From BBC UK: Some of the poorest households in England and Wales are struggling to access council tax rebates to help offset their soaring energy bills, a charity has warned. Councils were expected to start paying the £150 rebates from April, when the energy price cap went up by £693 for the average household, leaving many struggling to pay their bills. The BBC contacted 32 billing authorities in Scotland. 25 responded to confirm that the £150 is not rebated but instead credited onto the council tax bill, making monthly payments lower for the forthcoming financial year. Those exempt from paying … Continue reading Poorest households in Scotland getting £150 energy rebate

By stewartb The House of Commons Library serves MPs by providing them with briefing packs relevant to upcoming Commons’ debates. Today’s briefing pack raised a ‘smile’! First we learn: ‘On Monday 16 May 2022, there will be a debate in the Commons chamber, linked to the Queen’s Speech. The proposed subject for this debate is “Making Britain the best place to grow up and grow old”. ‘ Source: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2022-0089/ Then helpfully MPs are informed: ‘The following existing House of Commons Library briefing papers provide background for the debate’. The list of existing papers is reproduced below. Note anything in particular about … Continue reading Spot it?

As support for the monarchy falls to 45% in Scotland in a recent poll, the Guardian reports that there are 98 planned platinum jubilee events expected in Scotland out of a total 3 233 for the UK as a whole. They don’t do the arithmetic that occurs to me. That’s only 3% of the total. BBC Scotland have gone silent on the matter but I see Kirsty Young is to return the BBC for the celebration. Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/15/queen-platinum-jubilee-bank-holiday-weekend-thousands-of-events https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/15/scottish-support-for-monarchy-falls-to-45-poll-reveals Continue reading 8% of the population but only 3% of the planned Queen’s jubilee events

There were 3 285 charges relating to race reported in Scotland in 2020/21 and I’m sure many more incidents not reported. There is racism in Scotland, I’m ashamed to say. There is probably some institutional racism in, for example, parts of the police force but none of that makes Scotland an essentially racist country. A ‘racist country’ surely is one where racist violence is common and endemic and where the institutions of the state are based upon it. None of the above is true of Scotland. England & Wales with around 3 times, pro rata, the level of racially motivated … Continue reading Yes, Scotland has racism but far less than some others

The Mail’s rubbishy and ill-informed story reminded me to check up on the data which last year suggested that Scotland’s drug death figures were largely a product of the effects of Thatcherite economic polices in the 80s and that as that generation died tragic early deaths, as a result of overdoses and their ruined bodies, the rate would begin to fall. It has. Based on Police Scotland estimates in 2021, there were 8% (116) fewer drug deaths overall than in 2020. The NRS report in July 2020 had already revealed earlier signs with a small reduction, for the first time, … Continue reading Scotland’s drug deaths now falling fast as expected

I’ll stick with the Herald’s all-too-lame nautical theme as it continues to publish stories bursting out of it’s free-market, anything goes, ethics-free offices. The MP leaking the report is not named. There is no quote from the report offered to confirm the ‘may never sail‘ line. All the Herald manages to offer to confirm the seriousness of the situation are these: Is that all? I’m no expert but buy bigger pumps and better valves? The Herald: Abandon hope all ye who turn these pages? Continue reading The ‘Herald of Free Enterprise’

As BBC Scotland continues to push yesterday’s news on one police officer’s pay-out and an imaginary spike in baby deaths, the others headline Brexit (BBC UK and NI) or inflammable wall cladding (BBC Wales). As with the NHS, schools and Police Scotland attacks are party of a proxy war against a party in government which remains, for them infuriatingly, popular. A reminder of the stories not reported by BBC Scotland: Full reports here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/?s=police+scotland Continue reading Good news on Police Scotland

For years now, Scottish Labour have been able to exploit workers, in care homes, in schools and in refuse collection, to try to score points against the Scottish Government and the SNP. They’ve used links with trade union leaders, one married to Richard Leonard, to campaign against the interests and damaging the reputation of their workers Judging by the above letter, it looks like they may now have pushed one group too far. Gary Cook of the GMB in Scotland, said in 2019: “Nationalisation secures the immediate future of the yard and that is a very welcome development, particularly after … Continue reading Scottish Labour pushes their luck with the GMB, on ferries

By stewartb On 17 December 2018 Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited (FMEL) formally lodged a document entitled ‘Report and Financial Statements, 31 December 2016’ with Companies House. This   included a ‘Strategic Report’ which was signed off by an FMEL director on 14 December 2018. (The documentation can be found here: ‘Full Accounts made up to 31 December, 2016’ at https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC485060/filing-history?page=2 ). The purpose of this post is to offer a different view on the issue of ‘ferries’ that has become the obsession of opposition politicians and parts of the media in Scotland. In particular, the aim is to highlight the assessment … Continue reading A shipyard with credibility and potential – an appraisal of the Ferguson yard by its former owner, Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited

THEY were the last age group to be offered Covid vaccinations, and uptake has been notably sluggish. Just 18 per cent of boys and girls aged five to 11 in Scotland have received a first dose of Covid vaccine since the rollout was extended to all primary school-aged children in early April, having previously been limited to higher risk youngsters only. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/20135465.covid-scotland-under-12s-vaccinated/ The Herald’s Helen McCardle is on a roll of shoddy churnalism today with the above scare story. In England, only 7.1% of 5-11 year-olds were ‘jabbed’ even once, yet there are no media reports of fear, ambivalence or infection. Why might … Continue reading Scotland vaccinates nearly THREE times as many 5-11 year-olds