.
Friends of the Earth Scotland climate campaigner Alex Lee said: “These 28 breaches of the ministerial code show a deeply troubling pattern of behaviour right across the Scottish Government. Public concerns have been deliberately ignored to try and push through a climate damaging planning application in the interests of greedy energy companies.
“Ministers and civil servants have been caught out playing fast and loose with the rules, in favour of a polluting project that risks locking households into higher energy bills for decades to come.
“Our investigations show that the Scottish Government has treated the outcome of this planning application as a foregone conclusion right from the beginning and has failed to follow the planning process and assess the evidence objectively.
“First Minister John Swinney must get his government in order and stop listening to fossil fuel companies. Once this project is assessed fairly on its merits, the huge climate pollution and impact on home energy bills will mean the only rational conclusion will be a rejection.
“Workers and communities in the North East of Scotland need a credible transition plan that can move us to good green jobs in renewables, not a dodgy project built on the rotten foundations of carbon capture and backroom lobbying.”
The British Dental Association Scotland has stressed that there can be no complacency over the future of NHS dentistry, following the first evidence from frontline dentists since the Scottish Government’s reforms rolled out in November last year.
A new poll of high street dentists shows:
While two thirds (66%) of respondents say the new system represents an improvement on the previous model, 9 in 10 (88%) say this cannot be the final destination for NHS dentistry.
Only 22% say the new system enables a move to a preventive model of dentistry. Only 7% believe it will enhance access for NHS patients, and just 5% say it will support a reduction in oral health inequality.
26% feel changes have made their practices more financially sustainable. 31% disagree. Nearly half have not formed an opinion.
34% agreed reforms met the Scottish Government’s goal of increasing clinical freedom, while 38% disagreed. On reducing bureaucracy, respondents were tied for and against on 38%.
Just over a year ago the BDA’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee and the Scottish Government entered formal negotiations on the new fee structure and Payment Reform. This moved at pace within a challenging fiscal environment. The previous funding model was unsustainable, as surging costs had left dental practices delivering some NHS care at a financial loss.
In an open letter to the Scottish Government the BDA stress the Scottish Government must show it is willing to build on these reforms, and to double down on policies to ease the workforce crisis in the NHS.
David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee, said:“Given the critical place dental services were at this verdict is welcome news, but there is absolutely no room for complacency.
“Dentists have seen improvements, but have told us reform falls short on access, inequalities and prevention. Changes might make some practices more sustainable today, but they do not provide the foundations for a 21st century service.
“The Scottish Government has set goals on improving access and sustainability. These promises must be kept.
“Scotland cannot have NHS dentistry without NHS dentists – and this service must be a place which can recruit and retain talent.”
Online survey of Scottish General Dental Practitioners, February-April 2024, 229 respondents:
Please indicate your agreement or disagreement to following statements
1. The new system means the practice I work in is better able to remain financially sustainable
Strongly agree 3%
Agree 23%
Neither agree nor disagree 27%
Disagree 21%
Strongly disagree 10%
Don’t know/not applicable 15%
Net Agree 26%
Net disagree 31%
2. The new system represents an improvement on the previous payment model
Expanded support to close the gender gap and attract the next generation of entrepreneurs
Up to £2.6 million is being invested in initiatives to make it easier for women and people from all backgrounds to start a business.
They include a pilot programme, launching initially in the South of Scotland, which will fund specialist enterprise coaches to provide a range of tailored advice and guidance to help individuals – particularly women and other under-represented groups – kick-start their business ideas.
Grants of up to £1,000 will be available to give practical help to turning business concepts into a reality.
The pilot will be delivered by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and run alongside a new Scottish Government-administered Pathways Fund to support entrepreneurial activity across Scotland. This builds on last year’s successful Pathways Pre-Start Fund and will provide support, mentoring and advice services for people starting a company or seeking to expand a fledging business. Groups currently under-represented in the start-up community, including women, will be particularly targeted.
The two projects are to receive a total of up to £2.6 million funding this financial year and form part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing commitment to delivering the recommendations of the Pathways report on under-representation of women in entrepreneurship.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Economic growth is one of the key priorities of the Scottish Government. Scotland has all the ingredients to be one of Europe’s fastest-growing start-up economies: an economy that is strong, successful and dynamic.
“Entrepreneurship is at the heart of a healthy, vibrant and growing economy. I am clear that the Scottish Government will play a prominent role in helping build the end-to-end support our start-up business community has to develop and grow.
