29/01/2020Ben WrayMoney taken from benefit payments to recover loans used to cover five week waiting period Chris Stephens MP slams deductions of Universal Credit payments£94 million taken from Universal Credit recipients for a range of loans, overpayments, errors, arrears and fines£50 million deducted for loans issued to cover basic living conditions during five week waiting […]

29/01/2020DrDalzellCommon Weal’s Head of Policy and Research Dr Craig Dalzell comments on today’s publication of Exporting Statistics Scotland – the annual measure of the size, shape and destination of Scotland’s exports. The long running constitutional fight in Scotland has had strange effects on the manner in which we consume statistics in Scotland. Once fairly routine […]

28/01/2020SeanBellAnnouncement follows meeting between the Scottish Government and the Stand Alone charity Findings of new research project will inform future changes to support for estranged studentsSAAS figures suggest there around 150 estranged students in Scotland, though improved data collection may reveal a higher figureStand Alone emphasises need to increase equality for the “severely disadvantaged group […]

28/01/2020Ben WraySince 2013 over 350,000 Scottish households have been in receipt of last resort payments from local authorities  £3.2 million of crisis grant money distributed in July-September 2019 Figures represent an increase of a third from same period in 2018 Continuing benefits freeze and cap cited as one reason for worsening figures FEARS have been raised about […]

28/01/2020SeanBellLatest official statistics on homelessness reveal record numbers of children in temporary accommodation –          Figures from Scotland’s chief statistician show the highest number of children in temporary accommodation on record –          Scottish councils have failed to offer temporary accommodation to homeless people 10,840 times since January 2017 –          SFHA warns uncertainty over Scottish Government investment […]

28/01/2020Ben WrayCatalan independence supporters say they will continue dialogue, despite imprisonments Six of nine leading pro-independence politicians return to Catalan parliamentLeaders under police escort greeted with cries of “freedom”Former Catalan vice-president defends organising of referendum in parliament hearings SIX jailed leaders of the Catalan Government have made a dramatic return to their national parliament, to defend […]

28/01/2020Alasdair ClarkMSPs today discussed Scottish Government proposals for powers allowing Holyrood to set up a “Scottish visa” system Scottish Government minister Fiona Hyslop says the Tory government’s “knee-jerk” reaction was regrettableProposals for new system would allow the Scottish Government to define criteria for new visas and assess applicantsScottish visa system, if implemented, could be adapted […]

28/01/2020Alasdair ClarkControversial plans to build a gas plant near a Fife village have been rejected by the council’s planning body Fife Council planning body rejects plans for a gas plant in four to one votePlans proposed new plant would be only 200 metres from resident’s homesLocal activists celebrate after fears over potential air pollution  CAMPAIGNERS […]

27/01/2020Alasdair ClarkCounter-terror cops in England previously issued guidance listing Extinction Rebellion [XR] as an extremist ideology Police Scotland do not consider XR a “terrorist group”Controversy arose after counter-terrorism police in England issued a guide on “safeguarding young people and adults from ideological extremism”Green MSP John Finnie welcomes clarification, but warns “the force must be transparent […]

27/01/2020DrDalzellCommon Weal releases its first policy paper of 2020. Within Our Grasp looks at the current political landscape and the deadlock over a second independence referendum and lays out a blueprint to break that deadlock and achieve Scottish independence within three years. The policy paper can be read in full here. A summary of the […]