unemployment – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Tony Delahoy: Things Remembered

PEACETIME CHALLENGES: WINNING THE PEACE

OVER the next few weeks there was a period of adjustment back into civilian and domestic life. My demob leave lasted until February 1947. Initially I spent most of the time with Helen an the family at home and making numerous visits to see relatives and friends, many of whom I had not seen in a long while.

All this was undertaken against the backdrop of one of the coldest winters on record, with freezing temperatures and snow that lasted for months.

Rationing was also quite extreme and there were shortages of almost everything. Coal was in very short supply and consequently so, too, was electricity. Food was scarce and making do was still very much the way most people were living day-to-day – but at least the fighting was over and we were grateful for our survival.

A feeling among many at this time was that winning the war against a repressive and brutal regime had been essential, although at an awful cost. But people now talked about ‘Winning the Peace’ and there was much to do.

In the mid-1930s I had started to think about the problems affecting working people and how to change things for the better. Why were there problems of unemployment poverty and hunger – and why were these problems not being solved?

Having served in the army for over five years it had given me, like so many other young men and women, opportunities to talk about these issues and develop a determination not to return to the bad times of the 1930s, but instead to work for a better world. Surely, now, in peacetime, things had to change?

In the future there should be no acceptance of unemployment or poverty, but a need to secure good working conditions, annual leave, sick pay and to tackle the many other issues that needed to be addressed.

Inflation continues to loom large as 2023 gets properly underway

This week always feels like a bit of a transition every year – it starts to feel a bit late to say “Happy New Year”, and the start of the week is dubbed “Blue Monday” as people realise that those well-meaning new year resolutions have already been broken (writes Fraser of Allander Director MAIRI SPOWAGE).

One of mine was to think hard to find the optimistic news in what can sometimes feel like the unrelentingly negative economic situation we are in, which is likely to remain tricky throughout the year. I was tested hard this week as new inflation data was released on Wednesday.

Inflation falls to 10.5% – but let’s not get too excited

The ONS released the official inflation data for December, which showed CPI inflation had fallen from 10.7% in November to 10.5% in December.

The main items driving the fall in inflation are petrol and diesel prices, and prices for clothing in footwear. Prices at the pump have been falling since their peak in July, and in December they were back to roughly the levels they were at before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Clothing and footwear has fallen really due to a lack of discounting in December 2021, so when compared to December 2022 it appears that prices have fallen.

Obviously, energy prices are still contributing hugely to this very high inflation rate (which, let’s not forget represents a 40 year high of inflation apart from the preceding three months in 2022). That increase is currently stable in the figures due to the UK Government’s Energy Price Guarantee – but this cap on unit prices is only in place until end March, when it increases to £3,000 for a household with typical use. The ONS estimate that this will add 1 percentage point to inflation when it comes into effect.

Worryingly for those on the lowest incomes, food prices continue to increase faster than the headline rate. The inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased to 16.9% in December from 16.5% in November.

We were asked two main questions when the data came out on Wednesday.

The first was, of course – what is the outlook for inflation for the rest of 2023? The expectation by the OBR is that inflation is likely to fall to under 4% by the end of the year. But remember, this does not mean that prices will start to fall at this point – just that they will grow less quickly.

This is somewhat simply due to the definition of inflation – it compares prices now to prices a year earlier, so as we move into October, we will be comparing to the much higher energy costs from October 2022. It was therefore inevitable that growth was likely to slow down – a point to bear in mind when some try to take credit for the fall in inflation.

The second is whether we are likely to see further increases in the Bank of England’s base rate at their next meeting on 2^nd February – especially given that inflation has come down a bit. Unfortunately for mortgage payers, it is still very likely that we will see further increases in the base rate.

Why? Because inflation is not just been driven by food and energy costs. CPI excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco (often referred to as core CPI) is at 6.3%, and has been around this level since July 2022. This is being generated by domestic factors, including the tight labour market, which means the Bank is likely to take the view that they need to continue to cool demand in the economy.

Scottish unemployment remains at 3.3%

We also got updated figures on the labour market on Tuesday, covering the three months to November. Scottish unemployment remained at 3.3%, slightly below the UK rate of 3.7%. Employment remains high, at 76.1%, with inactivity at 21.3%.

