Press release: New Northumberland fish passes open up stream
Two new fish passes at South Low in north Northumberland have opened up 22km of stream, making it easier for fish migration. read more
Author Archives: GovWorldMag
SNP slammed for “unnecessary” tax grab
8 Feb 2017
The Scottish Conservatives have attacked the SNP Government today after it emerged that it will impose the highest taxes in the UK on people – despite having had £185m to spare in its kitty.
The extra cash was only revealed last week when the SNP used it to buy off the Scottish Greens.
The £125m underspend, plus £60m in the business rates pool is far more than the £108m the Scottish Government says it will collect by setting higher thresholds on income tax than the rest of the UK.
That decision is now set to cost jobs and stymie growth, amid warnings from business leaders that it will put off investors and firms from committing to Scotland.
Finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said:
“Throughout this entire budget process, Derek Mackay has tried to hide the facts from taxpayers in Scotland. Now we know why.
“It turns out Mr Mackay had more than enough money to pay for his budget and pass on a tax break to working families. Yet he opted instead to keep the cash in his back pocket in order to buy off the Greens.
“The SNP could easily have turned to us for support in giving taxpayers a break. But Nicola Sturgeon is a First Minister who would rather stitch up a deal with her independence supporters in the Green party than give taxpayers a break.
“We are about to become the highest taxed part of the UK. Now we know: it is not just bad government, and bad policy – but it is utterly unnecessary as well.”
read morePress release: Work begins on major £18 million Newhaven flood defence project
The Environment Agency has begun work on a scheme that will reduce flood risk to over 800 homes and businesses and vital infrastructure. read more
China vows to continue surrogacy crackdown
China will continue to crack down on the practice of surrogacy, banning medical institutions and professionals from performing surrogate techniques of any kind, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said Wednesday. Many older Chinese coup… read more
Green Party: Better Care Fund is the latest on a long list of the Government’s NHS failures
8 February 2017
The Green Party has responded to a report showing Government plans to join up the social care and health sectors to save money and work for hospitals are failing [1].
Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:
“The Government appears to be in total denial about its consistent and repeated failures around our NHS, and what is at their heart. So far the Better Care Fund looks to have been a waste of time, money and effort. It simply hasn’t achieved its stated goals of savings and reducing emergency admissions, with emergency visits soaring and hospital workloads bigger than ever.
“While we welcome a joined up approach between social and health care this project simply isn’t delivering and it won’t as long as cash flow worries mount. The Government should urgently review the specific problems around the fund. But it must also face up to the wider issue of chronic under investment in health and social care.
“This is just the latest on a growing list of failures within the NHS, contributing to a growing crisis. The Government must commit to easing the pressure on both healthcare professionals and patients who are all suffering under the current mismanagement of what should be, and could be a flagship health service.”
Notes:
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