News Archive
19/8/2022
Scottish Homelessness Statistics, 2021-22
An annual update on Homelessness Statistics covering 2021-22 has been released by Scotland's Chief Statistician. Findings for that period show: There were 35,230 applications for homelessness assistance - an increase of 944 (3%) compared with 2020-21, but still below pre-pandemic levels (37,060 in 2019-20).19/8/2022
Scaling Up Nature Restoration - Funding Open
£3.5 million for landscape-scale biodiversity projects. Longer-term projects that aim to transform Scotland's natural environment can apply for a share of funding in the latest round of the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund.
19/8/2022
Progress On Building A Fairer, Greener Scotland
New funding has been announced to cut carbon emissions in homes and commercial properties, as the Scottish Government continues to focus on delivering its net zero targets and support families with the cost of living. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie announced £16.2 million funding for five zero emission heat networks during a visit to ng Homes in Glasgow.19/8/2022
More Foreign Criminals And Illegal Migrants Removed
Renewed focus on removals is fulfilling the government's commitment to keep the British public safe and tackle illegal migration. The Home Secretary has sent out an urgent warning on Thursday 18 August to dangerous foreign criminals and immigration offenders in the UK that the government will not rest until they are removed and our streets are made safer.19/8/2022
Islands Bond - Response to the public consultation published
The proposed Islands Bond will not go ahead following responses to a consultation. The key findings from the analysis of the Scottish Government Islands Bond consultation suggests that island communities do not support the proposed Bond - one of the initiatives announced last year to address the issue of depopulation.19/8/2022
Self-driving Revolution To Boost Economy And Improve Road Safety
New plan for self-driving vehicles plus a consultation on a safety ambition. Government unveils plan to rollout self-driving vehicles on UK roads, sparking a transport revolution to improve road safety and better connect communities estimated 38,000 new jobs could be created in the UK from predicted £42 billion industry backed by £100 million to support industry investment and fund research on safety developments.
18/8/2022
Highland Council Shortlisted For 4 National Awards
The Highland Council has been shortlisted for 4 APSE Service Awards which celebrate excellence in local public services. Chair of the Communities and Place Committee, Cllr Graham MacKenzie commended the Council staff, he said: "I am very pleased to advise that the Community Operations and Logistics Section has been short listed in 3 categories in the 2022 Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards.18/8/2022
How England Plans To Cut Back ‘Low Value' Degrees So It Can Reap More Student Loan Repayments
Rishi Sunak, one of the candidates to be the UK's next prime minister, has vowed to "crack down" on university degrees with poor career outcomes. This is not a new idea.18/8/2022
More Than Half Of Uk Households To Be In Fuel Poverty By The New Year According To New Report
More than half of households in the UK, or 15 million people, will have been pushed into fuel poverty by January 2023, according to a new report authored by York academics. The report predicts that, even with the £400 fuel rebate being offered by the government, 58.5% of households will be plunged into fuel poverty in Yorkshire and the Humber, 47.5% in London and 71.7% in Northern Ireland.18/8/2022
Launch Of New Support For Highland Food And Drink Firms
A new support service for Highland based food and drink companies will be launched at a series of events next week in Fort William, Inverness and Dornoch. Attendees will be able to share their business challenges and asked for their views on the detail and content of the service.18/8/2022
Lack Of Progress On Closing Educational Inequalities Disadvantaging Millions Throughout Life
New research on inequalities, carried out for the IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, finds that disadvantaged pupils start school behind their better-off peers, and the education system is not succeeding in closing these gaps. Educational inequalities result in substantial differences in life chances, leaving millions disadvantaged throughout their lifetime.18/8/2022
The Labour Market Is Making History For The Wrong Reasons
The backdrop to today's (16 August 2022 labour market data has been discussion around the increasingly concerning picture for the winter, with expectations of future increases in the energy price cap continuing to ratchet upwards. But today's data reminds us that when it comes to pay at least, workers are already facing very tough conditions, even before the winter crunch point.
18/8/2022
Private Schools And Inequality
Education achievement, as Farquharson, McNally and Tahir (2022) have ably shown in their chapter for the IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities, is one of the key foundations for the inequalities in the United Kingdom. A good part of the inequality in people's educational achievements stems from their socio-economic background.18/8/2022
Rising Food Prices Drive Britain Into Double Digit Inflation
CPI inflation hit double digits (10.1 per cent) in July, with Resolution Foundation analysis of the latest data yesterday (Wednesday 17 August 2022) showing that it was even higher for the poorest tenth of households - at 10.9 per cent. Another significant increase in inflation from 9.4 per cent in June to 10.1 per cent in July was driven by primarily by rising food prices, which are rising at a rate of 12.7 per cent (up from 9.8 per cent June).17/8/2022
Highland Council Invites New Applications For The Nature Restoration Fund
The Highland Council is inviting communities to apply for a share of the 2022/23 allocation of the Nature Restoration Fund. Established by the Scottish Government, the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is a capital fund designed to help support projects that will deliver nature restoration, safeguard wildlife, and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss due to climate change.
17/8/2022
Grocery Price Inflation Hits New Peak At £533 Annual Increase
Own-label ranges reach record levels as people shop around between retailers searching for the best value products. Latest figures from Kantar market research show the highest rate of inflation since the market research group began tracking the sector 14 years ago taking the average annual grocery bill to £5,128.
17/8/2022
Workers Plunged Into Deepest Pay Squeeze Since The Silver Jubilee
Real average weekly earnings fell by 3 per cent in the three months to June, the biggest fall since 1977, the Resolution Foundation said on Tuesday 16 August 2022 in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics. The latest data is dominated by near double-digit inflation, which according to the Foundation's analysis of longer-term ONS and Bank of England pay data, has brought about the deepest pay squeeze in 45 years.17/8/2022
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 17 August 2022
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (August 17th) sold 109 store cattle and 92 adult head of breeding cattle. Bullocks (66) averaged 229.3p per kg and sold to 262.9p per kg for a pair of 407kg Beef shorthorn crosses from Auchriachan, Tomintoul and £1,210 gross for a pen of 518kg Charolais crosses from Lower Gartally, Drumnadrochit.17/8/2022
£12 Billion Needed If Government Wants To Maintain Value Of Household Support Package
The government would need to find £12 billion simply to achieve what it was aiming to do with the £24 billion package announced in May. That's largely because in May energy prices were expected to rise by 95% in 2022/23, and are now expected to rise by 141%.17/8/2022
