News Archive
24/2/2024
UK Boosts Humanitarian Funding For Ukraine
Two years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK has pledged £8.5 million in humanitarian funding allocations to the Red Cross Movement and the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. UK funding will help expand the lifesaving work of the Red Cross Movement and the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund.24/2/2024
Red Tape Has Fuelled The Cost Of Living Crisis, Argues New Lea Paper
Since 2000, sectors with heavy state intervention have experienced large price rises while competitive markets have experienced price falls. Average consumer prices increased by 80% between 2000 and 2023.
24/2/2024
New Law To Stop Thousands Of Offenders From Changing Their Name In Secret
Thousands of offenders on community and suspended sentences will no longer be able to secretly change their name as part of tough new rules to protect the public. Offenders on community-based sentences required to report name changes.24/2/2024
Scotland Shows Solidarity With Ukraine
On the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the First Minister will attend a service held at Edinburgh Castle in memory of those who have died during the conflict. The event is a collaboration between the Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh, the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) Edinburgh Branch and the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Great Britain.
24/2/2024
Threat To Food And Drink Sector In Scotland - Labour Shortages
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon has called for ‘meaningful engagement' with the UK Government over issues impacting Scottish food and drink businesses. Writing on Friday (23 Feb 2024), she again called for a meeting with the UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to discuss red tape and labour shortages that are seriously impeding the sector.24/2/2024
UK To Boost Ukraine's Artillery Reserves With £245 Million Munitions Package
The UK will spend £245 million throughout the next year to procure and invigorate supply chains to produce urgently needed artillery ammunition for Ukraine. This week marks two years since Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and ten years since he first invaded Crimea.
23/2/2024
No Redundancies In Highland Council's 24/25 Budget But Job Reductions Over 3 Years
Highland councillors will meet on 29th February 2024 to agree the proposals set out in the papers published today. There has been a long period of public consultation on the proposals and although there are unpalatable suggestions they will balance the books.23/2/2024
Make No Mistake Highland Council Are Going to Make Significant Cuts For Next Two Years At Least
Over £100m investment programme proposed as part of 3-year budget Highland council are about to use significant amounts of reserves to cover shortfalls in the budget for 24/25 and possibly 25/26. Despite pushing out big figures it disguises the cuts about to fall on Highland services.23/2/2024
Three-year Strategy Proposed To Manage £113m Budget Gap In Highland Prelude To Job Losses And Cuts To Services
The following report is from Highland council but it does not address the details of what will come in the council papers for them meeting on 29 February 2024. The budget for Highland is expected to be the worst for many years and will involve job cuts, reducing services and as has been already trailed stopping new capital projects such as schools.
23/2/2024
Welcome Fall In The Energy Price Cap But High Debt Levels Remain - Bills Will Drop
Energy regulator Ofgem has today (Friday 23 February, 2024) announced a significant reduction of the energy price cap for the second quarter of 2024. The price cap, which sets a maximum rate per unit that can be charged to customers for their energy use, will fall by 12.3% on the previous quarter from 1 April to 30 June 2024.23/2/2024
Promoting Positive Behaviour In Schools
Education Committee Members have strongly endorsed the Council's approach to addressing behaviour in schools through informed guidance and the promotion of positive relationships. The Council’s Promoting Positive Relationships guidance pulls together best practice, draws on national guidance, and is well researched in terms of being evidence based.23/2/2024
Action On Single-use Vapes
A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland is due to come into effect on 1 April 2025, under proposed legislation published today. The move takes forward the recommendation to ban single use vapes from a consultation on ‘Creating a Smokefree Generation and Tackling Youth Vaping', which ran across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland last year.23/2/2024
Income Generation Projects Proposed As Part Of 3-year Highland Council Budget
Around £15.8m of income generation could be realised over the next 3 years if ambitious budget proposals are agreed at Highland Council's budget setting meeting on 29 February. Senior Strategic Chair Ken Gowans said: "Our budget saving proposals of £54m over three years are underpinned by the need to invest in change to deliver recurring and sustainable cost reduction, redesign and increased income generation.23/2/2024
Growing Scotland's Green Economy
Scotland can lead the net zero revolution, using its natural resources, world-class universities and entrepreneurial spirit to build the industries of the future, according to Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan. Ms McAllan said the announcement of a £24.5 million grant to secure Japanese company Sumitomo Electric Industries' investment in a new cable factory for the offshore wind sector at Nigg highlighted how net zero went hand-in-hand with economic growth.22/2/2024
Helping People Pay For Costs Of A Funeral - Eligible People Urged To Apply For Funeral Support Payment
The cost of paying for a funeral can cause extra strain for many people at what is a difficult time. Funeral Support Payment provides eligible people with financial support to help pay for a partner, child, parent or sibling's funeral.
22/2/2024
Election Year Tax Cuts Are Sandwiched Between £20 Billion Of Tax Rises Already Implemented And £17 Billion Planned For After Polling Day
Lower interest rates will slightly increase the Chancellor's fiscal headroom for election year tax cuts, but these will be sandwiched between far bigger past and future tax rises, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Wednesday 21 February 2024. The Foundation's Spring Budget 2024 preview examines how the Office for Budget Responsibility might update its economic and fiscal outlook ahead of the Budget on 6 March, what this could mean for the size and shape of new tax cuts, and how these would fit into the government's wider tax and spend plans.
22/2/2024
One Million Premises Upgraded To Gigabit Broadband By UK Government
The government is rolling out gigabit networks faster than any other country in the EU. Government has delivered faster, more reliable connectivity to an average of one building every six minutes since project began, as one million properties connected.
22/2/2024
January Usually Sees The Government Run An Overall Surplus, As This Is The Month When A Large Chunk Of Self-assessment Receipts Is Paid
ONS government borrowing figures published on Wednesday 21 February 2024 suggest that the public sector ran a surplus of £16.7 billion in January. This is much bigger than the £7.5 billion surplus it ran in January 2023, and is the biggest January surplus on record.
22/2/2024
Digital Tech To Drive Health And Social Care Innovation
The expansion of a ‘world-leading' data and analytics platform will help improve collaboration and innovation across Scotland's health and social care system. Seer is a platform that allows staff to access and analyse data easily, helping clinicians, teams and boards in decision-making around patient care and the planning of resources.
22/2/2024
