Alison Payne, Research Director, Reform Scotland writes today Gordon Brown's call for elected mayors latest in a long line calling for decentralisation. Reform Scotland calls for elected mayors and devolution of local taxation.
Growing numbers of families with children will face effective tax rates of at least 80 per cent and up to 96 per cent next year. As two systems for supporting children (Universal Credit and Child Benefit) collide, according to new Resolution Foundation analysis published today (Wednesday 28 December 2022).
A cold snap of Arctic weather dubbed the "Troll from Trondheim" has hit the UK. The combination of an energy price crisis and very cold weather has left many people worrying about how to keep their homes warm and manage energy bills that have already gone through the roof this winter.
Member states of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UN agency that regulates international maritime affairs, are meeting on December 5-16 to discuss how to accelerate the industry's climate mitigation efforts. An initial strategy - agreed in 2018, when the industry's emissions were roughly the same as Germany's - targeted a 50% reduction in shipping's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and included a noncommittal aim to phase out emissions in line with the 1.5℃ temperature target of the Paris Climate Agreement.
As temperatures drop over the winter period and the cost of energy rises across the UK and Europe, how to spend less money on gas and electricity is on everyone's minds. The UK energy regulator Ofgem reports that an average two- to three-person household in the UK consumes eight kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity and 33kWh of gas daily.
If you live in a poorly insulated home, and many of us do, you could spend thousands this winter on energy bills. But our ancestors had many ways to keep snug at little or no cost.
If you're working from home all or part of the time, the chances are that your home working space is getting chillier as winter sets in. But with heating so expensive right now, having it on all day isn't really an affordable option.
The unprecedented rise in energy costs this winter has many people asking how to reduce their bills. In a typical UK home, around 80% of the total energy used in a year goes towards heating space and water, so any change in heating makes a big difference.
Scottish households have saved more than £3 billion in council tax since the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme was introduced almost ten years ago. The latest figures published by the Scottish Government show 456,790 recipients received CTR in October 2022, meaning around one-in-five households were benefiting from the scheme.
People in the UK might be tempted to keep their heating turned off to offset the large increases in energy bills this winter. A recent YouGov poll, revealed that 21% of respondents would not turn their heating on until at least November.
Due to the impact the cost crisis is having on the culture sector, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has called on the UK Government to extend the higher rate for Theatre and Orchestra Tax Relief to March 2024. In his letter to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Mr Robertson has highlighted his concern that the expected decrease in the tax relief from April 2023 will significantly hamper the culture sector's ability to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Issued by the DVSA. When the emergency doors on buses and coaches (PSVs) are not functioning correctly, there is a risk that passengers may: not be able to open the door in an emergency inadvertently open the door while the vehicle is moving.
A DVSA update on the Brake Test. For every vehicle you manage, your brake test report can tell you more than whether the vehicle has passed or failed a test.
Brexit, Covid and Boris Johnson have made existing tensions in relations between civil servants and ministers unsustainable. This report, the latest in the Institute for Government/Bennett Institute review of the UK constitution, argues that ministers and civil servants need to urgently reset relations - and proposes a new set of duties and responsibilities for civil servants that would put greater distance between them and ministers.
The Guardian has started a series of articles on the problems for businesses with Brexit. Boris Johnson said there would be ‘no non-tariff barriers', but in the first of a four-part series we hear from firms who have lost valuable business Charities and employers struggling due to post-Brexit funding delays by Heather Stewart Tue 27 Dec 2022 15.13 GMT "There was this time when they had problems with us sending elderberries - the most benign of foods.
If you wonder why council services get worse year on year then this article in the Scotsman tells how budgets have been cut for many years. A centralising mentality from Scottish Government seems to be intent on carrying on with the new Care Service being the latest very big example that will cut a huge amount away from local councils.
The DVSA is remining truck owners of the changes to checks on tyre management from April 2023. A robust tyre management system is an essential part of any operator's maintenance system.
As millions of people enjoyed Christmas festivities this year, for 3,275, Christmas Day was the perfect time to file their Self Assessment tax return, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed. A total of 22,060 customers went online to submit their form for the 2021 to 2022 tax year between 24 and 26 December, and 141 opted to file between 23:00 and 23:59 on Christmas eve, meaning they could enjoy celebrations knowing their tax return was complete.
Ensuring Scotland looks outwards will be even more vital in 2023 for creating opportunities and delivering on our priorities, External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson has said. He said the Scottish Government's international network of nine offices will continue working with the enterprise agencies to attract further investment, jobs and opportunities to Scotland.
Use of cutting-edge AI technology is associated with tripling of patients recovering and able to perform daily activities from 16% to 48%. Brainomix e-Stroke system reduced door in and out time from 140 to 79 minutes cutting lifesaving time off one of the most time sensitive diagnoses in medicine.
