News Archive
5/3/2024
Retail Hit By Wettest February On Record
Sales figures are not adjusted for inflation, however, the February SPI (BRC) and January CPI (ONS) show inflation running at higher than normal levels these positive sales figures mask a likely drop in volumes. As inflation falls in the coming months, retail sales figures will also naturally fall at the same time.
5/3/2024
Richard Murphy Makes Alternative Tax Suggestions Ahead Of The Budget
Richard Murphy has been working on Wealth report for sometime and amongst many ideas a list of taxes that could yield huge amounts to help in the budget. The talk in the media is often about income tax and corporation taxes but there many other potential revenue raising places to look seriously at.
5/3/2024
International Driving Permits Available At Paypoint Stores From 1 April 2024
From 1 April 2024, international driving permits will be exclusively available from participating PayPoint stores across the UK. The provider of international driving permits (IDPs) is changing.
5/3/2024
Emergency Pesticide Authorisation To Protect Sugar Beet Crop Conditionally Approved
The pesticide will only be used if there is a threat to the crop, and stringent controls are attached to protect the environment. The threshold for neonicotinoid use has increased on previous years to the highest level it's ever been set.
5/3/2024
Gaming Fiscal Rules Is No Way To Make Budget Policy
The chancellor's room for manoeuvre is determined by the Office for Budget Responsibility and meeting fiscal rules that have fallen into disrepute. The chancellor will take centre stage on Wednesday 6 March 2024 as he delivers his budget.
5/3/2024
Labour Lead On Economy And Public Services As Conservative Share Falls To Record Low - Ipsos Mori Poll
The Conservatives' share of 20% is the lowest ever recorded by Ipsos in our regular Political Monitor series, which has run since 1978. The latest Ipsos Political Monitor, taken 21st to 28th February 2024, explores public attitudes to the various parties and their leaders in the run up to the next General Election, including which party is best on key issues that will decide their vote.
5/3/2024
Local Government Expenditure And Income In 2022-23
The Chief Statistician has released figures on local government finance in 2022-23. These figures provide a comprehensive overview of the financial activity of local government, including revenue expenditure and income; capital expenditure and financing; reserves; debt; and pensions.
5/3/2024
Dingwall And Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 5 March 2024
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March 5th) sold 1,559 Prime Sheep. Old Season Lambs (836) averaged 329.26p per kg and sold to 358.0p per kg and £218 gross.
5/3/2024
Unions Will Recommend New Offer To NHS Consultants In England
The British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) will put the offer forward for a vote in the coming weeks. The British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) will put the consultants offer forward for a vote in the coming weeks.
4/3/2024
Bins Bins Bins - Improvements To Waste And Recycling Collections Across Highland - Starting In Ross And Cromarty - Caithness In September
The Highland Council is making improvements to waste and recycling collections across Highland - starting in Ross and Cromarty (and Dornoch). Residents in Ross and Cromarty (and Dornoch) will receive a letter in the post over the next six weeks which will explain what is changing and when.
4/3/2024
Better Kips For Better Trips: £16 Million Boost To Transform Truckstops For Lorry Drivers
38 truck stops in England will be upgraded with new showers and restaurants, more secure fencing around rest areas and new parking spaces for HGVs. 38 truckstops will deliver better rest areas, improved welfare facilities and more secure parking.
4/3/2024
Roads Take The Big Budget Hit - Caithness Faces Cut Of £2.4 Million In Roads Spending In 2024/25
THE amount of money which will be spent on Caithness roads in the coming financial year is expected to drop from £3 million to about £600,000. The £2.4 million reduction was highlighted by Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss at the most recent meeting of the Thurso Community Council.4/3/2024
Scotland's Net Zero Future At Risk Without Funding Boost For Clean Heat, Finds Report
Scotland needs to leap from retrofitting 5,000 homes a year to over 100,000 to reach net zero target. Scottish government clean heat support needs to roughly triple to over £1 billion per year.
4/3/2024
£360 Million To Boost British Manufacturing And R And D
Chancellor to announce significant funding package for R&D and manufacturing projects across the life sciences, automotive and aerospace sectors. £92 million joint government and industry investment to expand facilities to manufacture life-saving medicines and diagnostics products.
4/3/2024
Short-term lets through online collaborative economy platforms, UK - Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2023
Number of guest nights, nights, and stays for short-term lets offered via online collaborative economy platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia Group). From July to September 2023, there were nearly 2.8 million stays in short-term lets booked through the three online collaborative economy platforms in the UK (Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia Group); this totalled nearly 28.9 million guest nights with an average of 313,879 guest nights each day.
4/3/2024
UK's Largest Pension Scheme Warns Against Overreaching Government Reforms
As the UK government embarks on its reforms of the UK pensions industry, the leader of the largest private sector pension scheme cautioning against excessive government intervention. Carol Young, CEO of the £73 billion Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), supports new disclosure requirements but expresses concern over potential government directives on fund allocation.
4/3/2024
Futureskills Apprenticeship Grant Scheme Announcement
The Caithness Business Fund is celebrating a substantial investment boost of £100,000 from Focus North partners NRS Dounreay and the NDA to support the launch of FutureSkills. The apprenticeship grant scheme is designed to tackle skills shortages and drive investment in new opportunities for both businesses and young people in the North Highlands.
4/3/2024
UK Trade In Goods, Year In Review - 2023
The value of total goods imports decreased by £52.2 billion (8.2%) in 2023 compared with 2022, and total goods exports fell by £17.4 billion (4.4%), primarily because of falling imports and exports of fuels. After adjusting for inflation, the total imports of goods decreased by £37.8 billion (7.4%) in 2023 compared with 2022, while total goods exports fell by £15.2 billion (4.6%).
4/3/2024
Do You Trust Government? - Read The ONS Report - Trust In Government, Uk: 2023
Estimates of trust in government and institutions, satisfaction with public services, and political attitudes, collected as part of an international research project. These are official statistics in development.
3/3/2024
