News Archive
28/7/2020
Lockdown Labour Market Deep Freeze Eases - But The Big Redundancies Test Is Yet To Come
The deep impact of lockdown restrictions eased slightly in May as some employees returned from furlough and self-employed workers increased their hours. But the true scale of Britain's jobs crisis won't be known until the Government’s Job Retention Scheme is phased out in the months ahead, the Resolution Foundation said in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics.28/7/2020
Covid-19 Raises Risk Of Public-sector Fraud
Scotland's public finances have been boosted after a data-sharing exercise identified over £15 million of potential fraud and errors across the public sector. But auditors have warned that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought additional fraud risks.
28/7/2020
Covid-19: Emerging Fraud Risks
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges across the Scottish public sector as bodies seek to deliver services for individuals, communities and businesses in an extremely difficult time. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges across the Scottish public sector.
28/7/2020
UK Households Have Experienced The Biggest Immediate Income Shock Since The Mid-1970s
Policy response has massively boosted poorest households' incomes, but further shocks lie ahead. The covid-induced crisis has caused typical working-age household incomes to fall 4.5 per cent between the pre-crisis period and May this year, despite the critical policy support that has cushioned the shock for millions of households, according to the Resolution Foundation's Living Standards Audit published on Tuesday 21st July 2020.28/7/2020
Men's And Women's Time Use Is Converging - But A New Income Divide Is Emerging
Gender differences in the amount of paid and unpaid work people do have shrunk over the past four decades, while the gap between low- and high-income households has grown to create a new ‘working time inequality', according to a major new report published today (Tuesday 28 July 2020) by the Resolution Foundation. The time of our lives, supported by Trust for London, explores changes in people's time use over the past four decades, how these shifts differ by gender, geography and household income level, and where these trends may head in post-covid Britain.
28/7/2020
Household Consumption And Saving Across The UK - Some New Data
ONS have recently released some new experimental regional data which look at how households spend their money. These data are still in development, so users are advised to use them with caution at this time.
28/7/2020
Does the government know how to get value from consultants?
From The Institute for Government. Government spending on consultants was rising again in the wake of Brexit, and its response to Covid has seen that trend accelerate.28/7/2020
Every Horse In Scotland To Be Microchipped By 2021
New equine identification regulations mean that it is now a legal requirement for all horses in England, Scotland and Wales to be microchipped as well as having a passport. Until now horses born before 2009 weren't required to have microchips but these new regulations mean that any horses without microchips will need to be chipped.28/7/2020
Work To Start On Key Lochaber Site - Largest Affordable Housing Project in Highlands since 80s
Construction works will shortly commence on the first phase of development which forms part of the strategic Blar Mor development in Fort William. The development delivers housing and land for the Belford Hospital replacement as well as a STEM Centre for West Highland College.
28/7/2020
PM Kickstarts £2bn Cycling And Walking Revolution in England
Prime Minister Boris Johnson launches ambitious plans to boost cycling and walking. PM launches government's most ambitious plans yet to boost cycling and walking Vision commits to thousands of miles of new protected bike lanes, cycle training for any child or adult, and first ever zero-emission transport city.28/7/2020
Gold Price Soaring With Fears Over Coronavirus Crisis
The stories in the news about soaring Gold prices are everywhere. The Gurdian Gold price hits record high amid fears over coronavirus crisis Forbes A Booming gold price will have consequences livemint Why some analysts don't expect gold price rally to end soon PHOTO Gold nugget from Australia.
28/7/2020
Ambitious Plans To Transform Scottish Rail Network Unveiled
Plans to decarbonise Scotland's rail passenger services by 2035 have been launched by Transport Secretary Michael Matheson today (Tuesday 28th July 2020). The Cabinet Secretary was speaking during a visit to ScotRail's Shields Road electric fleet Depot where he unveiled Transport Scotland's url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/rail-services-decarbonisation-action-plan/]Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan[/url].
28/7/2020
Redress For Abuse In Care - More Than 400 Advance Payments Made
A scheme that offers recognition and acknowledgement to survivors of historical childhood abuse in care has made payments of £10,000 each to 417 people in its first year. The Advance Payment Scheme provides redress payments to those who were abused in care in Scotland and who are terminally ill or aged 68 or over.28/7/2020
Families To Be Alerted To Additional Financial Support
A first for social security in Scotland. The Scottish Government is to actively inform families that they may be eligible for Best Start Foods and the Best Start Grant.
28/7/2020
Extra Funding To Support Low Income Families
Funding of £37.6 million was allocated to support people and families on low incomes in times of need in the 12 months to 31 March 2020 - an increase of 7% on the previous year. Scottish Welfare Fund payments included £12.9 million in Crisis Grants – up 24% - and £24.7 million on Community Care Grants.28/7/2020
Government Launches New Queen's Award For Enterprise Category To Promote Social Mobility
New category in the prestigious business awards to celebrate firms which have an inclusive culture. The government has launched a new ‘Promoting opportunity through social mobility' category in the prestigious Queen's Awards for Enterprise, recognising businesses that promote a sustainable and inclusive culture.28/7/2020
Adapting Nhs Resources To Respond To Covid-19
More than 300 patients treated at NHS Louisa Jordan. A successful pilot at the NHS Louisa Jordan has seen 315 patients receive orthopaedic and plastic surgery outpatient consultations since the start of July.
27/7/2020
Serco Northlink Ferries Introduces Pet-friendly Cabins On Board
Four-legged friends can now travel with their owners between the Scottish mainland and Orkney and Shetland - thanks to new pet-friendly cabins on NorthLink Ferries passenger vessels MV Hamnavoe, MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey. Each ship has two pet-friendly cabins available which have en-suite facilities, side-by-side lower twin bunks and tea and coffee making facilities.
27/7/2020
Inverness Looking Hard At Waste From Camper Vans and Wild Campers - Should Other Areas Join Them?
Ness-side councillor Ron MacWilliam has called for tough new local byelaws to deal with the recent surge in excessive littering, outdoor toileting and motorhome chemical waste tipping. Reports of inconsiderate waste disposal have flooded in from every corner of the Highlands in recent days and in Inverness locations such as the Merkinch Nature Reserve have also been plagued by the problem.27/7/2020
