News Archive
26/11/2020
Guidance For Students Returning Home
Plans for mass testing of asymptomatic students. Students travelling home at the end of term will be able to take voluntary coronavirus (COVID-19) tests through their college or university from next Monday.26/11/2020
The Spending Review 2020 speech as delivered by Chancellor Rishi Sunak
On Monday, the Prime Minister set out the action we need to take between now and the start of December to control the spread of coronavirus. Mr Speaker, Today's Spending Review delivers on the priorities of the British people.
26/11/2020
Supporting exporting businesses for EU exit
A pricing regime has been agreed in Highland for the provision of Export Health Certificates which will be required by UK businesses from 1 January 2021 to export products of animal origin to the EU. Chair of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee Cllr Allan Henderson welcomed the work carried out to date by Council officers in supporting exporting businesses to the EU, he said: "The Environmental Health Team has a very important role in providing certification for Highland businesses exporting animal products to the EU.26/11/2020
Coronavirus pushes the budget deficit to almost £400 billion
From the Office for Budget Responsibility. Coronavirus has caused our economy to shrink 11 per cent this year - the largest drop in over 300 years.
26/11/2020
National Infrastructure Strategy
The National Infrastructure Strategy sets out plans to transform UK infrastructure in order to level up the country, strengthen the Union and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Read the papers HERE.26/11/2020
Carers Urged To Seek Support
Still Game star highlights valued work of the country's carers in new campaign. Carers are being urged to seek emotional and practical support through a new national campaign, delivered in partnership with Still Game’s Jane McCarry.26/11/2020
Overview Of The November 2020 Economic And Fiscal Outlook
From the Office of Budget Responsibility. 1.1 The coronavirus pandemic has delivered the largest peacetime shock to the global economy on record.
26/11/2020
Driving forward ‘greening' of compliant Council fleet
Highland Councillors have noted the scale of achievement by Council staff in meeting the Traffic Commissioner's compliance requirements for the local authority's fleet and welcomed a phased approach to the ‘greening’ of its vehicles. Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council’s Communities and Place Committee said: "Maintaining a legally safe and compliant fleet of vehicles is essential and is no mean feat for an organisation the size of Highland Council.26/11/2020
Update to 2020-21 government financing remit
Following the publication of the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR's) Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO), the UK Debt Management Office's (DMO's) 2020-21 financing remit has been revised. This follows on from the last revision to the DMO’s financing remit for 2020-21, published on 16 July 2020, which laid out planned gilt sales of £385 billion up to end-November 2020.26/11/2020
New licence fees for residential caravan sites in Highland
New fees for residential caravan site licence applications have been approved by The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee. The new fees are estimated to affect around 20 residential caravan sites in Highland region.26/11/2020
Reaction to the Spending review -Expert comment from Salford University
Actions being offered less ambitious than the scale of the problems being faced Brexit the ‘elephant in the room' Experts from the University of Salford Business School give their thoughts after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced his spending review in the House of Commons on Wednesday 25th November 2020 Dr Gordon Fletcher, expert in retail and the economy, said:"The Chancellor's spending reviews statement does not make easy reading. His own use of the term, 'economic emergency' provides the headlines against a predicted contraction in the economy, unemployment reaching 7.5% next year and government debt nearly rising to match GDP in five years’ time.26/11/2020
Royal Bank warns of increased scam threat this Black Friday
Designer clothes, trainers and mobile phones - top three reported scams. Facebook Marketplace one of the most reported for scams.26/11/2020
Covid-19 Positivity Rates Are Level Or Decreasing In England, Wales And Northern Ireland; Rising In Scotland
The number of people with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in England appears to be levelling off, with 633,000 people estimated to have had COVID-19 in the most recent week (15 to 21 November 2020). This equates to 1 in 85 people.26/11/2020
Testing Expansion Update But Carers Union Claims Shameful Treatment Of Care Staff
New testing approach set out for health and social care sector and communities. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has announced plans for a significant expansion in testing for hospital patients, health and social care staff, and communities in Level 4 areas.26/11/2020
Spending Review 2020 and Scotland by Fraser of Allender Institute
The 2020 Spending Review was underpinned by the anticipated ‘scary' numbers on the UK economy and public finances. The economy will shrink 11% this year, and recover only about half that ground next year.25/11/2020
Council to consult on management rules for burial grounds and Inverness crematorium
The Highland Council is to consult on draft management rules for its 268 burial grounds across the region and crematorium located at Kilvean in Inverness. The Council has a statutory duty to manage burials, oversee memorial safety and cremations for around 1500 burials and 1200 cremations each year.25/11/2020
Flagship Fisheries Bill Becomes Law
The Fisheries Bill receives Royal Assent after 10 months in Parliament On 23 November 2020 the UK's first major domestic fisheries legislation in nearly 40 years passed into law. The Fisheries Act 2020 gives the UK full control of its fishing waters for the first time since 1973.
25/11/2020
Exciting Roles At Dstl As Part Of The New National Cyber Force
The government has announced the formation of the new National Cyber Force (NCF) which will counter threats from terrorists, criminals and hostile states. The NCF draws together personnel from intelligence, cyber and security agency GCHQ, the MoD, the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) under one unified command for the first time.
25/11/2020
Joint Statement On Uk-wide Christmas Arrangements From The UK Government And Devolved Administrations
A joint statement on UK-wide Christmas arrangements from the UK Government and Devolved Administrations. As 2020 draws to a close, we recognise it has been an incredibly difficult year for us all.
25/11/2020
