Tag: 2022

Alan Chambers – 2022 Comments in Support of Striking Nurses

The comments made by Alan Chambers, the Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson, on 15 December 2022.

I was happy to stand in support of an official Royal College of Nurses picket line at Bangor Community Hospital this morning.

During my time there I witnessed overwhelming public support for their action. Many gifts of food and beverages were being handed to them by generous members of the public.

None of the staff were happy that they had been forced into taking such drastic action at this time. Rather than enduring the freezing conditions on the picket line they would all rather have been in their place of work providing the high level of care for their patients that we are so aware and grateful for.

Listening to their stories it was obvious that this strike is not just about pay but also about the conditions that they have to deal with on a daily basis. They have major concerns over patient safety in hospital emergency departments, they feel no one is listening to them and strike action is their weapon of last resort.

Retention of the current workforce should be a major obligation on local trusts. The welfare of staff, especially our valued overseas recruits, should be paramount rather than an attitude of just get on with it.

Ward ratio of nurses to patients is also higher than is fair to nurses who carry the responsibility if things go wrong in the daily care of patients. These are all issues that are causing concern on top of cost of living pressures.

There is an acceptance that many of these issues can’t be fixed in the short term but NHS staff want to see a political road map created that will plot a way forward. It is a matter of huge frustration that reform of the NHS will remain stalled while the Assembly is in cold storage with no Executive in place. The nurses want to see political leadership provided as soon as possible.

Former Health Minister Robin Swann MLA was putting many elements of that road map in place but was denied the opportunity to finish the job by the collapse of the Executive and a lack of political support from some quarters in relation to much needed reform of how NHS services are delivered.

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Boxing Day sales set to soar as PwC predicts big discounts for savvy consumers [December 2022]
The press release issued by PWC on 16 December 2022.
- Only 76% retailers took part in Black Friday – a vast drop from 90% peak in 2020
- Blanket promotions reduced from a 36% high in 2020 to 21% this year
- Forecast 8% lower spend for consumers on festivities and gifting at Christmas means retailers need to think strategically for clearing seasonal stock
While retail has been marred by unsteady trading conditions over the last three years – the pandemic, stock shortages, supply chain issues, and the cost-of-living crisis – promotions around Black Friday and Christmas have allowed the sector to partly return to some normality. Prior to the pandemic, the traditional Boxing Day sale had been replaced by a ‘twin peaks’ promotional trading pattern, with more retailers discounting in both late November around Black Friday as well as post-Christmas, as retailers look to capitalise on changing consumer habits from newer promotions.

Our PwC Promotions tracker confirms that the ‘twin peaks’ pattern may return this year – but with a stronger focus on Boxing Day sales. The unique tool, developed by the firm, has been tracking the online discounts and sales on a daily basis since 2020. The tool aims to monitor the promotions of over 200 of the most loved brands in the UK to determine how their level of promotions might indicate the performance of retail both during Black Friday, the wider Christmas shopping period, and throughout the year.

Black Friday promotions looked like a mixed bag for shoppers in 2022 with 76% of tracked retailers taking part , an increase of 4% from 2021 when many retailers were impacted by stock shortages. However, this was significantly lower than the 90% that took part amidst lockdown uncertainty around Black Friday in 2020.

2022’s promotions proved to be less generous with most retailers only offering a quarter to a third off selected categories and ranges, such as winter clothing that had yet to be sold after the mild Autumn. Fewer retailers offered ‘blanket’ promotions across all stock (e.g. 20% off everything). This approach continued to fall, from a peak of 36% in 2020 to 26% in 2021 to 21% this year.

Kien Tan, PwC retail director comments on the promotional trends of Black Friday:

“In 2020, we saw significantly higher Black Friday discounting than in previous years, as retailers looked to clear the excess stock built up over covid lockdowns. 2021 saw yet another trend change with lower Black Friday promotions than previously, as retailers battled supply chain shortages and pent-up demand post-lockdown. This year, retailers have, on the whole, tried to avoid excess discounting in order to take advantage of the increased consumer interest in the Black Friday sales as predicted in our survey last month, when we forecast an additional £500 million would be spent during the event.”