“This expanded package of support for entrepreneurs at the start of their journey continues our drive to ensure everyone, from every walk of life, is given the right support and encouragement to make their business idea a reality.”
Chief Executive of SOSE Jane Morrison-Ross said: “We are absolutely delighted to be delivering the Pathways Pre-Start pilot across the South of Scotland.
“It is a region of entrepreneurs and the Pathways pilot will be key to delivering our vision for a wellbeing and inclusive economy and accelerating the fantastic entrepreneurial pathway work our Innovation and Entrepreneurship team are already doing.
“This work can now be supercharged and will be critical for economic growth, as we will be able to tap into the potential the South of Scotland has to become a rural economic powerhouse.
“During the pilot, our new enterprise coaches will focus on pre-start up stage, and support individuals to realise their entrepreneurial potential and guide them to the next stages of business whilst helping with the development of an entrepreneurial mindset. We would urge all budding entrepreneurs who want to be part of the programme to watch this space.”
Entrepreneur and Investor Ana Stewart, author of the Pathways report on under-representation of women in entrepreneurship, said: “If Scotland is really serious about building a richer, deeper and healthier entrepreneurial economy, we must widen the funnel beyond existing routes to encourage more people to set up and scale their businesses, as opposed to sticking with existing structures and systems; systems we know are not currently reaching a large majority of the population.
“Whilst there is still much more to do to achieve equal access to entrepreneurship, it’s encouraging to see the launch of the SOSE pre-start pilot in tandem with the creation of the light-touch, micro-grant funding, giving would-be founders the best chance of successfully navigating their very first steps into entrepreneurship.”
Inquiry publishes first report and 10 recommendations focused on pandemic resilience and preparedness
The Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Baroness Heather Hallett, is urging the new UK government and the governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to implement promptly her 10 key recommendations following publication of the Inquiry’s report of its first investigation into the nation’s resilience and preparedness for the pandemic.
These recommendations, made public on Thursday 18 July 2024, include a major overhaul of how the UK government prepares for civil emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
Key recommendations include a radical simplification of civil emergency preparedness and resilience systems, holding a UK-wide pandemic response exercise at least every three years and the creation of a single, independent statutory body responsible for whole system preparedness and response.
It is the first of several reports setting out the Inquiry’s recommendations and findings.
Today the Inquiry has published its first report after examining the resilience and preparedness of the United Kingdom to respond to a pandemic. My report recommends fundamental reform of the way in which the UK government and the devolved administrations prepare for whole-system civil emergencies.
If the reforms I recommend are implemented, the nation will be more resilient and better able to avoid the terrible losses and costs to society that the Covid-19 pandemic brought.
I expect all my recommendations to be acted on, with a timetable to be agreed with the respective administrations. I, and my team, will be monitoring this closely.
Baroness Hallett, Chair of the Inquiry
Module 1 examined the state of the UK’s structures and the procedures in place to prepare for and respond to a pandemic.
Hearings for Module 1 were held in London in June and July 2023 and the Chair heard from current and former politicians as well as key scientists, experts, civil servants and bereaved family members.
Following these hearings, the Inquiry’s findings and recommendations are set out in the report published today. The publication of the first report has been welcomed by some of those who lost loved ones during the pandemic. Dr Alan Wightman from North Yorkshire, lost his mother in early-May 2020 to Covid-19 that she had acquired in her care home in Fife, Scotland.
My Mum was an 88-year-old widow, a dementia sufferer and a cancer survivor. She had been settled and looked after in her well-run home for 11 months before Covid got in, despite the best efforts of the staff. A number of the home’s residents were taken by Covid.
I congratulate Baroness Hallett and her Inquiry team for reaching this substantive milestone of issuing findings and recommendations from Module 1. To be at this point a mere 13 months after witnesses started giving evidence in this Module is very impressive. To have achieved that whilst simultaneously completing Module 2 and its three satellite Modules, plus having Module 3 ready to launch within the next three months, is truly exemplary.
Dr Wightman
In her findings, the Chair concludes that the UK’s system of building preparedness for the pandemic suffered from several significant flaws.
These include a flawed approach to risk assessment, a failure to fully learn from past civil emergency exercises and outbreaks of disease, and Ministers not receiving a broad enough range of scientific advice and failing to challenge the advice they did get.