Changes in inactivity over the period of the pandemic have been a focus of much analysis – because although the level is now similar to before the pandemic, the underlying reasons why people are inactive seem to have changed – with an increasing number saying that they are not in work or seeking work because of ill health or disability.

See a great Twitter thread on this by our colleague Professor Stuart Mcintyre – as part of his monthly analysis of the labour market.

Alongside the headline labour market numbers, there is also information ONS publishes monthly on earnings and vacancies.

The vacancy level alongside the labour market data helps us understand how tight the labour market continues to be. The total number of vacancies has been falling in recent months, since the record highs in Q2 2022. However, the number of vacancies remains historically very high, with 1.0 unemployed people for each vacancy – a rate which remains indicative of a tight labour market.

Earnings (ex bonuses) grew by 6.4% in the year to the three-month period Sept-Nov. Given the inflation rate over this period, this means that earnings are continuing to fall in real terms. In the face of continuing public sector pay disputes across the UK, the split between the public and private sectors is particularly interesting. Private sector pay grew by 7.2% compared to 3.3% for the public sector.

Health Foundation publishes important research into health and health inequalities in Scotland

This week the Health Foundation published a report to provide a picture of health and health inequalities in Scotland, in order to inform future efforts to improve both.

An independent review underpins their report, and we were delighted to work with the Health Foundation on this programme of work, as one of four independent organisations to carry out supporting research. See our research here.

And finally, I don’t care if it’s too late – Happy New Year everyone! But that is the last time I’ll say it this year.

Scotland suffers increase in female unemployment

Scotland experiences the third largest annual increase to female unemployment of all the UK’s regions
Scotland just one of three regions to experience annual increase in female unemployment
UK employment rates see a small annual increase, as businesses gain confidence in the post-pandemic era

With International Women’s Day fast approaching, the most recent UK employment statistics do not make for positive reading in Scotland, as the region experienced the third largest annual increase to female unemployment of all the UK’s regions (+7.5%).

However, the collective performance of all twelve regions equates to a small, yet much-welcomed annual improvement to the overall female employment rate, with 72% of women aged 16-64 currently in work. The only other regions to experience a larger increase in female unemployment was the South East (+33.4%) and North East (+24%).

The male employment rate also saw a small annual improvement, indicating that UK businesses are beginning to gain confidence and expand their workforce in the post-pandemic era, with many believing the worst of Covid is now behind them.

However, with workplace diversification still a key factor for businesses to consider during the recruitment process, it is important for employers in Scotland to think carefully about how they select applicants and treat their existing employees.

Tina Chander, Head of the Employment Law team at Wright Hassall, commented: “Given the challenges people have faced over the last two years, it is great to read some positive news with regards to employment rates, as this shows that businesses are beginning to resume operations at full capacity.

“That being said, it is important for employers to continue the progress made in the last decade, whereby we have seen a larger female representation at board level and workforces are generally much more diverse.

“From a business perspective, having a diverse workforce provides a wide range of benefits, as you have different talents, ideas and approaches at your disposal, which allows for a much more complete service offering, with better results delivered.

“Not only this, but all organisations should strive for more inclusivity, as this helps build a positive culture for the business, where employees are treated fairly and equal opportunities are available to everyone, regardless of gender.

“Given the fact that a lot of businesses are currently in the process of recruiting new talent, now is the perfect time for employers to take stock of their current situation, ensuring they bring in experienced individuals, whilst also working towards a diverse workforce.”

Public Health Scotland supports retaining uplift to Universal credit

Public Health Scotland supports retaining the £20 a week uplift to universal credit and working tax credits, brought in by the UK Government in April 2020, to help create a Scotland where everybody thrives.

The social security top-up payment was introduced in April 2020 to help low-income households deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is due to expire in October.

The evidence is becoming stronger that increasing the incomes of the poorest, including by increasing means-tested benefits, can help narrow the gap in life expectancy and improve mental health and wellbeing.

All of those families affected claiming working tax credits are already in employment, as are 35% of people claiming universal credit. Another 31% of people claiming universal credit have health problems or caring responsibilities which compromise their ability to secure and retain jobs. Therefore, focusing on getting people into work, in itself, will not be sufficient.

