News Archive
12/12/2020
UK Sets Out Ambitious Approach To Strengthening Climate Adaptation And Resilience Ahead Of Cop26
UK publishes Adaptation Communication to fulfil a key commitment of the Paris Agreement. The UK has today (Saturday 12 December 2020) set out the UK's approach to prepare for the effects of climate change at home and support those facing impacts overseas, fulfilling a key commitment of the Paris Agreement.12/12/2020
Hospital And Care Home Visiting Update
Keeping residents and patients safe over Christmas and New Year period. Visiting arrangements for hospitals and care homes in Scotland will remain in place over the Christmas and New Year period, it has been confirmed.11/12/2020
Families on low incomes in receipt of free school meals can apply for a COVID winter hardship payment from Scottish Government
Families with children in receipt of free school meals due to reasons of low income are eligible for a £100 per child Covid winter hardship payment from the Scottish Government. There are no restrictions on how families choose to spend the additional payment.11/12/2020
Victorian Plumbing to Hand Back Furlough Payments Made to Staff via Job Retention Scheme
More companies are repaying money to the government at this difficult time if they have not seen the difficulties they thought would come at the start of the pandemic. Here is one way down south from us but deserves a mention for their ethics and right thinking.
11/12/2020
Bank of England - Financial Stability Report - December 2020
The Financial Stability Report sets out our Financial Policy Committee's view on the stability of the UK financial system and what it is doing to remove or reduce any risks to it. Risk overview: UK households and businesses have been supported by the financial system to help them weather the economic disruption associated with Covid.
11/12/2020
Reduction In Self-isolation
Changes to public health requirements for positive contacts and overseas arrivals. Anyone required to self-isolate, due to contact with someone who has had a positive test for coronavirus (COVID-19), or as a result of quarantine rules on arrival from overseas will need to do so for 10 days following updated clinical advice.11/12/2020
Opening Of Specialist Eye Facility
People with sight issues will benefit from the opening of a state-of-the art eye treatment centre. The NHS Golden Jubilee Eye Centre, in Clydebank, is the first National Elective Centre to be opened as part of the Scottish Government's commitment to developing health services across the country.11/12/2020
UK Government Urged To Match Climate Ambition With Action
Climate Change Secretary sets out key asks ahead of Climate Ambition Summit. Scotland's Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has urged the UK Government to set out detailed new climate change policies at this weekend’s Climate Ambition Summit with the United Nations.11/12/2020
Forensic Medical Services Bill Passes Unanimously
New law will let rape victims access examinations without reporting crime. Victims of sexual offences can request a forensic medical examination without having to report a crime under a landmark law passed by the Scottish Parliament.11/12/2020
Helping Industry Cut Emissions
Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund opens. A new £34 million fund has been launched to help manufacturing industries reduce energy costs and emissions.11/12/2020
Extra Funding For Student Associations
New funding of £750,000 will help the NUS Scotland and more than 30 student associations to provide vital welfare support for students in colleges and universities. The money will help build online student communities, increase membership engagement and develop public health and wellbeing messaging.11/12/2020
Caithness Mental Wellbeing Pathfinder Project Report At Caithness Committee
Meeting of the Caithness Committee 11 December 2020. The only item on the agenda was Caithness Mental Wellbeing Pathfinder Project Report.
10/12/2020
A Simple Solution Speeds Up Sellafield Decommissioning
One of the UK's most important nuclear clean-up projects has taken a huge step forward. A new way of taking intermediate level waste out of Sellafield's Pile Fuel Storage Pond has been developed.
10/12/2020
First COVID-19 vaccine delivered in NHS Highland
NHS Highland has encouraged people across Highland, Argyll and Bute to be patient as the first group of frontline healthcare workers in NHS Highland received the vaccination for COVID-19. Dr Tim Allison, Director of Public Health for NHS Highland, said: "The vaccination programme is a huge exercise and will continue well into next year, but I am delighted to say that it has started within NHS Highland.
10/12/2020
21st Century city recovery uncovers historic past
While Highland Council forges ahead with a range of public and private partnership capital projects that are re-shaping the infrastructure of Inverness city centre and creating new homes - demolition work on one project has unearthed artefacts believed to be from the Middle Ages. Inverness Councillors have been provided with an update on the city's capital projects and thanked Council staff for their ongoing work during the pandemic.
10/12/2020
Adults To Gain New Skills On 400 Free Courses In England
Tens of thousands of adults to benefit from hundreds of free courses next year, including engineering, health, construction and accountancy. Tens of thousands of adults will be able to benefit from almost 400 free courses next year, in the first major development in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee announced by the Prime Minister in September.10/12/2020
On Exempting Nhs Bonus Payments From Tax
David Eiser and Graham Roy from the Fraser Of Allender Institute in an article sets out the difficulties of paying a bonus to NHS tax free. The First Minister announced yesterday, at the SNP Conference, a one-off payment of £500 to NHS and care staff for their "extraordinary service" in 2020.10/12/2020
Government Launches Consultations To Crack Down On Company Fraud And Improve Corporate Transparency
Government unveils plans to combat fraud and give businesses confidence in who they are working with. Three new consultations will support reforms to clamp down on fraud and give businesses greater confidence in transactions.10/12/2020
Government Gives Businesses Much-needed Breathing Space With Extension Of Insolvency Measures
Measures from the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act extended to relieve pressure on businesses dealing with coronavirus. Update December 2020.10/12/2020
