Today (Monday 25 January), Scots across the world will be celebrating Burns Night with a hearty serving of haggis, thanks to the rise in exports from Scotland’s largest producer of the iconic dish to key Free-Trade Agreement markets including Singapore and Canada.

Macsween of Edinburgh, which produces a range of haggis products including gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian haggis, has played an important role in sharing the dish globally.

The company made history in 2017 when it became the first company to export the dish to Canada since 1971. In the last three years, Macsween has seen an increase of 135% of their products exported to Singapore and, just last year, exported vegetarian haggis to the USA – their first export to the region in nearly 50 years.

It’s not just haggis leading the way in representing Scotland’s culinary delights on the international stage. Companies like Nairn’s Oatcakes already export to some of the UK’s key markets including Canada and New Zealand, seeing a 15% and 95% increase in sales respectively in 2019.

Minister for Exports, Graham Stuart MP, said:

It’s fantastic that haggis will again be enjoyed all over the world this Burns Night thanks to our brilliant Scottish businesses.

In 2019 we overtook France to become the world’s fifth largest exporter and we’re helping Scottish businesses export their world-famous products including Scottish beef and lamb to new markets.

Our new free trade agreements will make it easier for businesses to sell their goods overseas, which will encourage growth and create jobs for people in Scotland.

UK Government Minister for Scotland, David Duguid said:

It’s fitting that on the day Scots around the globe celebrate the work of one of our greatest cultural icons, Robert Burns, we can announce an exports boom in Scottish food and drink.

I congratulate all our producers from this vital sector for their success in exporting iconic goods such as haggis and oatcakes so they can be enjoyed throughout the world.

Whilst there will be no big Burns suppers this year, I know people will be enjoying Burns Night traditions from the safety of their homes across the planet.

James Macsween, 3rd Generation Managing Director and Owner of Macsween, said:

Macsween now exports Haggis and Veggie Crumble to six international markets, and we expect to see that demand continue as we gain wider distribution of our products.

We are proud to grow through innovation, and we are dedicated to introducing our award-winning products to new international markets.

David Thomson, Chief Executive Officer, FDF Scotland, said:

Scotland’s food and drink manufacturers have great success at home and abroad. This success is largely due to the hard-working and passionate people that make up our vibrant sector.

As you enjoy some amazing Scottish food and drink to celebrate Burns Night – please remember to raise your glass to the hard-working people in the food and drink industry. Without them we wouldn’t be lucky enough to enjoy such a variety of high quality food and drink.

In under two years, the Department for International Trade (DIT) has secured trade agreements with 63 countries plus the EU, that account for £897bn of UK bilateral trade.

Our agreement with Canada locks in preferential tariffs and trading terms for more than 800 businesses in Scotland, which exported £411 million in goods to Canada in 2019. More than 40% of the UK’s food and drink exports to Canada come from Scotland.

Scotland will benefit significantly from the UK-Japan trade deal. Businesses in Scotland exported goods worth £503.4m to Japan in 2019. There will also be an opportunity for more flagship Scottish products, such as Scotch beef, to receive protected recognition in Japan in the future.

Shortbread manufacturers like Walkers could also benefit from new rules allowing them to source ingredients from different countries and still sell in Japan without tariffs. This will allow them to cut costs to boost profits.

This year, the department will be adding to these deals, with negotiations already underway with the USA, Australia and New Zealand. With the food and drink industry employing over 115,000 people in Scotland alone, DIT is committed to promoting the combined strengths of our Union, opening up new markets and export opportunities across the globe.

Self Assessment customers will not receive a penalty for their late online tax return if they file by 28 February, HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRCs’) Chief Executive Jim Harra has announced.

More than 8.9 million customers have already filed their tax return. HMRC is encouraging anyone who has not yet filed their tax return to do so by 31 January, if possible.

But anyone who cannot file their return by the 31 January deadline will not receive a late filing penalty if they file online by 28 February.

Taxpayers are still obliged to pay their bill by 31 January. Interest will be charged from 1 February on any outstanding liabilities. Customers can pay online, or via their bank, or by post before they file. More information on how to pay is at GOV.UK.

Taxpayers who cannot afford to pay their tax bill on time can apply online to spread their bill over up to 12 months. But they will need to file their 2019 to 2020 tax return before setting up a time to pay arrangement, so HMRC is encouraging everyone to do this as soon as possible.

HMRC’s Chief Executive, Jim Harra, said:

We want to encourage as many people as possible to file their return on time, so we can calculate their tax bill and help them if they can’t pay it straight away.

