Latest News
21/1/2025
Membership of new Visitor Economy Advisory Council announced
Tourism industry worth £74 billion to the economy and 4% of GVA with a huge potential for further growth to support government's Plan for Change. Visitor Economy Advisory Council to boost collaboration between government and tourism industry.21/1/2025
Are universities worth it? A review of the evidence and policy options
Young graduates earn £5,000 more annually than non-graduates, but that premium is lower than it was 10 years ago. The real earnings of young graduates have been broadly flat over the last decade, similar to earnings overall, whereas non-graduate earnings have been boosted by the minimum wage.
21/1/2025
Calls for Rachel Reeves to quit as chancellor are overblown - but they highlight what her real problems are
Barely six months after the UK general election, Chancellor Rachel Reeves' political opponents are calling for her to resign. Former prime minster Boris Johnson cast one of the first stones with a post on X about "Rachel from accounts".21/1/2025
As EV sales surge, the UK car industry could be about to reach a turning point
Last year, electric car registrations in the UK topped those of Germany. The number of UK sales (382,000 vehicles) came from growth of 21.4% on 2023, making the UK the largest market for electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe for the first time.
20/1/2025
Archaic tech sees public sector miss £45 billion annual savings
Public sector workers are being held back by archaic technology according to a new report set to be published on Tuesday 21 January 2025. Public sector workers are being held back by archaic technology - crippling productivity and slashing public satisfaction in services, according to a new report set to be published on Tuesday.
20/1/2025
National Insurance funding ‘vital for councils'
The employer National Insurance increase must be fully funded to ensure local authorities have the resources they need to serve their communities, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said. Ahead of an appearance before the local government committee next week, Ms Robison again called on the UK Government to provide urgent clarity over the funding to help the Scottish Government and local authorities finalise their budgets.20/1/2025
Work underway to strengthen response to civil emergencies
Ministers will act on all recommendations relating to Scotland in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's report on pandemic resilience and preparedness of the United Kingdom, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has announced. The Module 1 report contained ten recommendations for the four UK nations to improve civil emergency planning and response.20/1/2025
Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Monday 20 January 2025
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.20/1/2025
Launch of new InvestHighland website ahead of Scottish Cities Week in London
This week the Council officially launches its new and improved InvestHighland website to promote the wealth of inward investment opportunities and attract the best talent to the area. Invest Highland is supported by The Highland Council and is dedicated to promoting and developing our region as an attractive and sustainable destination for business, international investors, talent and visitors.
20/1/2025
Public consultation on further development at Inverness Campus
Exhibition of proposals to take place on Friday and Saturday, with follow up events in February 2025. A programme of public consultation gets underway this week (Friday 24 January 2025) on plans for the next phase of development at Inverness Campus.
20/1/2025
UK Accession to the CPTPP: Benefits, Opportunities, and Navigation Guide
On 15 December 2024, the UK officially became a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), marking a significant achievement as the first non-founding and first European country to join. The UK is now the second-largest economy in the group, after Japan, raising the collective value of the CPTPP economies to £12 trillion, covering over a half a billion people.20/1/2025
IEA - Create a new Hong Kong in the UK, economist argues
In a new report for the Institute of Economic Affairs, Economist Vera Kichanova argues that the UK could and should create new self-governing cities like Hong Kong within its borders, to drive growth and prosperity. Freeports strategy in the UK is insufficient, adding more bureaucracy and red tape for short term political gain instead of using economic freedom to drive growth.20/1/2025
The World Economic Forum 2025 Starts At Davos Today
The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 is happening in Davos this week, from 20 to 24 January 2025. This year's theme is "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age", focusing on how rapid technological advancements, especially in AI, can be harnessed for societal benefit while addressing risks.
20/1/2025
Parents to receive day one right to neonatal care leave and pay
Thousands of working families with babies in neonatal care will be entitled to additional time off as a day one right. New right to neonatal care leave and pay confirmed from 6 April, expected to benefit around 60,000 new parents.20/1/2025
Ofgem, energy suppliers and consumer groups back major new advertising campaign calling for customers with RTS meters to upgrade now
A new campaign has been launched today Monday 20 January 2025 by a taskforce that includes energy regulator Ofgem and trade association Energy UK, and is supported by consumer groups National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland.. It urges owners of Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) electricity meters to act now and accept the offer of a meter upgrade from their energy supplier.. The campaign will run across TV, video on demand, radio, digital audio, billboards and local press, highlighting the urgent need for RTS customers to book the installation of a new meter as soon as their energy supplier contacts them.20/1/2025
Audit Scotland - Scottish income tax report covers key audit risks
The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a report on HMRC's administration of Scottish income tax, including the final calculation of Scottish revenues for the 2022/23 tax year. The Auditor General for Scotland, Stephen Boyle, provides additional assurance to the Scottish Parliament on the work of the NAO in this area.20/1/2025
UK and Ukraine agree cutting-edge scheme to protect food security
The UK will launch a Grain Verification Scheme to track grain stolen from occupied areas of Ukraine, as part of its landmark 100-year partnership with the country. Using cutting-edge science to determine where grain has been grown and harvested, the UK has developed a database to support Ukraine's efforts to trace and stop grain theft from occupied regions.
20/1/2025
Money launderers ordered to pay back over £23m in a high value cryptocurrency scam
Three convicted money launderers, responsible for illegally obtaining Australian dollars and laundering them through cryptocurrency, were recently ordered to pay a total of £23,629,031 through a Confiscation Order made by the court. Stephen William Boys, 56, was convicted at Preston Crown Court on 13 January 2023 of money laundering along with Kelly Caton, 46, and Jordan Kane Robinson, 26.
20/1/2025
Consultation - Implementation of the ban on MSPs from also serving as MPs or in the House of Lords
Following the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill being passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament in December, a consultation seeking views on the principles and practical issues of ending dual mandates has launched. The consultation, which runs until 23 March, looks at issues such as grace periods once elected and salary or parliamentary limitations during this period.20/1/2025
