Latest news with #Scottishgovernment
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Better off Scottish pensioners able to 'opt-out' of fuel payment
Wealthier pensioners will be made aware of an option to decline Scotland's winter fuel payments - or donate them to charity, according to a Scottish government minister. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the universal approach of the devolved Scottish scheme was important, but she said the "difference" made by opting out would also be highlighted. The current plan is for all pensioner households to receive at least £100 regardless of income, while those on pension credit will receive up to £305 depending on UK government's Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said "limited public funding" should not be spent on "millionaire pensioners". Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a major policy U-turn on winter fuel payments to pensioners Monday – months after it was cut as part of the UK government's autumn the new scheme, every household with a person over the state pension age in England and Wales and an income of up to £35,000 will receive £200 for those aged up to 80 and £300 for those aged over those with an income of more than £35,000, the money will be recouped through the tax system. The Scottish government launched its own winter fuel benefit last year in response to the original cuts which included extra support for those less well-off, but also a universal payment which is unaffected by income. Under the plan, all households with a person over state pension age will receive an automatic £100 payment to help heat their those on pension credits under the age of 80, that increases to £203, and rises again for those over 80 to £ also includes an "opt-out" system for pensioners who are better off, meaning they can return the payment to the Scottish government or donate it to charity if they feel it is unnecessary. Somerville told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland the payment had been "deliberately tapered" towards those on lower said the Scottish government refused to "balance the books on the back of the most vulnerable," adding the "opt-out mechanism" had previously been effective."We will make sure people know about the opt-out mechanism, they are aware of it, they can recognise the difference made by putting that payment back or not receiving that payment in future years," she told the programme."We've seen when the winter fuel payment was cut originally, those who used the winter fuel payment to support charities right across Scotland."It's important to have a universal system but it's not necessarily important that everyone receives the same amount and that is exactly why the payment is tapered to those who are on pension credit, who are on the lowest incomes." Somerville would not be drawn on whether the Scottish government would modify its scheme in light of the changes being made south of the border. She said ministers were still waiting to assess the "funding implications" from the chancellor's said Scotland would receive more money, calculated "in the usual way" as part of the Barnett consequentials formula. He said it was up to the Scottish government how that money was spent, adding the current Scottish version of the payment had been partially financed by a £5.2bn devolution settlement increase from Westminster last he said he did not agree with the decision to make payments regardless of income, given the pressures on other budgets. "The government in Scotland made the decision to give that limited public money to millionaire pensioners and we don't think that is the right principle when public funding is tight," he said."But you can't have it both ways, you can't say that public funding is tight and make the decision on the money they have got available."We've got one in six Scots on NHS waiting lists, they're not spending it on that, we've got an increasing education attainment gap, they're not spending it on education, so Scottish voters have the right to ask where it is being spent and why is it not being spent on their priorities."
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Popular Inverness play park reopens to the public
A popular play park in Inverness has reopened to the public following a £500,000 refurbishment projectNew interactive play equipment has been installed at Whin Park where there is also a miniature railway and a boating pond. The improvement works were carried out by Jupiter Play and Leisure for the project came from the Highland Council, the Scottish government and the Inverness Common Good Fund.
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Work begins on community campus in Tain
Work has started on a £1.6m community hub in Tain in Easter Gro For You Community Innovation Campus is expected to create 24 full-time jobs as well as apprenticeship roles when it opens in site will offer space for training in food technologies and will also have facilities for visitors travelling the Highlands' North Coast 500 tourist route, including waste disposal for campervans and electric vehicle charging points. The Scottish government, Social Investment Scotland, SSE Renewables and Glenmorangie distillery company are among organisations backing the and chief executive Sarah MacKenzie said: "What this offers is a catalogue of community and economic benefits that will provide solutions to challenges Highland rural communities face."She said it was hoped the campus would provide opportunities for young people in terms of jobs and training.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taxpayer cash ploughed into wooden bottles under Labour's net zero drive
