News Archive

Under Mounting Pressure Kwasi Kwarteng Brings Forward Economic Plan To 31 October

Kwasi Kwarteng will bring forward his plan for balancing the government's finances by almost a month to 31 October as he tries to reassure markets.   The fiscal statement is expected to show how the chancellor intends to pay for £43bn of tax cuts and cut debt.  

Halkirk & District Halsary Windfarm Community Benefit Fund Details

The fund is provided by ScottishPower Renewables, developers of the Halsary Windfarm.  The Fund will be worth approximately £30,000 annually for the life of the windfarm, expected to be 25 years.  

Truss Can't Take On Nature And Win - National Trust has lined up with the RSPB, the Wildlife Trust and the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust

Richard Murphy in his blog today highlights the growing fears among Tory MP's after Liz Truss seems to have alienated many environmental charities that between them have over 10 million members.   The National Trust has lined up with the RSPB, the Wildlife Trust and the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust..........But now she has the bastion of small c conservatism lined up against her.  

Public Spending, Pay And Pensions

A report by the Institute For Fiscal Studies.   Key findings 1.  

The Student Loans Company Pays £2.6bn In Funding To Students Across The UK

SLC provides an update on first term Maintenance Loan payments to students.   Over £2.6bn has been paid to 1.1m students in the first term of the 22/23 academic year, according to figures released today* by the Student Loans Company (SLC).  

Patient Safety Commissioner Bill Published By Scottish Government

Legislation to champion the welfare of people receiving healthcare, with the creation of a Patient Safety Commissioner, has been published.   The Commissioner's remit, set out in the Bill, will cover all healthcare providers operating in Scotland, including the NHS and NHS-contracted and independent healthcare providers.  

Caution urged as COVID-19 cases increase

NHS Highland message as Covid numbers rise and hospitalisations increase.   After a long period where we have seen the number of COVID-19 cases in NHS Highland declining we have started to see a rise in positive numbers.  

One-in-seven Workers In Britain Today Have A Disability, With The Biggest Growth Among Those Reporting Mental Health Problems

A huge increase in the number of working-age people with a disability (up 2.3 million over the past decade), coupled with rising employment rates among disabled people, mean that the share of workers with a disability has grown by 50 per cent since 2013 to around one-in-seven of workers, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Thursday 6 October 2022.   The Foundation's latest Labour Market Outlook examines the rise in employment among disabled people, what has driven the rise, the changing nature of disability in the workplace, and what it means for workers, firms and policy makers.  

Richest households lose from 45p U-turn, but are still set to gain almost 40 times as much from tax cuts as poorer families

The richest 5 per cent of households still stand to gain £3,500 on average next year from the tax cuts announced in the Chancellor's recent Fiscal Statement.   That is almost 40 times as much as the average £90 cash gain for the poorest fifth of households - despite the decision to scrap the abolition of the 45p tax rate, the Resolution Foundation said.  

Help With School Age Childcare - £1 Million To Support Low-income Families

More families will benefit from funded school age childcare as part of a national mission to tackle child poverty.   The Scottish Government is investing £1 million to expand services in parts of Dundee, Glasgow, Clackmannanshire and Inverclyde, with a roll-out of similar provision in other parts of Scotland from April 2023.