News Archive
1/9/2020
International Declaration Agreed - Calls for global biodiversity action at all levels
The Scottish Government is leading a global push to ensure action is taken at all levels to protect biodiversity. A statement of intent, known as The Edinburgh Declaration, has been agreed between subnational, regional and local governments across the world and calls on the Convention on Biodiversity to take bold action to halt biodiversity loss.
1/9/2020
Boris Johnson And Parliament: An Unhappy Tale In 13 Acts
This article is published to day by the Constitution Unit. The Constitution Unit in the Department of Political Science at University College London is the UK's leading research body on constitutional change.1/9/2020
Review Of Adult Social Care - Expert Panel Will Report By January 2021
An independent review is to consider the idea of a national care service. The review, a Programme for Government commitment, will aim to ensure Scotland provides consistently excellent support for people who use these services, as well as their carers and their families.1/9/2020
Building the next generation of start-ups
A national network of technology hubs is being established to foster the next generation of Scottish start-ups, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has told Parliament. The hubs, known as tech scalers, will deliver world-class training and mentoring for technology entrepreneurs while providing opportunities to network and share ideas.31/8/2020
Space Hub Sutherland Application Submitted To Scottish Land Court
Plans to establish a vertical launch site for satellites in the north of Scotland have taken another step forward. Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is applying to the Scottish Land Court for consent to build, operate and, ultimately, decommission Space Hub Sutherland on a crofting estate on the A'Mhoine peninsula.
31/8/2020
Coming Of Age: Labour's Child Trust Funds - From 1st September Funds Payable
From the Institute for Fiscal Studies - Authors Rowena and Crawford and Carl Emmerson. From tomorrow (1st September), the first 18-year-olds will be able to access Child Trust Funds (CTFs) set up over a decade ago by Tony Blair's Labour government.
31/8/2020
Scottish Technology Ecosystem: Review
Review of the Scottish tech ecosystem by Mark Logan, commissioned by the Scottish Government, with recommendations on how to develop a world-class tech sector. In May 2020, Cabinet Secretary of Finance Kate Forbes asked Mark Logan, tech entrepreneur and former Skyscanner COO, to conduct a short-life review into how Scotland's tech sector can contribute to Scotland's economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
31/8/2020
Scotland's implicit budget deficit could be around 26-28% of GDP in 2020-21
Article published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies on 26 August 2020 - Author David Phillips. Summary Today's Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures show Scotland's implicit budget deficit increasing to 8.6% of GDP in 2019-20, around 6 percentage points higher than the UK as a whole, largely reflecting higher government spending.
30/8/2020
Coronavirus Recovery And Renewal - Programme For Scottish Government 2020-21
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will publish a Programme for Government next week focused on dealing with the economic, health, and social crisis caused by coronavirus (COVID-19). Protecting public health will remain the priority, and the Scottish Government will also set out plans to help people, businesses and communities recover from the pandemic by creating new jobs, promoting lifelong health and wellbeing and tackling inequalities.29/8/2020
Highland Council Position On 1140 Hours Early Learning Childcare Provision
The Highland confirms that its actions on the provision of Early Learning Childcare (ELC) provision are in line with Scottish Government Guidance and directions issued. With implications of COVID-19 the Scottish Government chose - following a Scottish Parliament decision - to remove the Statutory Duty for provision of 1140 hours from August 2020.29/8/2020
Free Debt Advice Expanded
£2.4 million of new funding to help households with money problems. More people will be able to benefit from free debt advice following investment from the Scottish Government.29/8/2020
Aquaculture Vital For Coastal Communities
The aquaculture industry contributes to the long-term viability of many communities, according to a new report. Commissioned by Marine Scotland, the report found the sector provides year-round, well-paid jobs and supports economic growth in rural, coastal and island areas.28/8/2020
Highland Council receives encouraging response to promoted teacher recruitment campaign across Highland
The Highland Council is encouraged by the excellent response to the advertising campaign that took place during the first week of the school session for promoted teaching staff. Strategic Chair of the Education and Learning Committee, Cllr John Finlayson, said: "I am delighted at the excellent response this campaign has produced, including over 13 applications being received for one Head Teacher post and over 20 for one Depute Head Teacher post.
28/8/2020
Supporting Scottish Culture And Heritage
Emergency funding announced. Culture and heritage sectors are to benefit from a £59 million funding package to protect jobs and help the industry weather the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.28/8/2020
Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Jamaica to be removed from travel corridors list
People arriving in England from these destinations from 4am Saturday 29 August will need to self-isolate for 2 weeks. Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Jamaica removed from list of travel corridors for England following data showing a significant increase in confirmed cases.28/8/2020
Core Missions For Investment Bank - New body to drive economic recovery
Three core missions for the new Scottish National Investment Bank have been laid before Parliament for consultation. The core missions focus the Bank's activities on addressing key challenges and creating inclusive, long-term economic growth.27/8/2020
#protectnorthhighlands Launches Offering Free Test And Protect Solution Across Caithness And Sutherland
Caithness Chamber of Commerce's new Test and Protect service, #ProtectNorthHighlands, goes live today (26 August) across Caithness and Sutherland. Offering a simple, secure way for businesses to store customer data in line with Scottish Government's requirements for Test and Protect, the service is free to all businesses across the region thanks to the generous support of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
27/8/2020
Moray Council Must Urgently Improve Services Says Audit Scotland
Services in Moray Council are continuing to deteriorate, in particular within education. There has been a significant decline in services since a previous report by the Accounts Commission in 2015.
27/8/2020
New Payment For People Self-isolating In Highest Risk Areas
People on low incomes who need to self-isolate and are unable to work from home in areas with high incidence of COVID-19 will benefit from a new payment scheme. Government to implement new payment for people on low incomes in areas with high rates of COVID-19, who need to self-isolate and can't work from home.27/8/2020