Millions of pounds of taxpayer cash is being ploughed into a company that makes wooden drinking bottles as part of Labour's push towards net zero. Britain's National Wealth Fund, which is fully owned by the Treasury, on Wednesday announced a £43.5m investment into Cambridgeshire-based start-up Pulpex, which makes recyclable water bottles out of wood pulp. The investment will help finance Pulpex's plan to build its first ever manufacturing plant, near Glasgow, which is expected to produce 50m wooden bottles each year and create 35 jobs in Scotland. The wood-based bottles have a lower carbon footprint than plastic or glass and Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, said the investment would 'aid the decarbonisation of our packaging industry and help accelerate our net zero goals as we drive delivery of clean power by 2030'. The Scottish National Investment Bank, which is fully owned by the Scottish government, is investing £10m alongside the National Wealth Fund and Pulpex ultimately hopes to raise £62m. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, hailed the investment as 'welcome news' that was 'creating jobs, sustainable growth and opportunity in Scotland'. The UK's endorsement of wood-based bottles comes as Donald Trump rails against similar products in the US. Last week, the president signed an executive order to ban the US government from buying paper straws. Mr Trump told reporters: 'We're going back to plastic straws.' Referring to paper straws, he said: 'These things don't work, I've had them many times and, on occasion, they break, they explode. If something's hot, they don't last very long, like a matter of minutes, sometimes a matter of seconds. It's a ridiculous situation.' The UK Government's investment comes as Labour is scrambling to transform the UK into a net zero economy, which involves cutting the country's carbon footprint and rewiring the country's electricity grid to be based on renewable energy. A new levy on packaging, which has been dubbed a 'glass tax' by industry, will come into force later this year and is meant to encourage recycling. John Flint, the outgoing chief of the National Wealth Fund, said: 'We need to recycle more and unlock the growth potential of the circular economy. That requires sophisticated, long-term investment, both in infrastructure and packaging innovation.' Over 38.5m plastic bottles are used every day, with around 16m ending up in landfill, being burnt or littering the environment and waterways, according to Water UK. The National Wealth Fund was formerly called the UK Infrastructure Bank before it was rebranded by Labour last year. It was allocated £7.3bn in the Budget and has been tasked with investing in 'the new industries of the future'. Ministers have pledged to use the National Wealth Fund to accelerate Britain's transition away from oil and gas, including by supporting efforts to decarbonise parts of the economy that are most reliant on fossil fuels. Pulpex makes drinks bottles by moulding wood pulp into fully biodegradable containers, which it eventually plans to sell to major companies as alternatives to glass or plastic. The start-up was first formed in 2020 out of a research and development project between sustainability consultancy Pilot Lite and FTSE 100 drinks group Diageo, which owns major brands including Smirnoff and Guinness. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
19-02-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Taxpayer cash ploughed into wooden bottles under Labour's net zero drive
Millions of pounds of taxpayer cash is being ploughed into a company that makes wooden drinking bottles as part of Labour's push towards net zero. Britain's National Wealth Fund, which is fully owned by the Treasury, on Wednesday announced a £43.5m investment into Cambridgeshire-based start-up Pulpex, which makes recyclable water bottles out of wood pulp. The investment will help finance Pulpex's plan to build its first ever manufacturing plant, near Glasgow, which is expected to produce 50m wooden bottles each year and create 35 jobs in Scotland. The wood-based bottles have a lower carbon footprint than plastic or glass and Ian Murray, the Scottish Secretary, said the investment would 'aid the decarbonisation of our packaging industry and help accelerate our net zero goals as we drive delivery of clean power by 2030'. The Scottish National Investment Bank, which is fully owned by the Scottish government, is investing £10m alongside the National Wealth Fund and Pulpex ultimately hopes to raise £62m. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, hailed the investment as 'welcome news' that was 'creating jobs, sustainable growth and opportunity in Scotland'. The UK's endorsement of wood-based bottles comes as Donald Trump rails against similar products in the US. Last week, the president signed an executive order to ban the US government from buying paper straws. Mr Trump told reporters: 'We're going back to plastic straws.' Referring to paper straws, he said: 'These things don't work, I've had them many times and, on occasion, they break, they explode. If something's hot, they don't last very long, like a matter of minutes, sometimes a matter of seconds. It's a ridiculous situation.' The UK Government's investment comes as Labour is scrambling to transform the UK into a net zero economy, which involves cutting the country's carbon footprint and rewiring the country's electricity grid to be based on renewable energy. A new levy on packaging, which has been dubbed a 'glass tax' by industry, will come into force later this year and is meant to encourage recycling. John Flint, the outgoing chief of the National Wealth Fund, said: 'We need to recycle more and unlock the growth potential of the circular economy. That requires sophisticated, long-term investment, both in infrastructure and packaging innovation.' Over 38.5m plastic bottles are used every day, with around 16m ending up in landfill, being burnt or littering the environment and waterways, according to Water UK. The National Wealth Fund was formerly called the UK Infrastructure Bank before it was rebranded by Labour last year. It was allocated £7.3bn in the Budget and has been tasked with investing in 'the new industries of the future'. Ministers have pledged to use the National Wealth Fund to accelerate Britain's transition away from oil and gas, including by supporting efforts to decarbonise parts of the economy that are most reliant on fossil fuels. Pulpex makes drinks bottles by moulding wood pulp into fully biodegradable containers, which it eventually plans to sell to major companies as alternatives to glass or plastic. The start-up was first formed in 2020 out of a research and development project between sustainability consultancy Pilot Lite and FTSE 100 drinks group Diageo, which owns major brands including Smirnoff and Guinness.
