News Archive
2/6/2020
Did The Lockdown Save Lives? - An American View
Read the article from the American Institute for Economic Research by Jeffrey A. Tucker.1/6/2020
Parents Encouraged To Apply For Best Start Grant School Age Payment
Extra cash in the pockets of low income families Eligible parents of children aged four and five are being encouraged to apply for financial support worth £250. The one-off £250 payment is currently open to eligible families with a child who was born between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016 and who is old enough to start primary one this year.1/6/2020
Additional Quota For Inshore Fishing
Up to £2 million of potential new opportunities to help fleet. Inshore fishers who usually target shellfish will now be able to diversify into new markets and access fishing opportunities worth up to £2 million.
1/6/2020
Next Steps For NHS Scotland - Re-mobilise, Recover, Re-design
Services to be restored safely and gradually based on clinical advice. NHS Scotland will begin resuming some services that have been suspended, delayed or deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19), whilst continuing to protect emergency, urgent and maternity care.1/6/2020
Outdoor Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic
Funding for Virtual Nature School. Children and families are to benefit from expert guidance on learning and play in an outdoor environment during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.1/6/2020
Outdoor Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic
Funding for Virtual Nature School. Children and families are to benefit from expert guidance on learning and play in an outdoor environment during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.1/6/2020
Contact Tracing Information Gathering
Protecting data as part of Test and Protect. Information used by NHS Scotland contact tracers will be safely and securely gathered as part of the coronavirus (COVID-19) Test and Protect approach.1/6/2020
Building A Future For Manufacturing
Increased investment in new national centre. An additional £20 million has been announced for the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), bringing total Scottish Government investment to £75 million.1/6/2020
Support For Measures To Prevent Spread Of Virus
A poll found a high level of support for testing measures to control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The survey, carried out days before NHS Scotland's Test and Protect was rolled out across the country, showed 91% of adults in Scotland recognised the importance of testing while 89% agreed that staying home helped to save lives.30/5/2020
Coronaphobia - employees Are Refusing To Come Back To Work
Businesses across the UK who are making efforts to get back to business are facing a new uphill struggle - employees claiming stress and anxiety or are simply requesting outright to be furloughed for another 3 months. Workers who were furloughed back in April are being gradually invited back to work, although some are being asked to work from home.30/5/2020
Essential works to commence on Inverness West Link
Works on the Inverness West Link Stage 2 were suspended on the 24 March 2020 following COVID-19 guidance from the Scottish Government. The Highland Council has been in dialogue with Contractors RJ McLeod and has agreed that essential works are required to begin to address safety issues but primarily the works to be undertaken are to provide for physical distancing and encourage active travel, walking, wheeling and cycling as part of, and to augment the successful Spaces for People project.30/5/2020
Over 5,500 Highland businesses helped by COVID-19 small business and self-catering grant schemes
The COVID-19 small business and self-catering grant schemes, set up to help companies stay in business during the coronavirus crisis, have now paid out £59,628,750 to over 5500 Highland businesses. The Council has now processed 99% of the applications received since the grant schemes opened.
29/5/2020
Subsea 7 Announces Cost Reduction Measures - 3000 Jobs To Go Worldwide
Subsea 7 issued further details of the cost reduction programme, following initial guidance provided on 30 April 2020. It is envisaged that the overall reduction in headcount would be approximately 3,000 from the global workforce of 12,000, by the end of the second quarter 2021.
29/5/2020
Schools Re-opening Guidance
Blueprint for safe return to classes. Detailed guidance on practical measures to allow schools to re-open on 11 August has been published.29/5/2020
Bee Disease Confirmed In Perthshire - Foulbrood Disease
American Foulbrood found near Blairgowrie. An outbreak of American Foulbrood (AFB) has been found in an apiary near Blairgowrie.29/5/2020
Lockdown Begins To Ease In Phase 1
Physical distancing and staying at home still key to tackling COVID-19. Changes to Scotland's lockdown restrictions have been confirmed today by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.28/5/2020
Water scarcity and Highland Council support for users of private water supplies
The Highland Council's Environmental Health Team is advising consumers to use their water wisely and check their private water supply systems for any signs of water leaks or risks of contamination. A private water supply is a property that does not have a Scottish Water mains water connection.28/5/2020
Back to school and learning - ‘carefully and gradually'
The Highland Council is assessing the implications of the First Minister's announcements made on the 21st May about the first stage relaxation of lockdown, concerning teachers and other education staff returning to the workplace during June to prepare for the return to school and settings on 11th August. Highland Council's Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "The return to workplace and Highland schools for our Education staff will have to be undertaken carefully and gradually.28/5/2020
7 key things about key workers in Scotland and what it tells us
The CoVid-19 pandemic has awoken many to the role that key workers play in our society. But who exactly are they, and what do we know about them? This short article provides a summary of analysis carried out using pre-crisis Labour Force Survey data to help give us a basic understanding of this group of workers.
28/5/2020
