Latest news with #SatwatRehman
The National
11-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Chancellor urged to tackle child poverty as 'priority' by Scots charities
On Wednesday, Rachel Reeves will set out the UK Government's first spending review since she announced £5 billion of cuts to disability benefits in the September 2024 Budget. Earlier this week the UK Government U-turned on its proposed cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners, sparking calls for ministers to go further and end the two-child benefit cap. We previously told how research, commissioned by the SNP, found that almost two million families in the UK would be lifted out of poverty if Westminster followed Scotland's lead. This would mean abolishing the two-child benefit cap, scrapping the bedroom tax and raising the child element of Universal Credit to match the Scottish child payment. READ MORE: UK must do 'far more' than sanctions and stop all arms sales to Israel The Scottish Government has also previously called on the Chancellor to rethink the cuts and to fully fund the National Insurance employer increase for Scotland's public services. The spending review comes amid warnings the number of children in the UK living in poverty is expected to rise to a record 4.6 million by 2029-30. Satwat Rehman, chief executive of One Parent Families Scotland, told The National: 'We are deeply concerned that the government is pressing ahead with damaging welfare reforms - including proposed cuts to disability benefits and delays to the long-promised child poverty strategy. 'In the midst of a worsening cost-of-living crisis, these decisions risk pushing already struggling single-parent families into even deeper hardship. 'The growing uncertainty is compounding anxiety for single parents, who face immense financial strain and will be disproportionately impacted as sole carers and providers for their children. (Image: .) 'We urge the UK Government to take decisive action to reduce child poverty in tomorrow's Spending Review and to protect vulnerable families from further harm.' Over the past decade, the number of children living in poverty has risen from 3.7m (27%) in 2013/14 to 4.5m (31%) in 2023/24. John Dickie, director of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, also urged the UK Government to rethink its swingeing benefit cus. 'If the UK Government is serious about bringing forward a credible child poverty strategy the Chancellor must commit to allocating the resources needed to scrap the two-child limit,' he told The National. 'It's the single biggest driver of rising child poverty across the UK - pushing 109 more children into poverty every single day that passes. READ MORE: Independent Scotland would break ties with Israel, says Stephen Flynn 'And with families affected by disability at even higher risk of poverty, a major rethink is also needed on planned cuts to disability and sickness benefits. 'The spending review offers an opportunity to weigh up not just the moral costs of child poverty but the economic costs. Leaving so many of our children to grow up in poverty is a drag on the economy and a massive fiscal burden on the public services left to pick up the pieces. 'Investing to end child poverty must be the priority.' It comes as UK health, defence, and education departments are set to see a funding boost in the announcement, with £113bn going to capital funding for infrastructure projects. The Acorn carbon capture hub in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, is reportedly set to receive funding. (Image: NQ) Local MP Seamus Logan, SNP, said he 'cautiously welcomed' the announcement but added there must be guarantees and sufficient funding put in place for the project. Meanwhile, climate campaigners criticised the funding being given to a 'greenwashing' project. Reeves is set to tell the Commons: 'The priorities in this spending review are the priorities of working people. 'To invest in our country's security, health and economy so working people all over our country are better off.' The Chancellor has also already announced some £15.6 billion of spending on public transport in England's city regions, and £16.7 billion for nuclear power projects, the bulk of which will fund the new Sizewell C plant in Suffolk. Wes Streeting's health department is set to be one of the biggest winners for funding, ahead of the publication of the NHS 10-year plan, due to be released shortly after the spending review. The full implications for Scotland, and what funding will be made available for ministers, will not be clear until after the full statement.