But we recognise the immense pressure that many people are facing in these unprecedented times and it has become increasingly clear that some people will not be able to file their return by 31 January.

Not charging late filing penalties for late online tax returns submitted in February will give them the breathing space they need to complete and file their returns, without worrying about receiving a penalty.

We can reasonably assume most of these people will have a valid reason for filing late, caused by the pandemic.

Normally, late filing penalties are applied to all returns filed after the 31 January deadline. Those penalties are cancelled if the customer has a reasonable excuse for filing late. However, this year HMRC is not issuing late filing penalties for a month to help taxpayers and agents who are unable to meet the deadline. Late filing penalties will not be issued for online tax returns received by 28 February.

HMRC has previously said that it was keeping the situation closely under review. It has become increasingly clear from the filing rate that some taxpayers and agents cannot file on time, and the department has now determined that ensuring no customers will receive late filing penalties if they file online before the end of February is the best way to help them.

More than 42,000 customers have already used the service, without needing to call HMRC, to manage their liabilities, totalling almost £130 million.

HMRC has increased support for customers who may need help with their tax liabilities. Once they have completed their 2019 to 2020 tax return, customers can set up an online payment plan to spread Self Assessment bills of up to £30,000 over up to 12 monthly instalments.

Customers can apply for self-serve Time to Pay via GOV.UK. Interest will be applied to any outstanding balance from 1 February 2021.

More than 25,000 customers have already used the service, without needing to call HMRC, to manage their liabilities totalling £69.1 million.

Customers with bills over £30,000, or who need longer than 12 months to pay their bill, can call HMRC 0300 200 3822 to discuss Time to Pay.

Customers who are required to make payments on account, and know their bill is going to be lower than the previous tax year, for example due to loss of earnings because of COVID-19, can reduce their payments on account. Visit GOV.UK to find out more about payments on account and how to reduce them.

Customers who are trying to contact HMRC in the run up to the deadline can do so via webchat, Twitter or the Self Assessment phone helpline. They may also find the information they need via the free HMRC app or their Personal Tax Account.

The phone helpline and webchat will both be open on 30 and 31 January, in addition to the weekday service.

Opening times are:

• phone and card payment lines: Saturday 30 January: 8am to 6pm and Sunday 31 January: 9am to 6pm
• webchat: Saturday 30 January and Sunday 31 January: 8am to 8pm

To protect against identity fraud customers must verify their identity when accessing HMRC’s online services. They must have 2 sources of information including:

• credit reference agency data
• tax credits
• P60/payslip
• UK passport

Find more information on Self Assessment tax returns.

HMRC expects more than 12.1 million people to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2019 to 2020 tax year.

Help and support is available to customers completing their Self Assessment tax return.

Customers will need to pay their tax bill by 31 January. Guidance on ways to pay is at GOV.UK.

Customers with Self Assessment debts over £30,000, or who you need longer than 12 months to pay, may still be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement by calling the Self Assessment Payment Helpline on 0300 200 3822.

Where tax credits customers are unable to report their final/actual income for the tax year 2019 to 2020 by 31 January 2021, they should report the figure as soon as possible after 31 January. In most cases HMRC will update the income used to calculate finalised entitlement to tax credits if the delay is due to the impact of COVID-19.

Self Assessment customers who need to claim a contributory benefit soon after 31 January 2021 need to ensure Class 2 National Insurance contributions (NICs) payments are paid. This is to make sure their claims are unaffected. Class 2 NICs may be affected if they:

• couldn’t pay all of their 2019 to 2020 Self Assessment liabilities by 31 January 2021
• have entered into a Time to Pay arrangement to pay off those liabilities through instalments

As Class 2 NICs are included in their 2019 to 2020 Balancing Payment, they may not have paid the necessary Class 2 NICs payments by 31 January 2021. Affected customers should contact HMRC on 0300 200 3822 for help as soon as possible. 

A new consultation launched jointly by the UK and devolved administrations today (25 January) will seek views on developing world-leading measures to reduce industrial emissions.

The consultation sets out a possible process for developing new “Best Available Techniques” (BAT) to limit the environmental impact of polluting industries, such as paper production, waste incineration and ceramic manufacturers, to safeguard and build on the high levels of environmental protection in the UK.

BAT are techniques designed to prevent or minimise emissions and impacts on the environment as a whole. These can include using new technology to limit polluting emissions, or improving the way that new installations for medium and heavy industries are designed, built and operated.