Baroness Hallett acknowledges the pressure on politicians and others to make tough decisions about how resources should be used. However, she also stresses that if the UK had been better prepared, the nation could have avoided some of the significant and long-lasting financial, economic and human costs of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In summary her recommendations are:
A radical simplification of the civil emergency preparedness and resilience systems. This includes rationalising and streamlining the current bureaucracy and providing better, simpler Ministerial and official structures and leadership;
A new approach to risk assessment that provides for a better and more comprehensive evaluation of a wider range of actual risks;
A new UK-wide approach to the development of strategy, which learns lessons from the past and from regular civil emergency exercises and takes proper account of existing inequalities and vulnerabilities; Better systems of data collection and sharing in advance of future pandemics, and the commissioning of a wider range of research projects;
Holding a UK-wide pandemic response exercise at least every three years and publishing the outcome; Bringing in external expertise from outside government and the Civil Service to challenge and guard against the known problem of ‘groupthink’;
Publication of regular reports on the system of civil emergency preparedness and resilience;
Lastly and most importantly, the creation of a single, independent statutory body responsible for whole system preparedness and response. It will consult widely, for example with experts in the field of preparedness and resilience and the voluntary, community and social sector, and provide strategic advice to government and make recommendations.
The Chair believes that all 10 recommendations are reasonable and deliverable and all must be implemented in a timely manner. The Inquiry and the Chair will be monitoring the implementation of the recommendations and will hold those in power to account.
The Chair has today restated her aim to conclude all public hearings by summer 2026, and to publish reports with findings and recommendations as the Inquiry progresses.
The Inquiry’s next report – focusing on Core UK decision-making and political governance – including in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Modules 2, 2A, 2B and 2C) – is expected to be published in 2025.
Future reports will focus on specific areas, including:
Modules 2, 2A, 2B, 2C: Core UK decision-making and political governance – including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Module 3: Healthcare systems
Module 4: Vaccines and therapeutics
Module 5: Procurement – procurement and distribution of key equipment and supplies
Module 6: The care sector
Module 7: Test, trace, and isolate programmes
Module 8: Children and young people
Module 9: Economic response to the pandemic
For more details of these modules visit the Inquiry’s website.
The Chair is also examining the best way to fulfil her Terms of Reference and investigate the impact of the pandemic on the population of the UK. This will cover a wide range of those affected and include the impact on mental health.
TUC: Covid Inquiry Report is a “moment of truth for the country” as report confirms impact of austerity on UK preparedness and resilience
Report confirms that public services were under huge strain even before Covid struck
Baroness Hallett says public health, NHS and social care sector’s capacity to respond to pandemic was “constrained” by funding and negatively impacted by “severe staff shortages” and infrastructure “not fit for purpose”
Report warns that not investing “in systems of protection” will impact on the UK’s “preparedness and resilience” in a future pandemic
Responding to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 report today (Thursday), TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “This is a moment of truth and reflection for the country.
“Baroness Hallett’s report confirms that austerity left the UK underprepared for the pandemic.
“Faced with the biggest crisis since the Second World War our defences were down as a result of severe spending cuts.
“We owe it to those who lost their lives – and to those workers who put their lives at risk – to make sure this never happens again.
“Strong public services – and a properly supported workforce – are vital for the nation’s health. As Baroness Hallett rightly points out the cost of investing in ‘systems for our protection’ is ‘vastly outweighed’ by the cost of not doing so.”
Commenting on the report’s finding that inequality put certain communities at disproportionate risk during the pandemic, Paul added:
“This report lays bare how inequality fuelled the spread of Covid-19. Low-income, disabled and BME people were far more likely to be infected and die from the virus. As Baroness Hallett warns inequality is a huge risk to the whole of the UK.”
Impact of austerity
Baroness Hallett writes on page 2 of her report:‘Public services, particularly health and social care, were running close to, if not beyond, capacity in normal times.
[…] in the area of preparedness and resilience, money spent on systems for our protection is vital and will be vastly outweighed by the cost of not doing so.’
Baroness Hallett writes on page 122 of her report:‘The Inquiry also heard that there were severe staff shortages and that a significant amount of the hospital infrastructure was not fit for purpose. England’s social care sector faced similar issues. This combination of factors had a directly negative impact on infection control measures and on the ability of the NHS and the care sector to ‘surge up’ during a pandemic.’
