News Archive
18/6/2020
Important information for employers
The Employer Bulletin (June 2020, Issue 84) includes all of the latest Covid-19 updates to help you continue to meet your payroll obligations to HMRC and to claim any relevant grants and rebates during this challenging time. We've included the latest update on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, along with updates on the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme and a reminder for reporting Expenses and Benefits for the tax year ending 5 April 2020.
18/6/2020
Deaths Involving Covid-19 Week 24 - 8th To 14th June
As at 14 June, 4,070 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate, according to statistics published by National Records of Scotland (NRS) today. Between 8th and 14th June, 70 deaths relating to COVID-19 have been registered, a decrease of 19 from the previous week, 1st to 7th June.18/6/2020
Bank Rate Maintained At 0.1% - June 2020
The Monetary Policy committee of the Bank of England voted unanimously to maintain Bank Rate at 0.1% and to continue with the existing programme of £200 billion of UK government bond and sterling non-financial investment-grade corporate bond purchases, financed by the issuance of central bank reserves. The Committee voted by a majority of 8-1 to increase the target stock of purchased UK government bonds, financed by the issuance of central bank reserves, by an additional £100 billion, to take the total stock of asset purchases to £745 billion.18/6/2020
Further Quantitative Easing By The Bank Of England - £100bn
On 17 June the MPC voted for the Bank of England to continue with the existing programme of £200bn of UK government bond and sterling non-financial investment-grade corporate bond purchases, and to increase the stock of purchases of UK government bonds, financed by central bank reserves, by an additional £100bn, to take the total stock of asset purchases to £745bn. The Committee expected the new asset purchase programme to be completed, and the total stock of purchases to reach £745bn, around the turn of the year.[Builders]
17/6/2020Jobs Go As Travis Perkins In Thurso To Close
Bad news for the north as Travis Perkins announced 165 branches to close throughout the UK. The Thurso branch of the company will close with the loss of 5 jobs.
17/6/2020
Viking Approval Secures £580m Green Recovery Investment
SSE Renewables has taken a final investment decision to proceed with the Viking Wind Farm in a step which will drive forward economic growth and a green economic recovery in Shetland. The 103-turbine, 443MW wind farm will harness Shetland's excellent wind conditions to produce enough energy to power almost half a million homes.
16/6/2020
World First Coronavirus Treatment Approved For NHS Use By Government
The government has immediately authorised the NHS to use the world's first coronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death. Ground-breaking coronavirus treatment approved for use across the NHS from today Government-funded UK trial showed drug saved lives by significantly reducing risk of death in hospitalised patients who require oxygen Government ensures drug is available across all NHS healthcare settings and across the whole of the UK with immediate effect Thousands of lives will be saved in the UK with the government immediately authorising the NHS to use the world's first coronavirus treatment proven to reduce the risk of death.16/6/2020
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 16 June 2020
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (June, 16th) sold 14 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (7) averaged 216.3p and sold to 227.0p per kg for a 510kg Limousin cross from Raffin, Tore selling to Messrs Fraser Brothers Butchers, Dingwall, and £1,309.80 gross for a 590kg Limousin Cross also from Raffin, also selling to Messrs Fraser Brothers Butchers.16/6/2020
Scottish Crime And Justice Survey 2018/19
Scotland's Chief Statistician today released the main findings of the 2018/19 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS). The volume of crime in Scotland, including incidents not reported to the police, has fallen by 45% over the last decade and by 20% since 2016/17.16/6/2020
Free School Meals Extended in Scotland
Additional £27.6 million to help feed pupils and other key groups. Children eligible for free school meals will be among those who continue to be supported over the summer through a package of £27.6 million of additional funding from the Scottish Government.16/6/2020
Biotoxins affecting bivalve shellfish in coastal waters - Inner Loch Torridon and Little Loch Broom, Wester Ross
The Highland Council's Environmental Health team has identified raised levels of naturally occurring bivalve shellfish biotoxins following routine monitoring at Inner Loch Torridon and Little Loch Broom. Eating bivalve shellfish such as cockles, mussels, oysters or razor fish from these areas may pose a health risk arising from the consumption of these biotoxins.16/6/2020
Reopening Childcare Safely
Guidance published for nurseries and other settings. Nurseries and other early learning and childcare (ELC) providers have received new guidance to help them plan for reopening when it is safe to do so.16/6/2020
Return To Work Package Launched
Initiative will see £230 million invested in a range of projects. A £230 million Return to Work package has been unveiled to help stimulate Scotland's economy following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.16/6/2020
Scottish Public Sector Employment
Public Sector Employment Statistics for Scotland released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician show that there were 561,900 people employed in the public sector in Scotland in March 2020. As of March 2020, public sector employment accounted for 21.3% of total employment in Scotland and private sector employment accounted for 78.7% of total employment.16/6/2020
School Leaver Destinations
Proportion of young people in work, training or further study remains high. The proportion of young people in work, training or further study nine months after leaving school last year is 92.9%, the third highest on record and down from 93.3% the previous year.15/6/2020
A9 Berriedale Braes Improvement Works Restarts
In a letter To Highland council the contractor RJ McLeod set out plans to restart work at Berriedale Braes "Further to our letter of 4th June informing you that we were proceeding with planning and pre-start site preparations for construction on A9 Berriedale Braes project in accordance with the published Scottish Government's Construction Sector Guidance document and Construction Scotland Re-Start Plan we are writing to provide you with a further update. The health and safety of the workforce is our main priority and we have now completed the necessary planning and pre-start site preparations.
15/6/2020
2020/21 Garden waste permits go on sale
Highland Council Garden Waste Permits are now available to purchase for the 2020/21 permit season. All existing permit holders will receive a reminder to renew their permit over the next few weeks.14/6/2020
Businesses And Lives Ruined, People Wrongly Jailed, Suicides - The Biggest Scandal Of Injustice - The UK Sub-postmasters
Some of you will have been aware of the scandal over the last 20 years of the biggest legal injustice in the UK surrounding the wrongful accusations of fraud by the Post Office against 900 sub-postmasters. The accusations by the Post Office were completely false based on a faulty computer system supplied by Fujitsu called "Horizons".
14/6/2020
Scottish Research Facing Twin Threats Of Covid And Brexit
Minister tells UK Government that urgent support needed within days. The double threat of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the potential loss of access to EU funding programmes could result in long-term damage to Scottish university research, unless the UK Government provides immediate financial support, according to Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead.14/6/2020