As usual, the PwC Promotional tracker found that the proportion of retailers on sale fell in early December as they took advantage of the fact that the majority of consumers do most of their Christmas shopping this month. But, given that PwC’s Festive Predictions forecast that UK consumers will be spending around 8% or £33 per head less this year on festivities and gifting, combined with the impact on both high street footfall from transport strikes and online shopping deliveries from postal strikes, many retailers are likely to be left with excess stock at the end of the year.

As a result, retailers are expected to reward patient shoppers with larger than normal discounts as they clear seasonal stock in the Boxing Day sales ahead of what may prove to be a challenging 2023.”

Lisa Hooker, Consumer Markets leader comments on the Christmas promotion trends PwC has noted for 2022:

“There has been much speculation on the level of promotions in the run up to Christmas given the cost of living crisis and retail sales volumes declining this Autumn. However, many retailers have held their nerve and not gone back to the level of discounting seen at the height of the pandemic. During Black Friday, discounts were typically less generous with most retailers offering only a quarter or a third off, and only on specific lines that had sold less well across the year – for example, clearing winter coats, which remained unsold due to a mild autumn. However, will this continue as the current strikes impact sales and given PwC’s expectation that shoppers will rein in their spending on festivities and gifts?

We are already starting to see from mid-December, promotional levels creeping up versus this time last year which maybe suggests some overstocking. So will retailers participate in Boxing Day promotions with greater gusto than in previous years and with deeper reductions 0r even start such sales in the week before Christmas as they suddenly realise the threat of excess stock? For the few who leave the Christmas shopping to the week of Christmas, they may grab an unexpected bargain. Retailers will be keen to not start 2023 with too much stock due to the worry that inflation will leave a credit card hangover for some shoppers!”
December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : London letting agent, Laszlo Szabo, hit with 11-year ban after repeat abuse of Bounce Back Loan scheme

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 23 December 2022.

Laszlo Szabo, 49 of London, was the sole director of Letting Base Ltd, which was incorporated in 2009 and traded as a letting agency on Holloway Road until it went into liquidation in January 2022.

In October 2020, Szabo applied for a Bounce Back Loan of £38,000 to support his business, which had formerly traded as Hungarian Lettings Ltd. The company received the loan money the following day.

Bounce Back Loans were a government scheme to help keep businesses afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic, whereby companies could apply for loans of up to 25% of their 2019 turnover, up to a maximum of £50,000.

Under the rules of the scheme, businesses could only take out one loan, although they were permitted to apply for a top-up if the original loan was less than the maximum to which they were entitled.

Yet five days after applying for the first loan, Szabo applied for another Bounce Back Loan of £50,000 for Letting Base Ltd, this time from a different bank. And 10 days after this, he applied for a £12,000 top-up to the first Bounce Back Loan, taking the total borrowed through the scheme up to £100,000.

The following day he returned to the second bank, seeking a further top-up of £50,000 to the second Bounce Back Loan. This time the application was rejected.

Letting Base Ltd went into liquidation in 2022 owing more than £243,000, including the full £100,000 of the Bounce Back Loan money, triggering an investigation by the Insolvency Service.

Investigators discovered that Szabo had made the four separate applications for Bounce Back Loans and top-ups, despite signing a declaration each time confirming it was his only application, and that Letting Base Ltd was entitled to the money he was applying for.

On 21 November 2022 the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification undertaking from Laszlo Szabo after he did not dispute that he had misused the Bounce Back Loan scheme by claiming money to which his business was not entitled.

His ban lasts for 11 years and began on 12 December 2022. The disqualification prevents him from directly or indirectly becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.

Due to Laszlo Szabo’s personal circumstances, it is unlikely that repayment of the Bounce Back Loans will be made.

Nina Cassar, Deputy Head of Investigations at the Insolvency Service, said:

The Bounce Back Loan scheme was set up to support businesses in genuine need during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the terms of the scheme were widely publicised to make clear that directors were required to self-certify their eligibility for support.

