Boris Johnson has unveiled plans for a £12 billion-a-year tax rise from April 2022, to fund social care reform in England and to tackle the NHS's COVID-induced backlog of cases. Demand for care - from short-term needs to long-term support - is rising and levels of unmet need are soaring.
Fewer children and young people should end up in care, thanks to a £500 million fund to help support families to stay together. Announced as part of the latest Programme for Government, the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund will help families to overcome challenges before they reach crisis point.
Two important judicial bodies are to be brought together to provide a better service for land-related issues within the justice system. Following a public consultation conducted last year, Scottish Ministers concluded that the Scottish Land Court and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland should be unified to form an expanded Land Court, which would offer substantial benefits to court users.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (September, 7th) sold 21 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (8) averaged 230.6p (-6.9p) and sold to 247.0p per kg and £1,628.40 gross.
The 1.25 percentage point increase means somebody on £20,000 a year would pay an extra £130, while someone on £50,000 would pay £505 more - as the chart below shows. The same increase will still apply after the National Insurance rise is replaced by the Health and Social Care Levy in 2023.
5,692 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 46,146 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 13.2% of these were positive.
Over the last 18 months, the world, and our own individual places within it, have changed immeasurably. While the pandemic may have defined our lives for those dark and difficult months, the Scottish Government is determined that it does not define our future.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is today urging young people to check if they have a hidden pot of gold - in the shape of a Child Trust Fund (CTF). It is now one year since the first account holders started turning 18 and around 55,000 CTFs mature every month.
Mr Speaker, with permission, I will make a statement on the government's plans for health and social care. Our National Health Service is the pride of our whole United Kingdom and all the more so, after it has been there for us during the worst pandemic in a century, treating almost half a million patients, administering more than 88 million vaccines and saving countless lives.
While leading Scotland out of the pandemic remains our foremost priority - continuing our mass vaccination programme and preparing for a booster campaign in the autumn – this sits alongside rebuilding a stronger, more resilient health and care system centred on people; renewing our drive to eradicate child poverty and improve living standards; ending Scotland's contribution to climate change; and building a wellbeing economy which secures sustainable, inclusive growth for everyone, in all parts of Scotland. The pandemic has strengthened our determination to ensure we do not just return to the status quo, but use this opportunity to secure a greener, fairer and more prosperous recovery, recognising that we cannot do it alone.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions explains uprating for State Pension and Industrial Death Benefit in relation to the general level of earnings for 2022 to 2023. With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the annual up-rating of State Pensions and survivors' benefits in Industrial Death Benefit.
Prime Minister pledges to tackle NHS Covid backlogs and cut waiting times with new £36 billion investment for health and social care. Responsible, fair, and necessary action taken to provide biggest catch-up programme in the history of the NHS and reform the adult social care system.
The government has confirmed a one-year suspension of the "triple lock" formula for annual state pension increases. The move follows government concern that a big post-pandemic rise in average earnings would have meant pensions increasing by 8%.
Paul Johnson, IFS director, said in response to today's announcements: "Today's announcements constituted a Budget in all but name. £14 billion of tax raised through a supposedly new tax, equivalent increases in spending on health and social care, and an announcement of spending totals for the next three years certainly constitute a major fiscal event.
From the Institute For Fiscal Studies Today (7 September 2021) The short-term increases in NICs and longer-term new health and social care levy will apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as England, contributing around £1.9 billion a year to the £14 billion a year raised across the UK. The devolved governments will also receive additional funding via the Barnett formula as a result of the higher funding for health and social care in England - between £1.7 and £2.1 billion a year over the next 3 years.
Tracy Black, CBI Scotland Director, said:"With Glasgow hosting COP26 later this year, the Scottish Government is right to focus on its plans for a net zero economy. Yet given the need to cement Scotland's economic recovery post-pandemic, businesses will feel there ought to have been a greater focus on boosting growth.
7,065 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 52,193 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 14.5% of these were positive.
Briefing highlights the financial pressures faced by Scottish Councils The key financial challenges facing Scotland's 32 Councils are highlighted in a briefing prepared by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), COSLA said today (Monday 6 September 2021). The document comes as Pre-Budget Scrutiny begins.
Islands contributing to net zero commitment. At least three of Scotland's islands will become fully carbon neutral by 2040, the Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon has announced.
Care Workers In Hanover To Start Industrial Action Against "Insulting" Pay Cut Plan. Care workers employed by the charity and social landlord Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association will start a programme of industrial action against their management's "insulting" 1 per cent pay offer.
