Lecturers to be consulted on industrial action following ‘derisory' pay offer
'The Scottish Government is not directly involved in higher education pay negotiations, but we are absolutely clear that Fair Work must be the guiding principle for all employment-related decisions, and we continue to urge university management and the respective trade unions to reach decisions that ensure employees are treated fairly.'
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The Herald Scotland
32 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Genuine opportunity for business but momentum at risk of stalling
We welcome the Chancellor's £86 billion commitment to science, technology and research, as well as funding for the vital Acorn Project in Aberdeenshire, and the £750 million restoration of the Edinburgh University supercomputer. These decisions will help cement Scotland's place at the cutting edge of global industries as well as generate jobs, boost regional economies, and spur commercialisation of ideas born in our world-class universities. The UK Government's plan to increase defence spending from 2% to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027 also represents a significant economic opportunity for Scotland to expand the industrial base and create jobs in productive industries like advanced manufacturing. Our aerospace, defence, security and space sectors provide 430,000 jobs and the Acorn Project carbon capture and storage facility will create 15,000 more in construction alone - as well as making the Northeast a world leader in the low-carbon industry and attracting billions in private investment. By focusing on high-growth sectors like carbon capture, information technology (IT), biotechnology and life sciences, as well as increased defence spending, the Government is signalling the right priorities. Alongside the additional £2.9bn allocation for Scotland through the Barnett Formula, it's another shot in the arm for industrial growth. Scotland's businesses will be buoyed by the potential this unlocks. The UK Government's Modern Industrial Strategy, published last week, reinforced these investments with a plan ready for implementation. Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) has long called for a joined-up approach to developing our major industries, and last week the Government indicated it was listening, giving a vote of confidence to Scotland's manufacturers and innovators. But let's be clear: without urgent, coordinated reform, this good news could be squandered if the headaches businesses face every day are not resolved: Soaring operational costs, including the hike in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) and the highest energy bills in Europe Inadequate business rates support, hitting our struggling high streets and the hospitality sector hardest The bureaucratic burdens and constraints in planning blocking progress on infrastructure projects and private investment The huge staffing and skills shortage thwarting our ambitions and ability to grow to meet current and future demand The Spending Review commitments can put the UK economy on a pathway to growth, but it's clear the Treasury needs more financial flexibility to invest in long-term assets such as transport, infrastructure, connectivity and logistics. The Chancellor should heed calls from the International Monetary Fund and leading economists to review the Government's fiscal rules. Read more Closer to home, it was encouraging to hear the First Minister, John Swinney, affirm his commitment at the Scotland 2050 conference to align policy with economic opportunity. Business desperately needs clarity and leadership, and we are starting to see this approach bear fruit. Earlier this month, EY reported that one in six UK investment projects were based in Scotland, underlining our nation's structural attractiveness to investors, second only to London. However, spending promises on building projects and transport infrastructure will amount to empty words without the necessary reforms to get the system moving at pace. Why does it currently take 58 weeks to process a planning application in Glasgow, yet just 16 weeks in Manchester? Worryingly, we are also forecast to need 700 additional planners to meet market demand with no clear plan to meet that number anytime soon. The cost of building is higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK, largely because of the Scottish Government's higher regulatory standards. Whilst this may be well-intentioned, some regulations are clearly becoming an impediment to growth. Strategic thinking is required to balance sensible regulation against economic necessity. Smart reforms are also needed across the public sector to ensure best practice and streamlined and simplified processes are aligned with key business priorities. These are all critical areas we must address if we are to maximise the opportunities for jobs and economic growth offered by the Spending Review. We simply have to take this positive momentum and capitalise on it. Read more The Scottish Government also outlined its budget priorities last week, pledging to expand borrowing for capital spending in construction and renewables, but with a welcomed emphasis on public sector reform. The Finance Secretary has expressed her intention to maximise every penny of investment through efficiencies and technical improvement, boosting productivity in the long term. This is something every sector of the economy stands to benefit from. While Scottish Government spending is significantly shaped by the Barnett Formula, which ensures that a population-based adjustment is made to align spending in devolved areas such as health or education, the Scottish Government has outlined clear priorities and a direction of travel to business. Westminster and Holyrood must now work in close collaboration to support these investments with a laser focus on delivery, removing obstacles to growth and finding solutions for businesses weighed down by spiralling costs and excessive regulation. The Scottish Chambers of Commerce and our Network are ready and willing to work in partnership with governments and help businesses navigate the business challenges and economic opportunities. Collaboration is the key to secure the growth and jobs we so badly need. Liz Cameron is chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce
Powys County Times
36 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Judges to rule on Palestinian group's legal action over Israel military exports
A Palestinian human rights group will discover on Monday whether it has won a legal challenge against the Government over decisions related to exports of military equipment to Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. Al-Haq is taking legal action against the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) over its decision to continue licensing exports of components for F-35 fighter jets. In September last year, the Government suspended export licences for weapons and military equipment following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the conflict. But an exemption was made for some licences related to parts for F-35s, with lawyers for Al-Haq telling the High Court in May that this 'carve-out' was unlawful and 'gives rise to a significant risk of facilitating crime'. The DBT is defending the challenge, with its barristers telling a four-day hearing in London that the carve-out is 'consistent with the rules of international law' and that suspending the licences would negatively impact a wider international programme. Lord Justice Males and Mrs Justice Steyn are due to hand down their ruling at 10.30am on Monday. At the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, Raza Husain KC, for Al-Haq, said the case came 'against the backdrop of human calamity' in Gaza, describing the conflict as a 'live-streamed genocide'. In written submissions, he said that the Government misunderstood relevant parts of the Geneva Conventions when there was a clear risk that the parts might be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law by Israel. F-35s are part of an international defence programme which produces and maintains the fighter jets, with the UK contributing components for both assembly lines and an international pool. An earlier hearing in the case was told that the decision to 'carve out' licences related to F-35 components followed advice from Defence Secretary John Healey, who said a suspension would impact the 'whole F-35 programme' and have a 'profound impact on international peace and security'. In written submissions for the May hearing, Sir James Eadie KC, for the Government, said that this 'provided justification to take exceptional measures to avoid these impacts and was consistent with the UK's domestic and international legal obligations'. He continued that some of Al-Haq's criticisms 'are not based on a balanced appreciation of the facts' and did not consider 'the true depth and range of the information-gathering and analysis' by the Government when it made the decision.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Judges to rule on Palestinian group's legal action over Israel military exports
Al-Haq is taking legal action against the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) over its decision to continue licensing exports of components for F-35 fighter jets. In September last year, the Government suspended export licences for weapons and military equipment following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the conflict. But an exemption was made for some licences related to parts for F-35s, with lawyers for Al-Haq telling the High Court in May that this 'carve-out' was unlawful and 'gives rise to a significant risk of facilitating crime'. The DBT is defending the challenge, with its barristers telling a four-day hearing in London that the carve-out is 'consistent with the rules of international law' and that suspending the licences would negatively impact a wider international programme. Lord Justice Males and Mrs Justice Steyn are due to hand down their ruling at 10.30am on Monday. At the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, Raza Husain KC, for Al-Haq, said the case came 'against the backdrop of human calamity' in Gaza, describing the conflict as a 'live-streamed genocide'. In written submissions, he said that the Government misunderstood relevant parts of the Geneva Conventions when there was a clear risk that the parts might be used to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law by Israel. F-35s are part of an international defence programme which produces and maintains the fighter jets, with the UK contributing components for both assembly lines and an international pool. An earlier hearing in the case was told that the decision to 'carve out' licences related to F-35 components followed advice from Defence Secretary John Healey, who said a suspension would impact the 'whole F-35 programme' and have a 'profound impact on international peace and security'. In written submissions for the May hearing, Sir James Eadie KC, for the Government, said that this 'provided justification to take exceptional measures to avoid these impacts and was consistent with the UK's domestic and international legal obligations'. He continued that some of Al-Haq's criticisms 'are not based on a balanced appreciation of the facts' and did not consider 'the true depth and range of the information-gathering and analysis' by the Government when it made the decision. Charities Oxfam and Amnesty International, as well as Human Rights Watch, all intervened in the case.