Martin Taulbut, Public Health Intelligence Adviser at Public Health Scotland said: “People with higher incomes are healthier and live longer. Experiencing material hardship can have a profound direct impact on health by affecting our ability to buy the goods and services that support good health and underpin healthy life expectancy.

“The increase in value of universal credit and tax credits has reduced poverty, protecting the physical and mental health of low-income families and supporting working-age adults’ ability to find and keep good work. Decreasing the value of means-tested benefits is likely to result in a decline in the (already poor) health of the unemployed and low-income families, particularly after the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As well as enabling families to live healthier lives now, action taken to improve and protect the health of children from early in life pays dividends for decades. By embedding health and wellbeing into policy decisions across areas of economy, employment and mental health, Scotland has an opportunity to make real progress on national outcomes.”

Centre for Cities analysis of latest unemployment stats

Centre for Cities has launched a new interactive online tool to track unemployment in the 63 largest cities and towns in the UK. You can explore this here.

You can see here some key statistics from the newly released data today covering the period up to September 2020:

The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits has increased by 1.4 million since March and now stands at 2.7 million people.
Birmingham has overtaken Blackpool as the place with the highest unemployment rate in the country. Almost one in ten adults in the city are claiming unemployment related benefits.
Slough, Luton, London and Crawley remain the places that have had the largest increases in people claiming unemployment-related benefits since the March lockdown.
Slough, Luton and Crawley have also all had the largest increases in unemployment in the past month.
While also slowing down, the number of young people claiming unemployment-related benefits is rising at a faster rate than the number of adults overall.
Half of large cities and towns have seen no change or decrease in claimant count compared to last month.

Percentage point change in unemployment claims March – September 2020
HIGHEST	LOWEST
Rank	Place	Percentage point change	Rank	Place	Percentage point change
1	Slough	5.6	1	York	2.3
2	Luton	5.4	2	Exeter	2.4
3	Crawley	5.1	3	Oxford	2.6
4	London	4.8	4	Swansea	2.6
5	Bradford	4.4	5	Cambridge	2.7
6	Northampton	4.3	6	Preston	2.7
7	Brighton	4.2	7	Warrington	2.8
8	Birmingham	4.1	8	Mansfield	2.9
9	Liverpool	4.1	9	Barnsley	2.9
10	Blackpool	4.1	10	Belfast	3

Percentage point change in unemployment claims August – September 2020
HIGHEST	LOWEST
Rank	Place	Percentage point change	Rank	Place	Percentage point change
1	Crawley	0.5	1	Blackpool	-0.3
2	Slough	0.3	2	Mansfield	-0.1
3	London	0.2	3	Barnsley	-0.1
4	Derby	0.2	4	Exeter	-0.1
5	Bradford	0.2	5	Doncaster	-0.1
6	Coventry	0.2	6	Preston	0.0
7	Aberdeen	0.2	7	Portsmouth	0.0
8	Birmingham	0.2	8	Glasgow	0.0
9	Oxford	0.1	9	Swindon	0.0
10	Brighton	0.1	10	Edinburgh	0.0

Overall unemployment claimant count rate, September 2020
HIGHEST	LOWEST
Rank	Place	Percentage	Rank	Place	Percentage
1	Birmingham	9.8	1	York	3.6
2	Hull	9.7	2	Exeter	4.2
3	Blackpool	9.5	3	Cambridge	4.3
4	Bradford	9.5	4	Oxford	4.6
5	Liverpool	8.9	5	Oxford	4.6
6	Luton	8.7	6	Reading	5.1
7	Slough	8.5	7	Edinburgh	5.1
8	Sunderland	8.3	8	Warrington	5.4
9	Middlesbrough	8.3	9	Preston	5.4
10	Blackburn	8.2	10	Norwich	5.6

Further analysis of this data by Centre for Cities Senior Analyst Elena Magrini can be read here.

All of our work on unemployment and the labour market can be read here.

Youth unemployment could reach over 100,000 in Scotland this year

Over one in three of Scotland’s young workforce could be unemployed later this year – the highest ever level since records began
Urgent action needed over the coming weeks and months to meet the ‘100,000 challenge’ to provide 100,000 new opportunities for young people through learning or working.

IPPR Scotland has published new research which shows the scale of the youth unemployment challenge Scotland could face later this year.

