Also in the news / £200 alternative fuel payment, monkfish quota agreed, LFASS payments confirmed, January jump start
MANY islanders can expect an additional payment of £200 to help with the high energy costs early in the next year.
The UK Government has just announced that alternative fuel payments (AFP) to most households that do not use mains gas or electricity to heat their homes will be made automatically in February via their electricity supplier.
The one-off payment is for households that use heating oil, solid fuel, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) or other sources to heat their homes. This is being paid in addition to the grant of £400 made available to every electricity customer in the UK.
A statement from the Department for Business, Energy & Industry Strategy said that households that have a relationship with an electricity supplier will be able to apply for the payment via a government portal in February.
THE LOCAL fishing industry has somewhat reluctantly welcomed the EU/UK fisheries deal which will see a reduction in the valuable monkfish quota by 20 per cent.
Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Simon Collins said fishermen should never have been faced with a proposed cut by 30 per cent, as this was based on uncertain science.
“This made no sense to our members or the wider Scottish industry,” Collins said.
“Ministers agreed to prioritise monkfish, and – justified through scientific evidence provided by fishermen –negotiated a less extreme reduction. The impact on crews will also be mitigated further through international transfers and other management measures.
“Fishermen have been vindicated over North Sea cod quotas and are sure they will be vindicated again when scientific recommendations for monkfish catch up to reality.
“People should understand that no one has a greater interest in sustainable fishing than the fishermen and the communities whose futures depend upon it.”
THE NATIONAL Farmers’ Union (NFU) has welcomed news that crofters and farmers in some of Scotland’s remotest areas will start to receive payments through the less favoured area support scheme (LFASS) over the coming days.
An estimated £56 million from the £65 million pot is expected to be distributed in the first tranche.
Chair of the NFU Scotland’s less favoured areas committee Robert Macdonald said: “The timing could not be more important.
“All farmers face a dear winter and unprecedented cost challenges for feed, fertiliser, energy and fuel and this support will ensure that those in our less favoured areas will continue to deliver for the rural economy, local jobs, landscapes, carbon sequestration and biodiversity.”
WITH the festive season just a few days away, the council, NHS Shetland as well as the recreational trust are asking people to look ahead to 2023 by starting the new year with a healthier lifestyle.
Individuals, groups, households and schools are all being invited to get active for at least 15 minutes a day for four weeks as part of the Jump Start January challenge.
People can undertake whatever physical activity they like – go out for a walk or jog, swim in their local pool, take part in a local fitness class or sport activity, or exercise in the comfort of their own living room.
Louise Johnson from the council’s sport and leisure service said: “Our challenge can include any type of physical activity – we don’t mind, as long as people are moving more than they usually do.
“We are also sharing a number of links to support people who may want, for example, to feed their family more healthily on a budget or give up smoking.
More details can be found on the council’s website.
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