As a former member of the EU, the UK previously adopted EU BAT for industrial emissions. Now the UK will be able to consider the best approach for our own needs, taking into account UK data as well as reviewing international developments.

The proposed measures seek to go further than the existing EU process by conducting a public consultation on every new BAT and making oversight of the development process more transparent and collaborative with industry. In addition, the government will establish the following groups:

• A Standards Council, made up of representatives from the UK and devolved governments to maintain alignment across the four nations.
• A new Regulators Group to provide expert technical advice to the Standards Council.
• Technical Working Groups for each new BAT under consideration, made up of sector experts from regulators and representatives from the relevant industries.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

“Outside the EU we can go further in developing a tailored UK regime for better protecting the environment and public health from industrial pollution.

“This consultation delivers on our commitment to agree a common approach for developing BAT across the whole UK, ensuring that we are at the forefront of reducing industrial pollution.

“A more transparent and collaborative BAT regime is crucial for maintaining our high environmental standards, working closely with industry partners. I encourage all those with an interest to take part in this consultation.”

The UK’s current BAT regime is prescribed by the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive. We will assess feedback from all stakeholders before providing a response outlining a future policy position and next steps later this year.

Details of the consultation can be found on GOV.UK. The consultation will close for views on Sunday 18 April.

Although remote education is helping to plug the learning gap during the COVID-19 pandemic, pupil engagement and motivation remains a significant challenge for schools and parents, according to a new report.

Published today, Ofsted’s in-depth study on remote education finds that many schools are doing a good job of mitigating children’s learning loss. But keeping pupils motivated remains a challenge, despite schools having made strides in their remote learning offers.

Nearly half of parents who responded to Ofsted’s survey said that keeping their child focused on studying was a top concern, along with motivation and having enough contact with teachers. This was echoed by school leaders, with many working hard to increase pupil engagement and to find better ways for pupils and teachers to interact.

Recent government guidance has strengthened expectations around remote education. Today’s report explores the challenges schools, teachers and other providers face in meeting those expectations, and looks at the solutions they are finding to make sure children get a good education while away from the classroom. Ofsted also commissioned surveys of parents and teachers’ views about how their children were faring while learning remotely.

The report also finds:

• A large proportion of schools in England feel that they are doing well at mitigating children’s learning loss through remote education. Three-fifths of teachers surveyed said they were confident they were providing a high-quality remote education when this was needed. However, schools are at different stages of development, and there is wide variability in the remote learning on offer.

• When developing remote education, most leaders said they focused on making sure pupils were learning what they needed to, rather than focusing on the technology. Several heads said that they expected teachers – with a little adaptation if needed – to deliver lessons as they would in person, modelling answers, questioning pupils and giving feedback as normal.

• Many school leaders do not see remote education as a barrier to curriculum delivery and believe learning opportunities, levels of pupil engagement and expectations should be the same regardless. Several leaders were ambitious with their curriculum, arguing that its breadth and depth should not be compromised or narrowed for remote education.

• Parents and schools are concerned about children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their engagement with remote education. Nearly two thirds of parents of a child with SEND said they had been disengaged with remote learning, compared with almost 40 per cent of parents of children without additional needs. While some special schools have adapted their remote education to support SEND pupils, such as supplying assisted reading technology, more work needs to be done to engage children with SEND.

• Leaders who participated in the research did not always regard remote provision as an entirely temporary measure. The report highlights the potential benefits of remote learning in the long term, such as providing teaching for snow days or extended periods of illness or absence, to minimise learning loss.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, said:

While remote education will help to mitigate the learning lost when children are out of the classroom, it’s clear that pupils’ motivation and engagement remains an issue. This, along with the pressure remote learning places on teachers and parents, is proving a real barrier to children’s learning and development.

Despite the challenges, I am impressed by the flexibility and innovation shown by teachers and leaders involved in our research. I hope these insights will be valuable to schools that are still developing their own remote education offer.

‘My thanks to all the teachers and school leaders across the country whose continued efforts mean that children can still receive a quality education, even in such difficult circumstances.’

From today (25 January), Ofsted is resuming monitoring inspections of schools judged to be inadequate at their previous inspection, as well as some graded ‘requires improvement’. Monitoring inspections look at the progress a school is making and encourage improvement. Unlike full inspections, they do not result in a grade. Inspections will be carried out remotely by default, but we will continue to carry out on-site inspections where we have immediate concerns – for example, about safeguarding, the leadership of a school or a failure to provide education to children.

You can read more about our monitoring inspections online.

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