Latest from Powys County Times
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Lewis Capaldi plays secret set at Glastonbury
Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi has stepped on to Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage for a secret set, two years after a performance at the festival saw him struggle to manage his Tourette symptoms. The crowd started chanting 'oh Lewis Capaldi' before he began playing the hit song Before You Go to kick-off his set, which had been listed as 'TBA' on the Glastonbury website. The musician, who announced a break from touring shortly after his performance at the festival in 2023, has just released a new song called Survive.
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- General
- Powys County Times
Powys: Acting head appointed at Ysgol Bro Caereinion
A senior education officer from Powys County Council has been appointed to take over at a school after the head and deputy both resigned. Anwen Orrells has been appointed as acting headteacher of Ysgol Bro Caereinion following "an extensive recruitment process" overseen by the school's governing body. Mrs Orrells, is a fluent Welsh speaker with over 30 years' experience in education, including more than 16 years in educational leadership, curriculum design, and school improvement. Her previous roles have included Service Manager for the Education Support Service and Secondary School Challenge Adviser with the council as well as senior leadership positions at Caereinion High School and as a teacher at Builth Wells High School. Mrs Orells is currently Head of School Improvement and Learning at Powys County Council and Strategic Lead for the Mid Wales Education Partnership. The school released a statement saying it was overjoyed that she had accepted their offer for her to fill in the role after the resignation of headteacher Huw Lloyd-Jones and deputy Edward Baldwin from their positions. 'I'm delighted to announce that we have offered the post of Acting Headteacher to Mrs Anwen Orrells and she has accepted the offer,' said Ysgol Bro Caereinion's chair of governors, Myfanwy Alexander. 'A familiar face to many in the school community, Mrs Orrells combines strategic knowledge, leadership skills and unrivalled talents as a teacher. The Governing Body has the utmost faith in her and we are certain that she is the headteacher replete with experience and vision who can lead the school to an exciting and successful future.' Mrs Orrells said she was delighted to take on the role and will be joined by Miss Laura Jones as Deputy Head whose appointment was announced last week 'I am delighted to begin my role as Headteacher and to work in close partnership with pupils, staff, parents, and governors,' said Mrs Orrells. 'Together, we will build on the school's many strengths to ensure every learner has the opportunity to thrive. 'I am committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and ambitious learning environment for all, as we continue our journey along the language continuum towards becoming a truly bilingual school.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Cllr Pete Roberts, Powys County Council's cabinet member for a learning Powys, hailed Mrs Orrells 'wealth of experience and a strong track record in educational leadership to her new role'. He added: 'Her deep understanding of the local education landscape will be a valuable asset to the school community. 'I'm excited to continue working alongside Anwen and the entire Ysgol Bro Caereinion community as we strive to improve educational outcomes for all learners. Together, we are committed to advancing the school's journey along the language continuum and fulfilling the goals set out in our Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.'
Powys County Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
What does the UK spend on welfare – and how much will it rise?
Welfare spending is forecast to rise sharply over the next few years, driven by the UK's ageing population and an increase in the number of people receiving health and disability benefits. Here, the PA news agency looks at the latest figures and projections for social security and welfare expenditure. – How much does the UK spend in total? The Government is forecast to have spent £313.0 billion on welfare in 2024/25, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). This is the equivalent of 10.9% of UK GDP (gross domestic product, or the total value of the economy). The OBR forecasts annual spending on welfare to reach £373.4 billion in 2029/30. This is up £60.4 billion on the figure for 2024/25 – an increase of nearly a fifth. Welfare spending as a proportion of GDP is forecast to fall slightly to 10.8%, however. – What takes up the biggest share of the welfare budget? Spending on pensioners. Some £150.7 billion was spent on pensioners in 2024/25, accounting for nearly half (48%) of the total welfare budget. Besides the state pension, this spending also includes pensioner housing benefit, pension credit and the winter fuel payment. Spending on pensioners is forecast to reach £181.8 billion by 2029/30, but this would still be just under half (49%) of the full welfare budget. – How does the rest of the welfare budget break down? The next largest chunk of spending goes on Universal Credit, which made up 28% of the 2024/25 budget (£87.8 billion). It was followed by disability benefits at 13% (£41.4 billion) and child benefit at 4% (£13.3 billion), with other types of spending – including social security in Northern Ireland – accounting for 6% (£19.9 billion). – Is spending set to increase for all types of welfare? No. The child benefit budget is forecast to remain largely flat, at £13.6 billion in 2029/30, compared with £13.3 billion in 2024/25. By contrast, spending on disability benefits is forecast to jump to £56.3 billion by 2029/30, up from £41.4 billion in 2024/25. Spending on Universal Credit will reach £99.0 billion, up from £87.8 billion. – Why is welfare spending rising? The OBR identifies two main drivers of the increase. The first is higher spending on pensioners. This is because of the UK's ageing population and the 'triple lock', which guarantees pensions will rise each year by whichever is highest: the annual rate of inflation, average growth in earnings, or 2.5%. Of the forecast £60.4 billion extra spending on welfare in 2029/30, pensioners are responsible for just over half of the amount, at £31.3 billion (51%). The second factor identified by the OBR as driving an increase in welfare spending is the rise in people eligible for health and disability benefits. Spending on disability benefits, which