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Devolution: school and health results often worse outside England

Performances in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ significantly despite having more money to spend, report finds
After two decades of devolution, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have significantly different, and often worse, outcomes in school and hospital performance compared with England, despite having much more money to spend.
The analysis from the Institute for Government, published on Thursday, maps how public service performance has diverged across the UK from 1999 to the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Noting that spending per person in Scotland and Northern Ireland is 29% higher than that on comparable services in England, and 23% higher in Wales, the report found that all the devolved nations have higher rates of treatable mortality – deaths that could be prevented through timely and effective healthcare interventions – and by 2018 all three had lower maths and science results.The report comes as the Scottish Nationalists face scrutiny in the Holyrood election campaign over educational and health outcomes after 14 years in government, and as the Welsh Labour government’s record on education and health, after more than two decades in charge, has been criticised during the campaign for next week’s Senedd elections.
The report suggests that “Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence has not (so far) lived up to its name”. The paper reveals that when pupils last sat Pisa tests (a programme of international student assessment) in 2017-18, Scotland spent 9% more per pupil than England, but Scottish pupils achieved significantly lower results than English pupils in maths and science tests.
According to the analysis, Welsh pupils consistently achieve lower scores in international tests than pupils in the other three nations and by the age of 15, Welsh pupils’ reading ability is about six months behind pupils in the other three nations.
There were also striking differences in health performance, with Scotland consistently admitting, discharging or transferring a higher proportion of A&E patients within four hours than England, Wales, and Northern Ireland since 2015. While in March 2020, almost 40% of patients on waiting lists in Northern Ireland had been waiting longer than a year just to get an appointment – compared with only 0.1% of patients on waiting lists in England.
The senior researcher for the Institute for Government and report author, Graham Atkins, said Scotland’s education performance may relate to differences in pupils’ backgrounds: “Socioeconomic background has a big effect on educational attainment and, on average, disposable household income is lower in Scotland than in England. But this doesn’t entirely explain the difference. Indeed in 2006, Scottish pupils achieved similar science results to English pupils in and outperformed English pupils in maths.”
He also called for the four governments to record data in better comparable ways to improve accountability. “The establishment of the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1999 created a fascinating policy laboratory to see what effects policies have had, and so improve services and outcomes. But in practice this kind of analysis is much harder than it should be.”
source: Libby Brooks
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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