News Archive
19/1/2021
Coronavirus Covid-19 Update First Minister's Statement - 19 January 2021
Statement given by the First Minister to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 19 January 2021. Presiding Officer I want to update Parliament on Cabinet's review of the current lockdown restrictions which took place earlier today.19/1/2021
Review Of Covid Restrictions
Current lockdown measures will stay in place across mainland Scotland and some island communities until at least the middle of February, the First Minister confirmed today. In addition, Barra and Vatersay will move into lockdown from 00:01 on Wednesday following a sharp increase in infection rates.19/1/2021
Independent Hospitals To Support Elective Care
Additional capacity to ensure urgent treatment continues. Five independent hospitals are supporting NHS Scotland with elective care from this week, to ensure clinically urgent patients can continue to be seen and treated.19/1/2021
Deaths Involving Covid-19 Week 1: 4 Jan-10 Jan
As at 10 January, 7,074 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate, according to statistics published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) today. In the week 4-10 January, 384 deaths were registered that mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate, this is an increase of 197 deaths from the previous week.19/1/2021
Update To Taxi Grant Criteria
Taxi and private hire drivers who have received state benefits at any time since March last year will now be eligible for a £1,500 business support grant as long as they meet the remaining criteria. Business Minister Jamie Hepburn confirmed that the change would come into effect immediately to ensure that drivers on the lowest incomes can access support.19/1/2021
Measures Used For Counting Deaths From Covid-19: Foi Release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. OI reference: FOI/202100132552 Date received: 24 Dec 2020 Date responded: 15 Jan 2021 Information requested When someone dies and has been confirmed as having covid-19, but also has severe underlying health conditions (eg Cancer / Lung disease / Heart disease etc).19/1/2021
Highland Council formally rejects Boundary Commission's proposals
Following discussions at the recent Council meeting, the Council Leader has formally written to the Local Government Boundary Commission on their proposals for councillor numbers and ward boundaries in the Highland Council area. She advised the Boundary Commission that the Council rejected the Commission's proposals in their entirety and formally requested that they halt this process immediately and review the whole issue of remote and rural area boundaries and councillor numbers in consultation with the Highland Council and other local authorities who have mainland councils with inhabited islands.19/1/2021
Deaths Registered Weekly In England And Wales, Provisional: Week Ending 8 January 2021
The number of deaths registered in the UK in the week ending 8 January 2021 was 20,023, which was 6,170 higher than the five-year average; of deaths registered in the UK The number of deaths registered in England and Wales was affected by the Boxing Day and New Year's Day Bank Holidays; 17,751 deaths were registered in the week ending 8 January 2021 (Week 1), 7,682 more deaths than in the preceding week (Week 53); this sharp increase may be because of deaths in the previous weeks whose registrations were delayed, so the figures in this week's release should be interpreted with caution. We estimate that the number of deaths actually occurring (rather than registered) in Week 1 in England and Wales was between 14,008 and 17,728.19/1/2021
Scientists Tackle Vaccine Safety, Efficacy And Access At Global R&D Forum
More than 2,800 scientists from 130 countries gathered on Friday (January 15) in a virtual forum hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to identify knowledge gaps and set research priorities for vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They discussed the safety and efficacy of existing vaccines and new candidates, ways to optimize limited supply, and the need for additional safety studies.18/1/2021
Inverness Castle transformation - project update
Statutory applications lodged today with The Highland Council signal progress in the planned transformation for Inverness Castle to become a tourism gateway for the Highlands. The applications are for: Listed building consent Building warrant approval.
18/1/2021
Support For Taxi And Private Hire Drivers
New fund to support taxi and private hire drivers affected by the pandemic will launch this week. Local authorities will directly approach an estimated 38,000 private hire and taxi drivers inviting them to claim a £1,500 grant to assist with fixed costs, boosting the support from other funding for loss of income available through the Scottish and UK Governments.
18/1/2021
Coronavirus Covid-19 Update: First Minister's Statement - 18 January 2021
Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew's House, Edinburgh on Monday 18 January 2021. Thank you for joining us again today.18/1/2021
Rhoda Grant MSP Demands Action As People In The Highlands Face Cost Of Living Crisis
Local Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant has demanded action to protect families and households across the Highlands who are staring down the barrel of a ‘cost of living crisis' caused by the pandemic. Statistics published by the Scottish Government last week have revealed the extent of the cost of living crisis facing the people of the Highlands with many thousands seeking help with council tax exemptions.18/1/2021
Coronavirus Covid-19 Daily Data For Scotland - 18 January 2021
1,429 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 13,294 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results - 12.3% of these were positive.18/1/2021
Public Contract opportunities for Highland businesses
The Highland Council is encouraging businesses to sign up to an upcoming free webinar event to find out more about public contract opportunities. The Council, along with Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council, have teamed up with the Supplier Development Programme (SDP), a free business support service that offers tender training and advice to Scottish micro, small and medium sized businesses.
18/1/2021
Debt Arrangement Scheme - Missed Payments Update
From the Accountant in Bankruptcy - Scotland's Insolvency Service. In recognition of the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 starting in March 2020, The Debt Arrangment Scheme (DAS) Administrator has published updated guidance for DAS clients and money advisers.
18/1/2021
Scottish Statutory Debt Solutions Statistics: December 2020
Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) has released experimental statistics reporting statutory debt solutions in Scotland for December 2020. There were 9,070 personal insolvencies in the calendar year 2020, 4,542 (33.4%) fewer than in the same period the year before.
18/1/2021
Extra Funding To Support Unpaid Carers
An investment of £750,000 in local carer centres will increase support for unpaid carers of all ages, helping them to take a break from caring and access other much-needed help. This recognises some of the challenges faced by unpaid carers, with many regular sources of support having stopped or moved online due to the pandemic.17/1/2021
Mandatory Covid-19 Testing Introduced To Bolster Border Measures
International arrivals required to prove negative COVID-19 test result before departure for England. all international arrivals to England, including UK nationals, required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure passengers will be subject to an immediate fine of £500 if they fail to comply with the new regulations on pre-departure testing.
17/1/2021