The National
22-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Oil and gas workers face ‘unjust transition', report finds
SCOTLAND is on course for an 'unjust transition', a report has found, with the Government accused of having no plan for oil and gas workers. The Just Transition Commission said urgent action is needed to ensure the transition from fossil fuels to renewables happens fairly. 'Without urgent and ambitious action, investment and Government leadership, Scotland's offshore transition will not take place fairly, with harmful effects on workers, communities, employers and the regional economy of the north east that could otherwise be avoided,' the report said. READ MORE: 20 Scottish mums start hunger strike in protest over Israel's Gaza genocide The independent advisory body warned an unjust transition is possible despite it being known for decades that the North Sea oil and gas sector would decline. Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen told the commission they fear a 'cliff edge' for their livelihoods. The report said: 'In the context of global economic volatility, the pace and sequencing of the transition will be unjust if determined mainly by turbulent commodity prices. 'The fragmented nature of both the fossil fuel and renewables industries makes effective planning more challenging, but also more critical. 'To avoid harms to workers and communities and support new industry, governments must now take a bold, innovative approach that maximises leverage to set standards, establish pathways, create jobs, and manage shocks.' The commission said more needs to be done to support jobs in the offshore renewable energy sector, including wind, decommissioning and green hydrogen – areas it said are expected to see 'rapid' growth. The expert group said: 'Renewables have a key role to play in delivering a just transition provided robust minimum standards are achieved across the industry for pay, conditions, health and safety regulation and union recognition.' It called for a 'clear plan' to be developed for building up Scotland's renewables supply chain that could help mitigate the job losses seen in the fossil fuel sector. It said oil and gas workers need a 'credible offer' from the Government to retrain in green industries. Professor Dave Reay, co-chair of the commission, said: 'There's a real risk now that we are looking at a repeat of previous unjust transitions in coal and steel, where a lack of anticipatory planning left workers and communities abandoned at the sharp end of industrial change.' Satwat Rehman, fellow co-chair of the commission, added: 'As the role of oil and gas in the economy of the north east inevitably continues to phase down, we need our governments to work together urgently on a credible plan to support workers whose livelihoods are tied to fossil fuels, from drill crews to caterers, move into new roles. 'Their skills and experience are hugely valuable and we need a plan to make sure Scotland makes the most of them, whether in our rapidly growing clean energy sector or the wider economy.' A spokesperson for the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We have taken rapid steps to deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers in a fair and orderly transition as part of our Plan for Change, including by making the biggest investment in offshore wind and two first-of-a-kind carbon capture storage clusters. 'This comes alongside Great British Energy, which has already announced a £300 million investment in British supply chains, unlocking significant investment and helping to create thousands of skilled jobs, progressing our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
Rhyl Journal
22-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Oil and gas workers face ‘unjust transition' with no plan, commission warns
The Just Transition Commission said urgent action is needed to ensure the transition from fossil fuels to renewables happens fairly. 'Without urgent and ambitious action, investment and Government leadership, Scotland's offshore transition will not take place fairly, with harmful effects on workers, communities, employers and the regional economy of the north east that could otherwise be avoided,' the report said. The independent advisory body warned an unjust transition is possible despite it being known for decades that the North Sea oil and gas sector would decline. Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen told the commission they fear a 'cliff edge' for their livelihoods. The report said: 'In the context of global economic volatility, the pace and sequencing of the transition will be unjust if determined mainly by turbulent commodity prices. 'The fragmented nature of both the fossil fuel and renewables industries makes effective planning more challenging, but also more critical. 'To avoid harms to workers and communities and support new industry, governments must now take a bold, innovative approach that maximises leverage to set standards, establish pathways, create jobs, and manage shocks.' The commission said more needs to be done to support jobs in the offshore renewable energy sector, including wind, decommissioning and green hydrogen – areas it said are expected to see 'rapid' growth. The expert group said: 'Renewables have a key role to play in delivering a just transition provided robust minimum standards are achieved across the industry for pay, conditions, health and safety regulation and union recognition.' It called for a 'clear plan' to be developed for building up Scotland's renewables supply chain that could help mitigate the job losses seen in the fossil fuel sector. It said oil and gas workers need a 'credible offer' from the Government to retrain in green industries. Professor Dave Reay, co-chair of the commission, said: 'There's a real risk now that we are looking at a repeat of previous unjust transitions in coal and steel, where a lack of anticipatory planning left workers and communities abandoned at the sharp end of industrial change.' Satwat Rehman, fellow co-chair of the commission, added: 'As the role of oil and gas in the economy of the north east inevitably continues to phase down, we need our governments to work together urgently on a credible plan to support workers whose livelihoods are tied to fossil fuels, from drill crews to caterers, move into new roles. 'Their skills and experience are hugely valuable and we need a plan to make sure Scotland makes the most of them, whether in our rapidly growing clean energy sector or the wider economy.' A spokesperson for the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: 'We have taken rapid steps to deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers in a fair and orderly transition as part of our Plan for Change, including by making the biggest investment in offshore wind and two first-of-a-kind carbon capture storage clusters. 'This comes alongside Great British Energy, which has already announced a £300 million investment in British supply chains, unlocking significant investment and helping to create thousands of skilled jobs, progressing our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.' The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
