News Archive
15/1/2022
National Regulation: Construction Products
Information on the role of OPSS and the creation of the National Regulator for Construction Products. In January 2021, the government announced that the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) would take on responsibility for the national regulation of construction products.15/1/2022
Pop-up LFD Collection Points Across The Highlands
Packs of LFD tests will be distributed from locations across the Highlands from Monday 17 January to Friday 21 January. The Highland Council and NHS Highland are working in partnership to increase availability of Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests throughout the Highlands.15/1/2022
Keeping You Safe At The Coast For 200 Years: HM Coastguard Celebrates Landmark Birthday
From its beginnings with coastal lookouts to today's hi-tech national network of coordination centres, from small localised beginnings to international players - one thing has stayed the same for two centuries - Her Majesty's Coastguard seeks to search, to rescue and to save. a Two hundred years of saving lives along the UK coast and at sea, as well as coordinating rescues for those in distress in international waters, is being marked this year as HM Coastguard celebrates its milestone anniversary.
15/1/2022
Virgin Orbit Mission Success Brings Uk Satellite Launch One Step Closer
Satellite launch from Spaceport Cornwall is a step closer following Virgin Orbit's successful ‘Above the Clouds' mission in the US. The UK Space Agency welcomes the news that Virgin Orbit has successfully completed its third mission from California on Thursday 13 January, launching several satellites into orbit from beneath the wing of a 747.
15/1/2022
Coronavirus (covid-19): Daily Data For Scotland - 15 January 2022
7,833 new cases of COVID-19 reported. Please note that as of 13 January 2022, this figure includes cases identified using either a first LFD (lateral flow device) or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positive test.
15/1/2022
Scientists Are A Step Closer To Finding Planets Like E
A UK-backed mission that will search for Earth-like planets has been given the green light to continue development after passing a critical milestone review. The UK Space Agency has invested £25 million in innovative science for the European Space Agency mission, called Planetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO), ensuring UK scientists and engineers, led by the University of Warwick, will take part in all aspects of the mission.
14/1/2022
Prioritising Essential Social Care Services
Maximising efforts to protect and maintain critical and essential services. Support for social care is to be intensified as a national priority alongside the NHS and emergency services, as staffing pressures and increased demand reflect the extent and nature of the spread and effect of Omicron.14/1/2022
Expansion To NHS 24 In Scotland
A new NHS 24 call centre has opened in Dundee - allowing the service to help more people and further alleviate pressures on the rest of NHS and social care. Funded by the Scottish Government, the new Dundee premises will help facilitate the increase in demand for the NHS 24 service which has been generated by the redesign of urgent care.14/1/2022
Local Government Pay Settlements Financial Year 2021/2022
During November and early December, COSLA agreed pay settlements with our Unions for three groups of Scottish Local Government Employees. A summary of the agreed settlements is provided below.14/1/2022
Time Is Right For A Realistic Remuneration For Councillors, Says Cosla
With the role of the Councillor changing dramatically over the last few years, the time is right to review the job - and its pay, COSLA has said. COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison says there has to be a ‘realistic' review of remuneration for the role, and called for the Scottish Government to look at Councillors’ salaries.14/1/2022
Gove Closes Tax Loophole On Second Homes
Owners of second homes who abuse a tax loophole by claiming their often-empty properties are holiday lets will be forced to pay under tough new measures. Homeowners who leave properties empty while pretending to let them to holidaymakers will be targeted Under the new rules, holiday lets must be rented out for a minimum of 70 days a year to qualify for business rates, which often brings financial advantages Changes to tax rules will protect genuine holiday lets and benefit popular holiday destinations, including Devon, Cornwall and the Lake District Owners of second homes who abuse a tax loophole by claiming their often-empty properties are holiday lets will be forced to pay under tough new measures announced by the government today (14 January 2022).14/1/2022
New Advertising Drive Calling On Young People To Get Boosted Now
Campaign launches as booster uptake among young people is lower than older age groups Young people aged 18 to 34 are being urged to get their COVID-19 booster jabs in a new advertising drive New Snapchat filter launched to encourage younger audiences to Get Boosted Now Campaign launches as booster uptake among young people is lower than older age groups A new advertising campaign to encourage 18 to 34 year olds to get their vital COVID-19 booster jabs has launched as uptake among young people is lower than other age groups. While more than 80% of eligible adults in England have had a booster jab, just 57% of eligible 18 to 34 year olds have been boosted.
14/1/2022
Staff Joining Social Care To Have Fees Waived
SSSC registration and PVG checks to be funded. New staff joining the social care workforce are to have entry costs paid by the Scottish Government until the end of March.14/1/2022
Coronavirus (covid-19): Daily Data For Scotland -14 January 2022
9,910 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. Please note that this figure now includes cases identified using either a first LFD (lateral flow device) or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positive test.
14/1/2022
Caithness General Hospital and other Highland Hospitals move to Level One Visiting
Visiting at Caithness General Hospital, Belford Hospital in Fort William, Lorn and Isles Hospital in Oban, and New Craigs Hospital in Inverness has moved to Level One. This means up to two visitors are able to visit patients.14/1/2022
Wild Salmon Strategy Launch
Move to bring salmon population back from crisis point. An ambitious strategy which aims to bring the wild salmon population in Scotland back from crisis point has been launched.14/1/2022
Scottish Cluster Support - Investment In Carbon Capture Project Announced
Financial backing of up to £80 million is being offered to help the Scottish Cluster carbon capture project accelerate its effort to help Scotland's just transition to net zero. The investment would come from the Scottish Government’s Emerging Energy Technologies Fund.13/1/2022
Help For Unpaid Scottish Carers
A £4million funding package will help provide support to unpaid carers, in recognition of the enormous role they play in looking after loved ones, and the added pressure many have faced during the pandemic. Over the next few weeks, the additional winter funding will allow organisations working with unpaid carers to expand the services they provide to all groups of adult and young carers, including those looking after disabled children and young people and those caring for a friend or relative with dementia.
13/1/2022
Professional Sport Allocated £2.55 Million Of Covid Support in Scotland
Football, rugby, ice hockey, basketball and horse racing benefit. Professional sports affected by the recent COVID-19 crowd limits have been allocated £2.55 million in financial support from the Scottish Government.13/1/2022