Baroness Hallett writes on page 123 of her report:‘Issues of funding are political decisions that properly fall to elected politicians. However, it remains the case that the surge capacity of the four nations’ public health and healthcare systems to respond to the pandemic was constrained by their funding.’
Baroness Hallett writes on page 127 of her report:‘Some witnesses to the Inquiry described the prioritisation and reprioritisation of limited resources as a cause of inaction. This is a widely recurring theme in the evidence.’
Impact of inequality
Baroness Hallett writes on page 70 of her report:‘Resilience depends on having a resilient population. The existence and persistence of vulnerability in the population is a long-term risk to the UK.’
‘[…] as the UK entered the Covid-19 pandemic, there were “substantial systematic health inequalities by socio-economic status, ethnicity, area-level deprivation, region, social excluded minority groups and inclusion health groups.”’
Baroness Hallett writes on page 71 of her report:‘Covid-19 was not an ‘equality opportunity virus’. It resulted in a higher a likelihood of sickness and death for people who are most vulnerable in society. It was the views of Professors Bambra and Marmot that:
“In short, the UK entered the pandemic with its public services depleted, health improvement stalled, health inequalities increased and health among the poorest people in a state of decline.”’
Speaking after the King’s Speech, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “This is a King’s Speech which will deliver the change our country needs. It will deliver for all four nations of the UK and all four corners of Scotland.
“We have a bold and ambitious legislative programme which will ensure we deliver on our mandate.
“Our plans will deliver growth and jobs for our economy. It will establish GB Energy, a publicly owned energy generation company which will create jobs and cut bills for good, and establish a National Wealth Fund to invest in the industries and jobs of the future.
“The King’s Speech also delivers the biggest transfer of power towards working people in a generation, with new rights on sick pay and redundancy, and better pay. It will ban exploitative zero hour contracts and increase the minimum wage to a real living wage. A better deal for working people, with less insecurity and more money in their pockets, is the first step towards reducing poverty in Scotland and across the UK.
“We have been clear that we want to reset our relationship with the Scottish Government, and to work together to deliver better outcomes for people.
“Our rail ownership bill will ensure that ScotRail is kept in public hands, and we want to work with the Scottish Government to pass laws that will reduce the availability of addictive vapes to young people.
“We promised change. This King’s speech demonstrates we are rolling up our sleeves and delivering that change.”
Bills which will apply in Scotland:
Renters Rights Bill [only in respect of discrimination against tenants on benefits or with children]
National Wealth Fund Bill
Pensions Schemes Bill
Planning and Infrastructure Bill [some measures]
Employment Rights Bill
Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill
Railways Bill
Bank Resolution (Recapitalisation) Bill
Product Safety and Metrology Bill
Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
Digital Information and Smart Data Bill
Draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill
Great British Energy Bill
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Revenue support Mechanism) Bill
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill [Reintroduced]
Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill
Tobacco and Vapes Bill [Reintroduced]
House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill
Cyber Security and Resilience Bill
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill
Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill
Budget Responsibility Bill
Hillsborough Law [Public Candour] Bill [TBC – territorial extent to be determined]
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has reiterated the Scottish Government’s intention to work collaboratively with the UK Government to deliver on shared ambitions for Scotland.
Ms Forbes commented on the King’s Speech: ““The Prime Minister has said he wants to reset the relationship with the Scottish Government, respect the devolution settlement and work constructively together.
“I am pleased to see this approach reflected in the King’s Speech, and we will support the opportunities it presents to improve the lives of people in Scotland.
“I look forward to early and meaningful engagement on UK Bills, including the New Deal for Working People. We have been clear in our opposition to the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and other types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security.
“We also welcome the Tobacco and Vapes Bill being taken forward. This is an important step forward in public health, and a four-nations approach will offer more certainty for businesses and consistency for consumers.
“The priorities of the Scottish Government for the year ahead will be announced in the First Minister’s Programme for Government, when he will set out how we will deliver for communities right across the country.”
Commenting on the King’s Speech, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer:“Pomp and pageantry aside, this is a more progressive programme for government than we’ve seen after 14 years of Tory mismanagement.
“The New Deal for Working People can be the start of a new chapter for workers. If enacted fully, the New Deal gives rights, security and respect to working people throughout the UK. It must now be delivered in full without delay. It is right this is accompanied by a new industrial strategy council.