In the think tank’s ‘central scenario’, based on forecasts from the UK Office of Budget Responsibility, youth unemployment in Scotland could surge past 100,000 young people later this year as the furlough schemes end and the UK as a whole enters a jobs crisis. This would see over one in three of Scotland’s young workforce (16-24 year olds looking for work) facing youth unemployment – the highest level since records began.

The think tank warns that youth unemployment could be worse than this in a reasonable worst-case ‘downside’ scenario, with over 140,000 young people unemployed by the end of 2020. In the ‘upside’ scenario, youth unemployment increases hugely, but stays around 80,000 and beneath the level seen following the 2008/09 financial crash.

The ‘scarring effects’ of unemployment early in someone’s career are well-documented, with people who experience youth unemployment for a significant time facing a pay gap that many never close throughout the rest of their working lives. This could have significant implications for health and wellbeing and cause significant long-term damage to Scotland’s economy.

To protect a generation of young people, IPPR Scotland is calling for urgent action over the coming weeks to meet what it’s calling the ‘100,000 challenge’ – providing 100,000 new opportunities in Scotland across education, skills and employment.

This will need urgent action from government, colleges and universities, and employers in Scotland. The think tank is also calling on the UK Government to maintain support for jobs across the economy by replacing the furlough scheme with a ‘short-time work scheme’, as seen in France and Germany, that would see employers able to offer subsidised part-time work rather than being forced into laying people off.

The UK Government has announced a Kickstarter Job Scheme that is due to begin in the autumn, however details so far are lacking. Further details on the Scottish Government’s own £60m Scottish Youth Guarantee are also awaited. The think tank fears neither scheme is likely to reach the scale required as things stand.

Russell Gunson, Director of IPPR Scotland, said: “If these projections turn out to be true we will see youth unemployment on a scale we’ve never seen before in Scotland later this year.

“Over 100,000 young people – or more than one in three of Scotland’s young workforce – could be unemployed by the end of the year. This is unprecedented, and will need unprecedented action over the coming weeks and months without delay.

“While both the UK and Scottish governments have announced action to try to stave off youth unemployment, we have not yet seen the scale of action meet the scale of the challenge.

“As the school year starts and as we approach the new academic year for college and universities, we need to act now to help those without a place in education or training and without a job. That will need action from across Scotland – including government but also from businesses, employers, colleges and universities.

“We are facing a ‘100,000 challenge’ in Scotland. The question we must ask and urgently answer is: how do we create 100,000 new opportunities for young people in Scotland over the rest of this year?

“Through further additional college and university places, through even greater investment in learning and training, and through action by employers to try to protect opportunities for young people it is more than possible. But we must now act at a pace and a scale not yet seen.”

The Scottish Government continues to press UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Risho Sunak to extend the furlough scheme, which is due to end in October. It’s feared that, unless the scheme is extended, tens of thousands more workers will be made redundant.

Debt Time Bomb

One in four Scots worried about personal debt during pandemic

Pages: 12

Union leaders warn of return to mass unemployment

Joint statement from the head of the TUC and the UNISON, Unite, GMB and USDAW unions warns of “very short window” to save hundreds of thousands of jobs
Unions call for urgent action on furlough, infrastructure, public services and youth unemployment

Pages: 12

First Minister fears ‘significant rise in unemployment’

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Friday 12 June):

Good afternoon, and welcome to today’s briefing. I am joined today by the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Fair Work and Culture Fiona Hyslop and our National Clinical Director, Jason Leitch.

Let me start, as always, with an update on some of the key statistics in relation to Covid-19.

As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 15,709 positive cases confirmed through our NHS laboratories, and that is an increase of 27 from yesterday.

A total of 914 patients are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. That represents an increase of 5 overall from yesterday. However, the number of confirmed cases within that has reduced by 20.

A total of 23 people last night were in intensive care with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, and that is an increase of two since yesterday.

I am also able to confirm that since 5 March, a total of 3,873 patients who had tested positive and needed hospital treatment have since been able to leave hospital. I wish all of them well.

In the last 24 hours, 3 deaths were registered of patients confirmed through a test as having the virus. That takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,442.

