Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

The Resolution Foundation has warned young people will be hit worst, external in terms of the long-term impacts of the pandemic.

Charlie McCurdy, who carried out research for the report, explained during a recession young people tend to bear the brunt of it.

He said in the last recession young workers felt the biggest pay squeeze, to the extent that this is still being felt by those now in their 30s.

Students leaving university in the peak of that recession often felt they had to take up jobs in sectors they wouldn't otherwise have chosen - commonly in hospitality or retail. However, Mr McCurdy highlighted these same industries are the ones that have been shut down.

He said ways of mitigating "longer term scarring effects" could include allowing students to stay in education for longer or for the government to provide a jobs guarantee.

Image source, Getty Images

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The first question at the UK government briefing is from Michael in London, who says he works in the theatre and performing arts industry.

He asks whether the government will pledge to protect industries without any income for some time.

UK Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick says "all of us who care about the arts are very concerned" for the sector, which is "incredibly important" in the UK and "important for our wellbeing".

He refers to the "unprecedented support package" of the furlough scheme and the Treasury scheme launched today for the self-employed.

The culture secretary is also working with institutions on this, he says.

Read more about the furlough scheme here.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

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"Where is the evidence that this particular disease targets all older people," asks Baroness Ros Altmann.

With 75% of deaths aged 75 or over, that may seem odd but the former pensions minister and advocate for the rights of older people believes the UK approach is "potentially catastrophic not just for our livelihoods but for our basic freedom".

"Older people are more likely to die than younger people, that's life" she tells BBC Radio Scotland.

"The proportion of people over 70 who have died with coronavirus mentioned as a possible cause is around 81.5% of all deaths, but the national average on any day from any cause show that 82% of deaths are in the over 70s category."

She says governments should avoid discrimination of any kind, saying that we should be protecting those with underlying health conditions and letting everyone else chose what risks they want to take.

"There are many older people who will die because of lockdown rather than Covid," says Baroness Altmann.

Here's where to find the latest advice in Scotland...

1. NHS Inform, external

The latest from NHS Scotland and the Scottish government, including social distancing and stay at home advice.

2. Ready Scotland, external

Staying at home does not mean you are alone - there are many ways you can help your community.

3. Citizens Advice Scotland, external

Providing advice on benefits and employment rights.

4. Business Support, external

The latest advice and support for businesses.

5. Parent Club, external

Useful information on how to cope with home schooling and keeping your family safe.

6. Clear Your Head, external

Scottish government advice on how to improve our mental health at this difficult time.

7. Coronavirus (COVID-19): public use of face coverings, external

The Scottish government advises face coverings should be used in supermarkets and on public transport.

8. Helpline for those at high risk of coronavirus:0800 111 4000: 9am to 5pm

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

The Scottish government is taking a "wiser course" by keeping lockdown in place, the former UK chief scientific adviser has said.

Sir David King, who is now chairing an independent alternative to the SAGE group, said it was "premature" to end the lockdown without a test, trace, isolate (TTI) strategy being ready.

In particular he expressed concern about people not social distancing on public transport as they travel to work.

Sir David suggested the best way to end lockdown and roll out TTI would be to best involve local authorities.

He said: "These are the people who are much more likely to make the contacts with their populations and see that this rolls forward."

How on earth are the UK and Scottish governments going to pay back the colossal sums borrowed to cover the economic shutdown?

Will it mean inevitable tax hikes and pay freezes? Not necessarily so...

"We are not facing a debt crisis," argues Richard Murphy, Professor of International Political Economy at the University of London.

"Quantitative easing, which is literally the government buying back its own debt, with money created out of thin air specially for the purpose by the Bank of England, can cancel government debt.

"In 2011 - 2015, UK government debt did not exist because it was all cancelled by quantitative easing and there is nothing to stop us doing more of this.

"Remember, borrowing is owned by somebody (financial institutions) and they always want to lend. It's the safest share in town. Governments never go out of business."

However Prof Murphy adds that we are heading for "the worst recession in living memory".

But he reckons tax increases would make it much worse. Pay freezes would mean there was less money around, so the recession would last longer - and cutting government spending will do the same thing.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Self employed personal trainer Derek Wales welcomes the opening of the pay scheme for self-employed people.

But he expresses concern that it was not mentioned when the furlough scheme extension was announced yesterday.

He explains some certainty on whether or not it will continue is needed, as if not he may have to look for work in another industry for 12 months as gyms are likely to be one of the last kinds of business able to reopen.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

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Holidays in the UK could be popular if foreign travel is off limits this summer.