includes disability living allowance and personal independence payments, accounts for £14.9 billion (25%) of the £60.4 billion extra spending on welfare in 2029/30. – How does spending on health and disability benefits break down by age group? The OBR defines health and disability benefits as covering the following entitlements: the standard allowance and health element spending for Universal Credit claimants; employment and support allowance; incapacity benefit; severe disablement allowance; income support for incapacity; disability living allowance; personal independence payment; attendance allowance; spending on the Universal Credit carer's element; carer's allowance, and income support for carers. Spending on all these benefits was estimated to be £75.7 billion in 2024/25, three-quarters of which (75% or £56.9 billion) went to working-age adults. Just under a fifth (19%, or £14.2 billion) went to pensioners, while 6% (£4.5 billion) went to children. Although the amount spent on health and disability benefits is forecast to rise to £97.9 billion in 2029/30, the proportions are expected to remain broadly the same: 74% on working-age adults (£72.3 billion), 19% on pensioners (£18.3 billion) and 7% on children (£7.0 billion). – How does welfare spending compare with other government departments? In 2023/24, actual spending on health and disability benefits was £66.3 billion. This was more than than the total departmental expenditure on defence (£57.6 billion) or transport (£32.6 billion), but well below the figure for education (£127.0 billion) and overall health and social care spending (£196.7 billion), according to the latest Treasury data. Total expenditure by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) stood at £275.1 billion in 2023/24, up from £239.1 billion in 2022/23 and the highest figure among all government departments. – What proportion of total government spending goes on welfare? The DWP's total spend of £275.1 billion in 2023/24 made up just over a quarter (26%) of all spending by Government departments. The next largest portions were taken by the Department of Health & Social Care (19%), Education (12%) and the Treasury (8%). The estimated total welfare budget of £313.0 billion in 2024/25 made up 24% of all Government expenditure (£1.28 trillion). This is forecast to rise slightly to 25% in 2029/30.
Powys County Times
3 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Son of Norwegian crown princess facing charges of rape and sexual assault
Oslo police on Friday announced charges against Marius Borg Hoiby, the eldest son of Norway's crown princess, on multiple counts including rape, sexual assault and bodily harm, after a months-long investigation of a case that involved a 'double-digit' number of alleged victims. Hoiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has been under scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested in 2024 amid allegations of rape and on preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage. Oslo police lawyer Andreas Kruszewski said Hoiby was co-operative during police questioning, which is now complete. Evidence in the case was drawn from sources including text messages, witness evidence and police searches, he said. The charges included one case of rape involving intercourse and two cases of rape without intercourse, four cases of sexual assault and two cases of bodily harm, Mr Kruszewksi said at a news conference. 'I cannot go into further detail about the number of victims in the case beyond confirming that it is a double-digit number,' he said. Defence lawyer Petar Sekulic, in an email to The Associated Press, said Hoiby was 'absolutely taking the accusations very seriously, but doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases, especially the cases regarding sexual abuse and violence.' The royal palace did not respond to a request for comment. The palace was quoted by the Norwegian newswire NTB saying it would not comment while the case winds its way through the 'normal procedures'. The case was top news in Norway, where the royal family is popular. Hoiby, 28, previously lived with the royal couple and their two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, but now lives in a separate house nearby, according to Mr Sekulic. Hoiby remains free pending a possible trial and is entitled to a presumption of innocence until a court rules otherwise. Once known affectionately as 'Little Marius', Hoiby grew up in the public eye enjoying the same wealth and privilege as his royal siblings, although his biological father, Morton Borg, served time in prison for drugs and violent offences. Hoiby has acknowledged cocaine use and addiction. Norway's future queen made headlines in 2001 when she married Haakon, because she was a single mother who had lived a freewheeling life with a companion who had been convicted on drug charges.
Powys County Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Kate meets Melinda French Gates a week after missing Royal Ascot
The Princess of Wales has returned to in-person duties a week after missing Royal Ascot by holding a meeting with Melinda French Gates. Kate and husband William invited Ms Gates to Windsor Castle on Wednesday where the trio are understood to have discussed their philanthropic work. The royal couple have made it onto Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential philanthropists. William and Kate were named in the Innovators category where they were hailed by the US publication for modernising royal philanthropy. Their Royal Foundation supports a number of their projects, including Kate's early years work and William's fight against the illegal wildlife trade. Ms Gates, also named as a leading philanthropist by the magazine, is the former wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and established Pivotal in 2015 to accelerate social progress through investments. The meeting was featured in the Court Circular, the official record of royal engagements, which stated: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales, Joint Patrons, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this afternoon received Ms Melinda French Gates (Founder, Pivotal) at Windsor Castle.' In a surprise move last Wednesday, Kate missed Royal Ascot for the second successive year as she seeks the right balance following her treatment for cancer. Since announcing in January she is in remission, the princess has been gradually returning to public duties and her appearances had increased in recent weeks. She was last seen in public on June 16 attending the annual Order of the Garter service with senior royals.