Even as we see these figures decline – thankfully so – it is nevertheless really important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that they are not just statistics. They all represent unique loved individuals whose loss is a source of grief to many people. So once again, my condolences are with everyone who has lost a loved one to this illness.

I will also express again my thanks to our health and care workers. Your efforts are enormously appreciated and, again, even as we see numbers in hospital and intensive care reducing, we know that you are still working incredibly hard in difficult circumstances, and you have our deep gratitude for that.

There are two items I want to update on today.

The first relates to the economy. Today’s GDP figures show that in April the UK economy contracted by more than 20%. That is – by some distance – the largest decline on record. And it confirms the scale of the economic crisis that has inevitably been caused by the health crisis that we face.

I have previously welcomed the UK Government’s interventions, especially the furlough scheme which has helped to preserve jobs during this period but, in my view, it is now time to signal a further extension of Treasury support.

Other countries have already made this move, including France where plans are being put in place for a long-term partial activity scheme covering possibly, as long as the next two years.

The alternative to extended support being put in place is either that businesses are forced to re-open before it is safe to do so – and that of course could damage health and it could cost lives – or businesses have to take an even bigger hit, and that will cost jobs.

In my view neither of those two alternatives is acceptable so I hope we will see further action from the UK Government and we look forward to working constructively with them, playing our full part in making all of that happen.

The fall in GDP is obviously something we discussed in this morning’s weekly meeting of the Scottish Cabinet’s economic sub-committee.

We also looked ahead to the publication of the latest statistics on Scotland’s labour market, next Tuesday. Those figures will cover February to April of this year – so that’s a period which obviously includes the first full month of lockdown.

I don’t want to pre-empt that publication, I’m not able to pre-empt it, but we do expect to see a significant impact on employment, and a rise in unemployment. And sadly, despite all of our best efforts that situation is likely to remain challenging in the period ahead.

And of course, all of that is before we factor in any potential impact on the economy from Brexit.

That is why I have today joined with the First Minister of Wales in writing to the UK Government calling for an extended Brexit transition period – to take away the risk of a ‘no deal’ outcome and also to make sure that all of us remain focused on supporting business through the post-COVID recovery, and not making the challenges that the economy and our businesses face any worse than it already is.

That is the action I believe we need from the UK, but I am acutely aware of the responsibility I have as First Minister, and that the Scottish Government has, to make sure we are doing everything within our power, and resources.

That is relevant to the announcement I’m making today because we are incredibly focused on making sure we are taking action to protect jobs and, hopefully in the future to create jobs, as we lead our economy through the post-COVID recovery.

The impact of this crisis is of course felt across our whole economy. I had discussions yesterday with the tourism sector – a sector particularly hard hit. And we know there are other sectors that are particularly badly affected too.

For example, Scotland’s energy sector is facing a massive decline in global demand, and that is having a very serious impact on our economy.

The Scottish Government wants to do everything we can to support the energy sector through this crisis.

We want to protect jobs and businesses in the north-east of Scotland and across the country. And in doing that we want to make sure that the sector is able to continue to lead, and indeed to benefit from Scotland’s necessary transition to a net-zero economy.

That’s why today, I’m announcing a new £62 million energy transition fund.

Over the next 5 years the Fund will support key energy projects which will help Scotland’s move to net-zero.

For example, one project – the Global Underwater Hub – brings together engineering expertise from academia and industry. And it will help our oil and gas sector to use its existing subsea and underwater expertise in new areas such as marine renewables.

Another project receiving support will be the Energy Transition Zone – a new business park adjacent to the Aberdeen South Harbour. That will provide state of the art facilities for the manufacturing and development of renewable and low carbon technologies.

Almost inevitably, given the focus of the fund is the transition from oil and gas to renewables, the projects which directly benefit from this fund are currently based in the north east of Scotland. But by securing Scotland’s place as a world leader in key technologies for the future, they will help businesses right across the country to diversify, to attract new investment, seize new opportunities and both protect and create jobs.

We know that the energy transition will shape our country’s economic future. That was true before the COVID crises and it remains true during and after the COVID crisis.

Through these investments not only will we shape that energy future and economic future, we will also help with the economic recovery from the crisis currently afflicting so many businesses across Scotland.

The second issue I want to touch on today concerns the Scottish Government’s approach to easing restrictions.

