News Archive
4/8/2020
Roll-out Of 2 New Rapid Coronavirus Tests Ahead Of Winter
Both tests will be able to detect COVID-19 and other winter viruses in just 90 minutes. New tests will hugely increase testing capacity ahead of winter, delivering fast results that will help to break chains of transmission quickly.4/8/2020
Buses Replace Trains Between Inverness And Wick / Thurso On Sunday 23 August
Locations affected ScotRail between Inverness and Wick / Thurso Sunday, August 23, 2020 Engineering work is taking place between Inverness and Wick / Thurso, closing all lines. Buses will replace trains between Inverness and Wick / Thurso.4/8/2020
Government Further Boosts UK Vaccine Manufacturing Capacity
Pharmaceutical and biotech organisation Wockhardt will carry out the crucial 'fill and finish' stage of the vaccine manufacturing process. Government partners with Wockhardt to provide ‘fill and finish' services as part of the effort to accelerate vaccine manufacturing in the UK.4/8/2020
University Places - Rise In Scottish Students Being Accepted
The number of Scottish domiciled students being offered a place at Scottish universities is the second highest on record, up 1% to 28,240. UCAS data published today also shows the number of acceptances from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland to UK universities increased to a record high of 4,360.4/8/2020
Results Day - 138,000 Learners Receive Their Results
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has congratulated all learners who have today received their results. With exams cancelled for the first time ever due to Coronavirus, young people are receiving qualifications based on a combination of teacher judgment and national moderation by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), which show that: the National 5 pass rate was 81.1% the Higher pass rate was 78.9% the Advanced Higher pass rate was 84.9% In 2019: the National 5 pass rate was 78.2% the Higher pass rate was 74.8% the Advanced Higher pass rate was 79.4% Deputy First Minister John Swinney today met senior pupils at Stonelaw High School in South Lanarkshire to discuss their results and how they dealt with the challenge of learning during lockdown.4/8/2020
Further £50 Million For Social Care Sector
The social care sector will receive up to £50 million further additional funding to help meet additional costs related to coronavirus (COVID-19), Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has announced. Following an agreement between the Scottish Government and COSLA, the funding will be allocated to Integration Joint Boards (IJB) across Scotland to ensure the sustainability of the social care sector throughout the ongoing pandemic.4/8/2020
Recruitment Rates For Future Medics
Specialist medical trainee places are 97% full. Latest recruitment figures show the number of speciality medical training posts which have been filled in Scotland is at its highest level for eight years.3/8/2020
Good progress being made by Highland Council on recovery from COVID-19
Members were today asked to note the good progress being made in relation to the local authority's Recovery Action Plan despite the significant challenges faced because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report highlighted that important work on the 11 key priorities continues at pace.3/8/2020
Highland Council Reminder - No Change To Funeral Restrictions - Max 20 Attendees To Continue
The Highland Council is issuing a reminder that no more than 20 people should attend a funeral service in person. No changes to these restrictions on funeral services were announced by the Scottish Government following the three weekly formal review of coronavirus controls last week.3/8/2020
The Next Big Bank Collapses May Be Near
We have all seen bank branches closing all over the country but that is just the tip of the iceberg of the problems now roaring to wards our financial stability around the world. Having somehow recovered from 2008 collapse banks proceeded to do something different (well maybe not that different).3/8/2020
Funding Boost For Science Centres
Scotland's four science centres are being offered an extra £2 million in emergency funding to help weather the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The money is on top of annual funding of £2.67 million from the Scottish Government, and means they will be able to start to re-open in the autumn, with safeguards in place to protect visitors.3/8/2020
Emergency Funding To Prevent Homelessness
The UK government must reconsider its position on people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) according to Housing Minister Kevin Stewart. The move follows a letter from Minister for Immigration Compliance Chris Philp which again stated that there were no plans for the Home Office to suspend its approach to those with NRPF, despite the ongoing public health emergency.2/8/2020
Food For Homeless And People At Risk
Demand for food packs highlights impact of the pandemic. Homeless people and others affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are to receive further support through the Scottish Government's emergency funding for communities.1/8/2020
Coronavirus (covid-19): Shielding Advice And Support - From 1st August 2020
Overview of shielding We are aware of the harms that can come from shielding. We have been monitoring these impacts and weighing them up the harms against the benefits of shielding.1/8/2020
Contact Tracing App Development - Plans to develop Scottish app
A contact tracing app to support NHS Scotland's Test and Protect system is now in development. The Scottish Government is working towards having a proximity tracing app available in the autumn via Apple and Google app stores.1/8/2020
England - Updates To The Shielding Programme On National And Regional Levels
Shielding guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable to be paused from 01 August 2020 across England. From Saturday 1 August, shielding guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable will be paused across England.31/7/2020
Rare tick-borne infections diagnosed in England
Public Health England (PHE) calls for people to be tick aware as the first case of a babesiosis is diagnosed in England. Public Health England (PHE) can confirm the diagnosis of a case of babesiosis and a probable case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in England.
31/7/2020
Further Details Of The Job Retention Bonus Announced
Further details of how jobs will be protected through the government's new Job Retention Bonus were unveiled by HMRC today. employers can claim the bonus for all eligible employees who have been furloughed.31/7/2020
Travel To North West Of England
Increase in COVID-19 cases means travel should be avoided. People living in Scotland are being advised to avoid travel to areas in northern England facing new lockdown restrictions after a spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.31/7/2020