Laszlo Szabo made false declarations to his company’s banks, and then entered liquidation having made no repayments towards its Bounce Back Loans, which resulted in a loss of £100,000 of public funds.

His blatant and repeat abuse of taxpayer’s money has resulted in a lengthy disqualification, which will serve to safeguard the economy from traders who exploit financial support packages designed to help UK businesses.

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : New powers to crack down on illegal tree felling [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 December 2022.
Unlimited fines and prison sentences are amongst a package of new powers to be introduced as part of a crackdown on illegal tree felling in England, Defra and the Forestry Commission announced today (Friday 23 December).

Delivered as part of the world-leading Environment Act, changes to the Forestry Act 1967 will deliver more proportionate, impactful and enduring enforcement options. The key changes are:

Felling trees without a felling licence, where one was required, will carry the penalty of an unlimited fine – up from the current limit of £2,500 or twice the value of the trees felled;

Failure to comply with a Forestry Commission Enforcement Notice and a subsequent court-ordered Restocking Order (meaning any trees felled must be replanted) will put offenders at risk of imprisonment, in addition to an unlimited fine;

Restocking Notices and Enforcement Notices will be listed on the Local Land Charges Register, making them visible to prospective buyers of the land – potentially reducing the land’s value.

Landowners have been known to fell trees without a licence in place, in readiness to accept the fine if they are caught and penalised, to repurpose the previously wooded land for commercial reasons. These new powers will curb this illegal practice, streamline and strengthen forestry enforcement administration, and serve to protect our trees, woodlands and forests.

The largest fine issued in recent years following a report of illegal tree felling to the Forestry Commission took place in Hailsham, East Sussex, in January 2020. Hastings Magistrates Court issued a fine of almost £15,000 for the felling of 12 oak trees, all approximately 150 years old.

Forestry Minister Trudy Harrison said:

Felling trees without a licence is illegal and can cause irreparable harm – scarring landscapes, damaging habitats for wildlife, and causing distress for local communities.

These robust measures, implemented as part of our world-leading Environment Act, empower the Forestry Commission to tackle the issue head-on with unlimited fines and custodial sentences for the worst offenders.

Today’s announcement demonstrates this Government’s commitment to protecting our precious trees, which are at the forefront of our efforts to bend the curve of biodiversity loss, tackle climate change and achieve net zero.

Forestry Commission Chief Executive Richard Stanford said:

I am very pleased to see these new powers written into law; as we expand the numbers of trees in England, we must end the blight of illegal tree felling.

Legal tree felling is part of normal forest operations and essential to ensure a sustainable timber supply and these areas are restocked with new trees. The Forestry Commission will not hesitate to investigate allegations of illegal tree felling. Once reported, our top priority is to make sure the harm caused by the felling is put right by ensuring trees are replanted wherever possible. In cases which merit it, we will always seek prosecution.

These new powers will hit people where it hurts – in their wallets. By guaranteeing that illegal felling is no longer a financially viable option for offenders, these measures are a significant step forward in the fight against this offence and will help in our endeavours to fight the climate emergency and nature crisis.

Abi Bunker, Director of Conservation and External Affairs, Woodland Trust said:

This is a welcome announcement which should strengthen protection for trees in England. These changes should send a clear message that felling trees illegally, for example prior to submitting development proposals, will not be tolerated, and that the penalties reflect the value and many benefits trees bring to our towns and cities. It is important that this is backed by increased resources for the organisations that deal with the enforcement of illegal felling. We hope this is a step towards better protection of trees and recognising and protecting our oldest trees as essential parts of our heritage and the most important for climate and nature.

Bringing greater transparency to the forestry enforcement process, these provisions will also clarify that when an Enforcement Notice is affected by a change in land ownership, the new land owner will inherit the responsibilities of an Enforcement Notice. Furthermore, the new clauses will reclassify Restocking and Enforcement Notices as local land charges, which appear on the local land charge register. This register is routinely checked by conveyancers and will likely deter prospective buyers, removing some of the financial incentive to illegally fell trees.