However, Stornaway resident Catriona Morrison has started a petition urging visitors to stay away from the Western Isles, where there have so far been no registered coronavirus deaths.

Catriona works in a care home and, with a big elderly population, she thinks island communities would struggle to cope with an outbreak of the virus.

"We've always been very welcoming but at the moment we are just trying to look after ourselves," she tells BBC Radio Scotland. "We are behind the peak in London or Glasgow. Maybe once we are passed a peak, we could review it then. If everyone just stays in their own communities until this passes, then we should be okay."

At the moment, the ferry services to the islands are for essential travel only.

The UK government will give its daily briefing shortly, led by UK Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick.

Follow live updates here.

Here's what's been happening around the UK today:

• The chancellor has said it is "very likely" the UK is in a "significant recession"

• Some people in England who cannot work from home have been returning to their workplaces today
• The message in Scotland remains unchanged: "Stay At Home, Protect The NHS, Save Lives"
• The number of people dying with coronavirus in Scotland has fallen for the second week
• Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of misleading MPs in a row over care homes
• SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford accuses prime minister of accused of putting’’workers’ safety at risk’’

Image source, bbc

Deaths of key workers and care home residents linked to coronavirus in Scotland are to be reported to prosecutors for investigation.

Lord Advocate James Wolffe said the Crown Office was setting up a dedicated unit to examine Covid-19 deaths.

He said the process would help determine if Fatal Accident Inquiries were to be held into the deaths.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry is normally held in Scotland if a death occurs in the workplace.

Read more here.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

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An anonymous care home worker has told John Beattie carers often feel "degraded" and "undervalued".

She said a full-time carer earns under £17,000 a year, while she herself earns just under £6,000.

"If we weren't there, they would be left to fend for themselves," she said.

Carers like her support up to 30 residents with advanced dementia, helping them with daily tasks including getting up and going to the toilet, and even giving them dignity in death.

She added the care home she works at did not have full PPE at the start of the pandemic, only masks. "The girls are stressed, they're scared to go home."

A Scottish design engineer is the only non-American finalist in a global challenge to invent a new ventilator for coronavirus patients.

Ross Hunter, chief executive of Armadilla in Bonnyrigg, is one of seven finalists from more than 200 entries that were submitted to the CoVent-19 Challenge, external in 40 countries.

Image source, Armadilla

Mr Hunter is the only individual entrant to reach the final to develop low-cost, readily deployable mechanical ventilators, with his design stemming from a project for speciality coffee machines.

"The pandemic is having devastating effects on people and communities everywhere and one of the best ways to treat sufferers is by ensuring there are enough effective and affordable ventilators available, especially in developing countries that don’t have many resources," he said.

"Just because we in the UK seem to be getting on top of Covid-19, we mustn’t forget the less fortunate."

The winning design will be announced on 21 June.

Image source, Getty Images

More than 110,000 self-employed people in the United Kingdom whose businesses are affected by coronavirus have already applied for government grants on the first day of the scheme's operation.

The value of the claims made so far is more than £340m ($415m), according to officials.

The Self Employed Income Support Scheme is designed to match the support being given to furloughed employees. The grants will be calculated as 80% of average monthly profit over a period of up to three years.

The government said the money would be paid into the accounts of eligible people six days after applying. The maximum payment will be £7,500, intended to cover March, April and May.

Image source, bbc

The number of people dying with coronavirus in Scotland has fallen for the second week in a row.

The National Records of Scotland said 415 deaths have been linked to the virus in the past week - 110 fewer than the week before.

There has also been a drop in the number of people dying in care homes.

But the figures suggested that people living in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to die than those in the least deprived.

Read more here.

Drivetime with John Beattie
BBC Radio Scotland

Here are the main issues Drivetime with John Beattie will focus on today:

• 3,123 Scots have died with Coronavirus, however the first minister says there are signs of hope
• 57% of deaths in the past week were in a care home - the programme examines this crucial issue again
• those in the poorest areas are 2.3 times more likely to die than someone living in the most affluent
• 76% of people who have died in Scotland are over the age of 75
• the UK is heading for a significant recession

Image source, bbc

People in the most-deprived areas of Scotland are 2.3 times more likely to die with Covid-19 than those in the least deprived areas, new data reveals.

The latest weekly figures from the National Record of Scotland show additional analysis of the impact of deprivation on mortality.

It shows that the death rate among people living in the 20% most-deprived areas is 86.5 per 100,000.

In the least-deprived fifth of Scottish areas the figure is just 38.2.

Read on for the full story