“We look forward to working with the UK Government to ensure this body is representative and impactful, creating a minimum floor of working rights across every nation of the UK. It’s further welcome that the UK Government finally seeks to legislate further to end the scourge of race-based pay discrimination – working people of all nationalities deserve nothing less.
“This will, undoubtedly, be aided if the Labour Government sticks true to its pledge and seeks to revitalise the devolution settlement through the Council of the Nations and Regions.
As part of this, we must see further powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament, including powers over employment, migration and more.
The siting of GB Energy in Scotland is very positive. We hope it will become more than an inward investment tool and will develop a strategy for direct public ownership to deliver the infrastructure and supply chain jobs we so desperately need.
“The commitment to bring railways back into public ownership is a long-standing demand of trade unions who have fought against the carnage brought by privatisation.
“Economic growth is a welcome, central tenant of this government’s mission. But that cannot be done through the exploitation of working people. The Prime Minister has a job on his hands to restore standards and investment to public life and public services. With the Scottish Parliament elections just around the corner, we look forward to him delivering on his pledges for workers in Scotland.
Commenting on today’s King’s Speech Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive of Independent Agesaid: “Today’s King’s Speech outlined the UK Government’s focus on national renewal and it’s important that this renewal reaches the two million older people currently living in poverty across the UK.
“We are pleased to see the UK Government commit to improving private pensions for future older people who are able to save, including better access to small pension pots, but we also need action for the 150,000 pensioners currently living in poverty in Scotland. Ensuring people have enough money to live with dignity in later life is fundamental in a compassionate society and an essential part of social renewal.
“Right now, we need to see action to increase uptake of social security support for older people on a low income. Currently Pension Credit isn’t received by around a third of older people who should be getting it. In the longer term the UK Government should lead a cross-party review to establish what level of income is needed to avoid poverty in later life and ensure everyone is able to reach it. We are also calling on the UK Government to establish a consistent national social tariff for energy.
“The Scottish Government can also act to reduce poverty in later life, a key first step would be announcing a plan to reduce pensioner poverty in the Programme for Government – expected in September.
“Going forward, in both Westminster and Holyrood, it’s essential parliamentarians work towards the aim of making poverty in later life a thing of the past.”
More than 60 leading local government figures and influential academics came together today for the Saving Local Government Finance Summit to reflect on the legislative commitments in the King’s Speech and to deliberate on how the Government plans to carry out its promises for local government, including devolution and planning reform.
Despite optimism in the air, the consensus at the summit was clear: without significant reforms in funding, particularly for social care, local councils cannot maximise their role in delivering the government’s Five Missions. While not in the King’s Speech for immediate legislative attention, reforming local government funding was considered most pressing, particularly to stem the flow of bankruptcies.
Reflecting on the King’s Speech, Dr Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU, said: “The Government’s early local government commitments are positive, and the sector welcomes multi-year funding settlements, the conclusion of competitive bid funding and a more collaborative approach from the new government.
“However, the elephant in the room is what’s not being said: local government funding reform. WIth half of all councils at risk of going bust in the next parliament, now is the time to provide sustainable funding and stem the flow of bankrupt boroughs.”
In reaction to the devolution commitments, Dr Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU, said: “The regions must have a say in how devolution is rolled out with bespoke solutions available: what works for Cumbria may not for Chingford.
“And while much attention has been on the role of metro mayors, especially with the introduction of the new council of nations and regions, it is essential that central government listens to other democratically elected local leaders.
“Underpinning any devolution roll-out is trust. Central government needs to trust its local counterpart to do its job. Devolution should also help councils win back the trust of the people they serve so that they can build consensus for difficult and contentious decisions that are increasingly necessary.”
On planning reform, Dr Carr-West said:“The briefings before today have pulled in different directions.
“On the one hand, there were those saying the government will liberate councils, by streamlining the planning process, empowering and working together with local leaders to build new homes where local communities want them.
“On the other hand, there were those who claimed the government aimed to bind councils to unachievable targets imposed by the centre.
“As it is, the details we have now are still limited and we’ll need to see – and contribute to – how the plans develop. There is a huge opportunity here to open up planning and expand local growth.”
Specifically on social care, Dr Carr-West said:“The funding of social care is a perennial thorn in the side for every government, central and local.
“This is an issue that demands a solution, and although there was no mention of legislative reform in the King’s Speech, the proposed Royal Commission leaves a vital opportunity to reconsider how social care is funded with local government, service providers, and service users as central to the consultation.”