Finally, the Forestry Commission will have powers to compel the landowner to provide information regarding who else has an interest in the land, including leaseholders and tenants. While the owner will be listed on HM Land Registry, demonstrating who occupies a woodland can be more challenging – these measures will improve visibility in this regard and help to better target any appropriate enforcement action.
December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Agreement reached between Italy and UK on exchange of driving licences without a test [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 23 December 2022.

An agreement between Italy and the UK to allow the exchange of driving licences without the need to take a test has been signed today. Edward Llewellyn, the British Ambassador to Italy and Inigo Lambertini, the Italian Ambassador to the UK, met this morning to sign the agreement at the Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome.

The agreement will allow holders of driving licences issued in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and Gibraltar, who live in Italy, to apply to exchange their driving licence for an Italian one*. The agreement also makes provision for exchange of expired licences [up to a period of 5 years/for up to 5 years after their date of expiry] as well as lost and stolen licences, subject to domestic procedures.

The British Ambassador to Italy, Ed Llewellyn, said today:

I am delighted to announce that, after intensive work between London and Rome over many months, an agreement has been reached with the Italian authorities which will enable a UK driving licence to be exchanged for an Italian one for UK licence holders living in Italy without having to take any exam, either written or practical. This is great news for British citizens and UK licence holders living in Italy.

This has been a complex negotiation. The agreement we have reached is the result of very close cooperation with our Italian colleagues, reflecting the close ties between our countries. I would like to thank the Italian Government, as well as my colleagues in London and at the British Embassy in Rome, for all they have done to deliver this agreement.

We are now working hard with the Italian Government to bring the agreement into effect as quickly as possible after ratification on both sides. In the meantime, we are making arrangements with the Italian authorities to ensure that UK licences will continue to be recognised beyond 31 December 2022 for a further 12 months.

December 23, 2022
Louise Haigh – 2022 Comments on Rail Fare Increase

The comments made by Louise Haigh, the Shadow Transport Secretary, on Twitter on 22 December 2022.

The Tories have just announced a brutal near-record 6% rail fare rise.

This savage fare hike will be a sick joke for millions reliant on crumbling services.

People up and down this country are paying the price for twelve years of Tory failure.

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : £3.6 million social prescribing funding to bolster mental health support and ease pressure on GPs [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 23 December 2022.

More than £3.6 million of government funding awarded to the National Academy of Social Prescribing to support mental health and wellbeing, including impacts of loneliness.
- Social prescribing helps improve mental health by connecting people to community services, reducing pressure on GPs and overprescribing
- Additional funding builds on previous success which supported 36 projects, helping more than 10,000 people
Thousands of people will continue to access innovative types of mental health support, proven to improve healthy living, reduce overprescribing and save capacity for GPs, following £3.6 million of government funding for the National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP).

Social prescribing can help those experiencing grief, addiction, dementia and loneliness through a wide range of community-led social activities, services and opportunities that have proven benefits to people’s health and wellbeing.

This could include gardening clubs for people to socialise and learn new skills, new exercise classes to build confidence and become healthier, as well as financial advice for people with money worries, among many other initiatives.

The grant will support NASP to build on its previous successes such as the Thriving Communities Fund, which has established 36 projects helping more than 10,000 people and championed local community and voluntary groups.

It has also introduced an academic collaboration to develop a robust evidence base for social prescribing and the benefits it can bring to the nation’s health. It will continue to build innovative partnerships between the health system and the voluntary sector to ensure that social prescribing reaches those most in need.

With Christmas approaching and many people feeling the negative impacts of loneliness over the festive period, social prescribing provides people with the tools to help manage their mental health and meet others in their community.

Minister of State for Care Helen Whatley said:

“Social prescribing is an unsung hero in getting thousands of people the support they need to get through hard times – whether it be low self-esteem, dementia or loneliness.

“I’m really pleased that we’ve agreed new funding for the National Academy of Social Prescribing, so it can continue the valuable work it does day in and day out to support the health of the country.”