As I’m sure many of you know and will be eagerly anticipating, the current restrictions will be reviewed again on Thursday next week.

Our considerations will be informed, as they will always be, by the scientific evidence and advice and the clear principles we have set out.

However, I have been acutely aware throughout this crisis that it’s not, and never will be, enough for me simply to tell you what I want you to do.

I also have a duty to explain to you, on an ongoing basis, the reasons behind what we are asking you to do.

In fact the reason that I conduct these press briefings on a daily basis is to ensure that you get clear and direct information – on the impact of COVID-19 and on the country’s response.

That’s vital to ensuring that people understand the threat this virus poses – but also how we can all work together to reduce and mitigate that threat.

I’ve spoken before about some of the research we undertake to check that the messages we’re trying to convey are getting across.

We’re going to publish the latest research today so that you are able, if you are interested, to read it for yourself.
It shows, amongst other things that the vast majority of people in Scotland continue to support a careful and gradual easing of the restrictions.

But the aspect of the research I wanted to particularly highlight today is around public attitudes to our new Test and Protect system.

The research shows that 90% of people say that they would be willing to isolate for 14 days if someone they had come into contact with had symptoms of the virus.

90% said they would be willing to undergo Coronavirus testing if asked to do this.

And 88% are happy to provide details of people they had been in contact with if they develop coronavirus symptoms.

That’s important and it’s also really encouraging because, as I’ve said to you before, Test and Protect is going to be a vital tool in keeping the virus suppressed as we ease more restrictions.

But Test and Protect can only work if all of us across the country are willing to comply with the measures that it sets out – if we’re willing to get tested when we have symptoms, if we’re willing to isolate if we have the virus, and if we’re willing to self-isolate if we’ve been a close contact of someone with the virus.

So these research findings, showing that willingness to make personal sacrifices for the common good, are really encouraging and I want to thank everybody for that spirit of collective endeavour that I think we all still have.

Now I want to conclude today with a key point about the critical juncture that we are at in fighting this virus.

I know that as cases, hospitalisations, numbers in intensive care, deaths, and the R number all decline, many will think that means we should speed up our exit from lockdown. And I understand that.

We are all deeply, deeply anxious about the impact on the economy. But the fact is this; the reason we are making such good progress now is that we are carefully, following a plan.

And if we depart from that plan we will risk the progress we’re making.

On the other hand, if we’re prepared to stick with the plan I believe we will keep making further progress.

And the more we suppress this virus, the more lives will be saved and the fewer people will suffer the long term health consequences that increasingly we fear that it might leave some people with.

But also, if we suppress this virus sufficiently, we will be able to restore a greater degree of normality to all of our lives.

So while I understand the desire for speed of recovery, the sustainability of our recovery also really matters.

The simple fact is if we go too fast now we risk a resurgence of the virus that will then set us back, and that is a risk, in my view, we must be careful not to take.

So I very much hope that we can and will take more steps forward at next week’s review, but I want to be very clear that we must continue to do that carefully and cautiously. And if we do, we will continue to suppress this virus, and it will mean that we get back to more normality than we will otherwise do.

All of you can help us in moving in the right direction by sticking with the rules.

So as we head into the weekend I want to briefly reiterate again the key public health guidance that is in place for now.

We should all still be staying at home most of the time and meeting fewer people than normal.

If your life feels like it is getting back to normal think about whether you’re complying with the guidance as you should be.

When you meet people from another household you must stay outdoors and you must stay two metres apart from them.

Don’t meet up with more than one household at a time. Don’t meet up with more than one a day. And please keep to a maximum of eight people in a group.

Wash your hands, often. Wear a face covering when you are in a shop or public transport – or in any enclosed space where it is more difficult to physically distance.

Avoid touching hard surfaces and clean those that you do touch.

And, as I have said already, if you have symptoms of COVID-19 ask for a test immediately – go to the NHS Inform website and follow the advice on self-isolation.

Above all else we all have to remember that we are still in a situation where our actions as individuals have an impact on the health and well-being of everybody.

So I want to end again today by thanking you sincerely for your patience, for your forbearance, and for making the sacrifices you are making so that collectively as a country we continue to get through this crisis.

My thanks to all of you and I will now hand over to the Economy Secretary to say a few words before handing over to Professor Leitch.