News Archive
9/10/2022
Truss Can't Take On Nature And Win - National Trust has lined up with the RSPB, the Wildlife Trust and the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust
Richard Murphy in his blog today highlights the growing fears among Tory MP's after Liz Truss seems to have alienated many environmental charities that between them have over 10 million members. The National Trust has lined up with the RSPB, the Wildlife Trust and the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust..........But now she has the bastion of small c conservatism lined up against her.
9/10/2022
For Every £1 Given To Households Through Headline Cuts To Taxes, £2 Is Being Taken Away In Stealthy Freezes
By 2025-26 these freezes take away £2 for every £1 given to households through the headline personal tax cuts. Much has been made about the mini Budget's surviving high-profile tax cuts: the reductions in National Insurance contributions (NICs) and the 1p cut to the basic rate of income tax.
9/10/2022
Public Spending, Pay And Pensions
A report by the Institute For Fiscal Studies. Key findings 1.
8/10/2022
Scottish Veterans Fund Opens - £500,000 To Help Former Armed Forces Personnel
A veterans support fund is now open to help improve the lives of former service personnel and their families. A key priority for this year's Scottish Veterans Fund is to make sure veterans and their families are supported in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis.8/10/2022
The Student Loans Company Pays £2.6bn In Funding To Students Across The UK
SLC provides an update on first term Maintenance Loan payments to students. Over £2.6bn has been paid to 1.1m students in the first term of the 22/23 academic year, according to figures released today* by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
8/10/2022
Patient Safety Commissioner Bill Published By Scottish Government
Legislation to champion the welfare of people receiving healthcare, with the creation of a Patient Safety Commissioner, has been published. The Commissioner's remit, set out in the Bill, will cover all healthcare providers operating in Scotland, including the NHS and NHS-contracted and independent healthcare providers.8/10/2022
Caution urged as COVID-19 cases increase
NHS Highland message as Covid numbers rise and hospitalisations increase. After a long period where we have seen the number of COVID-19 cases in NHS Highland declining we have started to see a rise in positive numbers.8/10/2022
Why Tory Tax Announcements Crashed The Pound, Increased Government Borrowing Costs and Increased Mortgage Payments
If you are still wondering what hit the UK following Kwasi Kwarteng's incredibly inept budget announcements then here are some explanations about taxes that may surprise you. Most people are not interested in the background to taxes but the usual rules were not followed and it pays to know exactly why this whole sorry mess has unfolded costing all of us dearly.7/10/2022
One-in-seven Workers In Britain Today Have A Disability, With The Biggest Growth Among Those Reporting Mental Health Problems
A huge increase in the number of working-age people with a disability (up 2.3 million over the past decade), coupled with rising employment rates among disabled people, mean that the share of workers with a disability has grown by 50 per cent since 2013 to around one-in-seven of workers, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Thursday 6 October 2022. The Foundation's latest Labour Market Outlook examines the rise in employment among disabled people, what has driven the rise, the changing nature of disability in the workplace, and what it means for workers, firms and policy makers.7/10/2022
Providing Homes For Displaced People From Ukraine
North Ayrshire Council has been awarded funding through the Scottish Government's Ukraine Longer-Term Resettlement Fund to refurbish properties to be used on an interim basis by people who have fled the conflict in Ukraine. Through the fund, up to £50 million has been made available to Councils and Registered Social Landlords to bring properties back into use that would otherwise not be available to let.7/10/2022
Richest households lose from 45p U-turn, but are still set to gain almost 40 times as much from tax cuts as poorer families
The richest 5 per cent of households still stand to gain £3,500 on average next year from the tax cuts announced in the Chancellor's recent Fiscal Statement. That is almost 40 times as much as the average £90 cash gain for the poorest fifth of households - despite the decision to scrap the abolition of the 45p tax rate, the Resolution Foundation said.7/10/2022
Hydro Ness project commended with Merit at prestigious national steel awards
Highland Council's renewable energy installation, Hydro Ness, has been commended with a Merit from judges at the prestigious, national Structural Steel Design Awards 2022. The Archimedes Screw installation on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness was shortlisted for the main awards earlier this year.
7/10/2022
Help With School Age Childcare - £1 Million To Support Low-income Families
More families will benefit from funded school age childcare as part of a national mission to tackle child poverty. The Scottish Government is investing £1 million to expand services in parts of Dundee, Glasgow, Clackmannanshire and Inverclyde, with a roll-out of similar provision in other parts of Scotland from April 2023.7/10/2022
Tenant Protection Bill Passed By Scottish Parliament
Tenants will have increased protection from rent increases and evictions during the cost of living crisis under temporary legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament. The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Bill gives Ministers temporary power to cap rents for private and social tenants, as well as for student accommodation.7/10/2022
Date Set For 2023-24 Scottish Budget
The 2023-24 Scottish Budget will be published on 15 December 2022, the Deputy First Minister John Swinney has confirmed following agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament's Finance and Public Administration Committee (FPAC). The agreed date provides certainty of Scotland’s plans and supports the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise the Scottish Government’s spending plans for the next financial year.7/10/2022
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Ram and Sheep Sales 7 October 2022
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October 7th) sold 182 rams at its Annual Show and Sale of Blackface Rams kindly sponsored by HBS Ring Limited and ably judged by Mr F McIntyre Dunallister Estate. The Overall Champion was a shearling from Messrs.7/10/2022
Washington Post Podcast - In Truss The UK Doesn't Trust
The mess as seen from USA - Washington Post podcast A tax policy by the new administration in Britain sent the price of the pound plummeting and the global economy spiralling. Today on "Post Reports," we explain why it caused such turmoil, and what else to expect from Prime Minister Liz Truss.7/10/2022
Seagreen Supports £1bn Economic Boost To Scotland By SSE Renewables
The construction of what will be Scotland's largest offshore wind farm, Seagreen, has supported the delivery of a £1bn economic boost by SSE Renewables to the Scottish economy in the last year, according to new independent analysis published today. The details are included in a new Sustainability Report published on 29 September 2022 by SSE Renewables, alongside a report providing independent analysis by PwC measuring the value the company adds to GDP and the jobs it supports across its home markets of the UK and Ireland for the last three years.
7/10/2022
Effects Of Inflation Are Not Felt Equally By All Households
Report from The Fraser of Allender Institute. Not all households are equally affected by rising prices.
7/10/2022