Mental Health Minister Maria Caulfield said:

“With many people struggling with their mental health and loneliness, particularly over the festive period, social prescribing offers a proven innovative approach to support their wellbeing.

“Mental health is a priority and it’s vital people have access to the tools and support they need – this funding will provide much-needed help to people with a wide range of needs, as well as easing pressure on GPs and freeing up appointments.”

In 2019, the government set out a manifesto commitment to extend social prescribing and expand the NASP.

Examples of the opportunities which could be bolstered by the funding include:
- Supporting NASP to continue driving forward the recommendations from the Power of Music report, using musical activities to help people with dementia;
- The delivery of Social Prescribing Day 2024 internationally, bringing together people across local, national and global platforms to share learning and promote successes within social prescribing;
- the creation of products – such as podcasts – to showcase the benefits of a connected social prescribing system;
- launching new social prescribing evidence reviews, which will be published in spring.
Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the National Academy for Social Prescribing, said:

“We are delighted to have continued support from the Department for Health and Social Care, in recognition of the positive impact that social prescribing is having on the health and wellbeing of our communities. As a frontline GP, I know that if someone comes to me because they are lonely or isolated, social prescribing is likely to be the best support I can offer.

“I’m incredibly proud of what NASP has achieved since it’s conception. Over the last couple of years, despite the limitations of the pandemic, we have funded remarkable social prescribing projects, published compelling evidence summaries and have signed up 25 countries to develop social prescribing services across the world. With this funding, we are thrilled to be able to continue this work to achieve our ultimate goal: to help people live the best lives they can.”

Minister for Loneliness Stuart Andrew said:

“The festive period can be a particularly lonely time for many people given the greater emphasis on spending time with friends and family.
“Through social prescribing healthcare professionals are able to connect those in need to a range of community-led services, helping to improve mental wellbeing, build networks and reduce loneliness.

“This additional £3.6 million funding for the National Academy of Social Prescribing will provide an even greater level of support for those who need it most.”

James Sanderson, Director for Personalised Care and Community Services at NHS England, said:

“Giving people more choice and control over their own health and care was an important part of the NHS Long Term Plan, and we have already far exceeded our ambitions, providing personalised care including social prescriptions to millions of people.

“This funding should put even more options and evidence into the hands of local NHS teams, to help them better support the record number of people experiencing mental health issues since the start of the pandemic.”

Case study

Social prescribing can help people with a wide range of issues, including grief, and support those battling addiction.

Dale, who lives in North London recently joined the Men’s Woodwork Group, run by St Margaret’s House – who also received a grant from the Thriving Communities fund. After leaving rehab, where he received treatment to help with alcohol and drug addiction, the group gives Dale a space to connect and be creative.

He said:

“There’s a famous saying: ‘the opposite of addiction is connection’. For me, creative endeavour is key. Before I was consumed by addiction, I was a head singer in a choir but I let a lot of that lapse. I just want to engage again, have some sort of semblance of a life.

“I think social prescribing is integral to what people need. You need contact with people who are different from you. Every different type of person you come across is a lesson.”
December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Tens of thousands protected from homelessness thanks to £654 million funding boost [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 23 December 2022.

The Homelessness Prevention Grant will support vulnerable people in England who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.
- £654m funding package will see councils target support at those who need it the most including vulnerable families and people at risk of rough sleeping
- £24 million to help provide temporary accommodation for victims of domestic abuse and their children
- Part of a wider £2 billion package of support to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years
Tens of thousands of vulnerable people will be protected from homelessness by a £654 million funding package government announced today, (Friday 23 December).

All councils in England will receive their share of funding from the Homelessness Prevention Grant to provide vital support to those who need it the most in their local areas over the next two years.

The money will be used to provide temporary accommodation for families, help individuals at risk of becoming homeless pay deposits for new homes and mediate with landlords to avoid evictions.

£24 million of the funding will help councils support homeless domestic abuse victims, ensuring no one has to stay with their abuser for fear of not having a roof over their head.

Today’s funding follows a £50 million top up to the grant for this year, announced last month, and forms part of the Government’s wider £2 billion package of support to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, outlined earlier this year.

