Elderly Scots will welcome help for fuel bills

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Bills help is a winter warmer

Older Scots will welcome the announcement that all pensioners will receive a payment next year to help pay their fuel bills.

But many will be wondering why this situation arose in the first place.

The Labour Government at Westminster has been honest about the state of the public finances. Savings had to be made.

The Tories spent their last year in office making spending promises they could never meet.

But the original plan to means test the Winter Fuel Payment was too harsh and excluded too many older people. A middle way was possible. The Scottish Government was due to take charge of the payment north of the Border.

But that plan was delayed following the announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves this summer.

It gave SNP ministers breathing space to come up with their own alternative.

Scottish Labour, for their part, had already committed to bringing in a form of winter fuel payment if they win power at Holyrood in 2026. But neither of these pledges will help pensioners this winter unless they are already in the receipt of pension credit.

The UK Government may argue that it was the increased funding it provided for Holyrood that allowed SNP ministers the room to make yesterday’s announcement.

Regardless, the Scottish Government has now made an ironclad promise to bring in a form of winter fuel payment.

It must now deliver on it, at a time of massive pressure on the public purse. Older Scots can’t keep warm at night on hot air from political parties.

Betting battle

Colin Brown’s battle with a gambling addiction will be familiar to many.

Betting on the horses, football or a trip to the casino can be great fun.

But for some punters it becomes all-consuming and can ruin lives – not just for the addict but for their loved ones as well.

On one occasion, Colin lost £1500 in just three minutes betting on virtual cricket.

That cash goes straight into the coffers of online bookies who do very well out of a lucrative business.

A welcome new levy the UK Government is to introduce aims to raise £100million from bookies and casinos.

The money will fund research, prevention and treatment of harms linked with the betting industry.

It is only right that those firms who make a handsome living out of gambling help those who struggle to bet in moderation.

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