News Archive

Coronavirus Covid-19 Guidance For Festive Period

Guidance on forming 'bubbles' over Christmas.   Between 23 - 27 December, you can form a "bubble" of up to three households.  

Bifab Working Group - Statement From The Scottish And Uk Governments

After exploring all options, both the UK and Scottish Governments have concluded that there is currently no legal route to provide further financial support to BiFab in its current form.   A joint working group will be formed to consider ways to strengthen the renewables supply chain in Scotland and to secure future opportunities.  

Helping Families Get Online

New kit and training to tackle digital exclusion.   Thousands of disadvantaged young people are being helped to develop valuable digital skills through the Scottish Government's Connecting Scotland programme.  

Private Sector Rent Statistics published

Statistics on annual average private sector rents to the end of September 2020 have been released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.   Average rents for two bedroom properties, the most common type of private rented home in Scotland, increased above Consumer Price Index inflation of 0.5% in 11 out of 18 areas.  

Business Restriction Grant Scheme Now Open To Hotels

The Highland Council has welcomed clarification from the Scottish Government that hotels are eligible for the Business Restriction Grant.   As hotel restaurants and bars follow the same rules as other restaurants and bars with last entry at 21:30 and closure by 22:30, they have now been included as eligible businesses to receive grant from this scheme.  

How The UK Government Funds The Devolved Administrations

Introduction Under the various devolution settlements the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive (the Devolved Administrations or ‘DAs') are responsible for and make decisions about functions that were once carried out by the UK Government.  These areas are described as being ‘devolved’.  

Monthly GDP Estimates For September For Scotland

Scotland's GDP increased by 1.6% in September, according to statistics announced today by the Chief Statistician.  This is the fifth consecutive month of increasing GDP, but output remains 7.6% below the level in February prior to the direct impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic In September there has been growth in all of the main sectors of the economy, but at a slower rate than seen over the summer months.  

Temporary road closure - Girnigoe Street, Wick

Motorists are being advised by The Highland Council that there will be a temporary road closure to the section of the U3520 Girnigoe Street, closed between its junction with the U3547 Henrietta Street and its junction with U3523 Glamis Road, at 09:30 until 15:30 on Thursday 3 December 2020.   The closure has been made to allow KIER to carry out Iron work repairs.  

The Evolution Of The Scottish Budget 2020/21 - And A Look Forward To The Spending Review

This article is published on the Fraser Allender Institute web site.   To read the full article go to the link at the bottom of the page.  

#ChangeHerStory Campaign - part of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence

From 25 November - 10 December 2020, more than 13 organisations across the Highlands and Islands will be developing and sharing daily content to raise awareness of the impact of gender-based violence in our communities, with a specific focus on sexual violence.   The campaign, which is part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, will also call on the general public to post on social media ‘what they would like to see change for women and girls' using the hashtag #ChangeHerStory.