Councils have a statutory duty to ensure no family is left without a roof over their heads and today’s funding announcement will help them to carry out this duty.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

The government is determined to end rough sleeping and tackle homelessness because for too many people, the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a warm and safe environment is beyond reach.

We know that words alone are not enough. That is why government is investing £2 billion over the next three years to give some of the most vulnerable people a roof over their heads, along with targeted support to rebuild their lives.

Today’s announcement will provide vital support to families who are at risk of rough sleeping, including by providing temporary accommodation and helping with deposits.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan, said:

Everyone should have a safe and secure home. This Government is determined to prevent homelessness and to get vulnerable families and individuals the support they need. Whether it’s emergency housing, support to pay a deposit, or mediation to prevent eviction, today’s package will provide help to those who need it the most at the discretion of those who know them best.

Councillor Alex Dale, Leader of North East Derbyshire District Council, said:

We are really proud of the services the Homelessness Prevention Grant allows us to fund.

Homelessness is something that can affect anyone, especially during these challenging times, and that’s why we use the grant to serve as many local residents as we can.

Since the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act in 2018, over 500,000 households have had their homelessness successfully prevented or relieved.

Councils can use the money flexibly based on their knowledge of the local area and the local housing market. Many councils use the funding to offer mediation services for landlords and tenants to prevent evictions or implement special programmes to identify root causes of homelessness.

Pathways of Chesterfield, for example, provides a range of services that help break down the barriers that have led someone to homelessness and give them tools to move forward.

Julian, a beneficiary of Pathways said:

This support will also get me into fulltime work now that I have a place of my own. It was a comforting experience. Until you’ve been in this position it’s hard to put into words. As Pathways housed me, it’s been a massive positive impact on my mental health.

To make sure distribution of funding reflects current pressures and demand in areas across England, the department consulted councils and other interested stakeholders on amending the funding arrangements for the grant earlier this year. Today’s allocations reflect this new formula.
December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary call with the family of Harry Dunn [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 December 2022.

A statement from the Foreign Secretary following his call with the family of Harry Dunn this afternoon.

Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly said:

I had the opportunity to speak with the Dunn family today, and listen carefully to their concerns and hear about the pain they have gone through. They have shown incredible resolve getting justice for Harry.

We have learnt important lessons from this tragic incident, including improvements to the process around exemptions from diplomatic immunity and ensuring the US takes steps to improve road safety around RAF Croughton.

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Haitian actors must a agree a route forward to address insecurity, humanitarian and economic crises – UK Statement at the UN Security Council [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 22 December 2022.

Statement by Alice Jacobs, UK Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council meeting on Haiti.

Thank you, President and to our briefers –– including the new 2653 Committee Chair for their first update. I also welcome foreign ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and the Permanent Representative of Canada.

President, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the ongoing dire humanitarian situation in Haiti, which is being compounded by chronic insecurity and political gridlock.

As we heard today so clearly from the DSG and SRSG La Lime, the actions of armed gangs have displaced thousands, limited free movement of people and goods and denied citizens access to medical services during a resurgent Cholera outbreak.

The United Kingdom remains convinced that the perpetrators and sponsors of the gang violence must be held to account and denied the capacity to spread further instability and suffering.

So we are pleased to see progress on sanctions that are imperative in tackling criminal behaviour. These sanctions are a necessary tool to break the cycle of criminal violence that so disastrously impacts the Haitian people.

However, sanctions alone will not work. This is why the International Community must consider seriously any request for assistance from the Haitian government and society, including on security.

This must support and empower Haitian efforts to improve the security situation on the ground to create the conditions for elections, so that the Haitian people may choose their next government.

The United Kingdom continues to support action that moves Haiti closer to security and stability, with a return to democratic processes as soon as possible.

We therefore welcome signs of movement towards resolving the political gridlock. But there must now be determined efforts to reach a political consensus. An urgent route forward is needed to address the insecurity, humanitarian and economic crises and avoid further deterioration of the situation.

Thank you.

December 23, 2022