News Archive
7/3/2024
Budget 2024: Experts Explain What It Means For Taxpayers, Businesses, Borrowers And The Nhs
The spring budget of 2024 was widely seen as a chance for UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt to inject some economic optimism into British politics ahead of a general election. Would he or wouldn't he cut income tax? (He wouldn't.) Would he pull rabbits out of hats in a bid to convince the electorate that the Conservatives should stay in power? Here's what our panel of experts made of his plans: National insurance cut only partially offsets rising tax burden Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance, The Open University The big attention-grabber in the budget was a two percentage point cut in national insurance contributions for employees and the self-employed from April.7/3/2024
HM Treasury Detailed Budget Report
The last few years have been tough for the UK economy, which has faced unprecedented shocks from the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic, an energy price spike driven by Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, and globally high inflation. At the beginning of 2023 the Prime Minister set out five priorities, three of which were economic: to halve inflation, grow the economy and get debt falling.
7/3/2024
Spring Budget 2024 - IFS Analysis - 90 Minutes
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will present his Spring Budget on Wednesday 6th March, in what could be the last fiscal set-piece before the next general election. IFS researchers will present their initial analysis of the Chancellor's announcements on the following day, Thursday 7th March, at an online webinar.
7/3/2024
SNP Has Broken Treatment Time Guarantee Law 680,000 Times
Following FMQs, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: "It is written in law that all patients should be treated within twelve weeks. “The SNP have broken this law over 680,000 times.7/3/2024
Fraser Of Allender Explains - What Does This Mean For The Scottish Government?
Barnett consequentials have been announced of £295m in 2024-25, largely due to higher spending on the NHS in England (£237m) and a larger settlement for English local government (£48m), with the latter already committed to partially pay for the council tax freeze. There is nothing additional on capital apart from small amounts from 2025-26 (less than £80m a year).
7/3/2024
Women And Girls Fund Launched For Malawi, Rwanda And Zambia
Commitment to enhance gender equality and women's rights internationally. Women and girls in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia will be given the opportunity to design and deliver a new fund to advance gender equality and the rights of women and girls in their own countries.7/3/2024
Scottish Government Not Happy With The Budget - Deputy First Minister Responds To Chancellor's Statement
The Spring Budget has failed to deliver the funding Scotland needs for public services, infrastructure and cost of living measures, Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said. The Budget provided less in Barnett consequentials from health than in-year health consequentials of 2023-24, and failed to deliver more capital funding for infrastructure.
6/3/2024
UHI Appoints New Principal And Vice-chancellor
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has appointed Vicki Nairn as Principal and Vice-Chancellor. Vicki Nairn, who has been serving as UHI's Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor since October 2022, initially joined the institution as Vice-Principal Operations in November 2021.
6/3/2024
Budget 2024: What To Expect From Jeremy Hunt's Pre-election Tax Giveaway
UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt's last budget before the general election will be highly political. His aim on March 6 will be to convince voters that the Conservatives are a tax-cutting party.
6/3/2024
Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes Awards
Dawn Meston from The Highland Council's Housing team won a prestigious award at the Scottish Empty Homes Awards held at The Studio, Glasgow on Thursday 29 February 2024 in recognition of her contribution to bringing empty homes back into use across Highland. Between 1 April and 31 December 2023, a total of 25 empty properties were brought back into use following Dawn's intervention as Highland's Empty Homes Officer.
6/3/2024
Tax Cuts In An Election Year? They Can Boost Consumer Confidence And Work Wonders For A Governing Party
A budget in the year of an election is a big moment for any government. In 2024, it could be the chancellor of the exchequer's last chance to try and generate a sense of economic optimism and improve consumer confidence after years of households feeling squeezed by austerity measures and rising prices.
6/3/2024
What Are The UKs Fiscal Rules And Why Is The OBR Under Attack? - Fiscal Rules Are A Fairy Tale Made Up By Chancellors
The Treasury watchdog is seen by some Tories as a block to tax cuts - and could be ignored by Jeremy Hunt. It has been described as a millstone around the chancellor's neck and the reason Conservative MPs could be disappointed by Jeremy Hunt's budget on Wednesday if he spurns their demands for large pre-election tax cuts.
6/3/2024
Why Economists Are Warning Of Another US Banking Crisis
March 2024 is making investors nervous. A major scheme to prop up the US banking system is ending, while a second may be winding down.
6/3/2024
Red Sea Crisis - With Fears Of A UK Tea Shortage, Worries Are Brewing Over Other Crucial Commodities
British people are known around the world for their love of tea. This is borne out by the statistics: a staggering 50 billion cups of tea are consumed on average in the UK every year.
6/3/2024
To Stop Teenagers Vaping They Need To See It As Cringe, Not Cool
The proportion of young people who vape has grown significantly over the last year. According to charity Action on Smoking and Health, the proportion of young people aged 11 to 17 in Great Britain who have experimented with vaping has risen from 15.8% in 2022 to 20.5% in 2023.
6/3/2024
A Fiscal Drag On Almost Everyone - Left Hand Right Hand Of Taxes
No matter what is in the UK budget presented by chancellor Jeremy hunt today Fiscal Drag is already in play taking ever more tax from most people. In the Spring Statement, Rishi Sunak said raising the NICs thresholds would deliver an average saving of £330 in the year from July 2022.
6/3/2024
UK Banks Are Reporting Huge Profits - But There Are Many Reasons Why This May Not Last
Ever since the financial crisis of 2007-08, British banks have often struggled to make as much money as they used to. Profits have generally been at a much lower level than in the pre-crisis period.
5/3/2024
Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In Thurso
The Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has confirmed details of a trial, to start next week, of a thermal process for carrying out pothole repairs. An external contractor, Thermal Road Repairs, has been appointed to undertake the work using a thermal repair process.
5/3/2024
So Where Are We With Major Road Repairs?
Road conditions have been deteriorating for many years in Caithness and across all of Scotland. Almost a year ago highland council approved a further £7.7 million.
5/3/2024
