News Archive
27/3/2020
Caithness General Hospital Prepared for Covid 19 Patients
Caithness General Hospital in Wick have made a number of changes within the hospital to prepare to receive Covid 19 patients. The maternity unit (Henderson) has been moved to the ground floor with the unit being reserved now for the arrival of any patients with Covid 19.27/3/2020
Covid-19 - Dental Services In Highland
Routine dental care services in high street practices in Scotland have been suspended. If you feel you have an URGENT dental need, in normal working hours, you should contact your practice, who will provide advice, reassurance or telephone assessment.27/3/2020
Covid-19 Self-employment Income Support Scheme - HMRC Notice After Chancellors Announcment
The Chancellor, this evening, announced a new Self-employment Income Support Scheme to support self-employed people who have been adversely affected by COVID-19. Who is eligible Self-employed people do not need to get in touch with HMRC as the scheme isn't yet open for applications.27/3/2020
Chancellor gives support to millions of self-employed individuals
Rishi Sunak announces world-leading scheme to support the UK's self-employed affected by the coronavirus outbreak. direct cash grant of 80% of their profits, up to £2,500 per month latest announcement in an unprecedented package of government support to protect businesses and individuals Millions of self-employed individuals will receive direct cash grants though a ground-breaking UK-wide scheme to help them during the coronavirus outbreak, the Chancellor announced today.
27/3/2020
New £100 Million Campaign To Reach Up To A Billion People Globally Will Help Stop The Spread Of Coronavirus.
The UK government is working with Unilever to fund a global programme to urgently tackle the spread of coronavirus. The programme will reach up to a billion people worldwide, raising awareness and changing behaviour, to make sure people are washing their hands with soap regularly and disinfecting surfaces.
27/3/2020
COVID-19: Care At Home
NHS Highland (Highland Council area) Adult Social Care supports approximately 6000 people in the community. This community will be largely the most vulnerable community population when it comes to Covid-19.27/3/2020
Highland Council To Launch E-vouchers For Free School Meals
Highland Council will be providing e-vouchers to families to support access to free school meals from week commencing 30 March 2020. This innovative and easy-to-use service will ensure over 4,000 school children will continue to receive support for school meals while schools are closed.27/3/2020
The Economic Response To Coronavirus Will Substantially Increase Government Borrowing
Institute For Fiscal Studies Carl Emmerson and Isabel Stockton - Observation. Isabel Stockton, a research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said: "The response to the covid-19 pandemic has led to a sharp downturn in economic activity.27/3/2020
HMRC - Claim For Wage Costs Through The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Guidance for employers on the coronavirus (COVID-19) Job Retention Scheme. The government is committed to doing whatever it takes to support businesses and individuals through the Coronavirus pandemic.
27/3/2020
HMRC - Check If You Could Be Covered By The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Find out if your employer is eligible, and how much your employer can claim if they're unable to operate or have no work for you to do because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Further details will be published shortly.27/3/2020
Coronavirus And The Upcoming Rise In The National Living Wage
Institute for Fiscal Studies. Over the past decade employment has grown very strongly, from 29 million to 33 million in work (70% and 76% of the working age population).
27/3/2020
Prime Minister Boris Johnson Has Been Tested Positive For Coronavirus
The prime minster Boris Johnson has tested positive for Corona Virus. He has mild symptoms so far and will self isolate.
27/3/2020
Social Distancing Enforcement Measures In Place
New powers will help ensure compliance and save lives. Businesses and the public in Scotland are now required by law to follow necessary social distancing measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.27/3/2020
Keeping Healthcare Workers Safe - Extra respirators brought into use
Action has been taken to bring an additional 1.5 million protective respirators into use from NHS Scotland's central stockpile. The tightly-fitting facemasks, which provide a high level of protection for staff working with coronavirus patients, were not previously used because they had recently passed their expiry date.27/3/2020
Firefighters And Retired Emergency Workers To Help With Coronavirus Problems
Firefighters in UK look set to become ambulance drivers if necessary. In addition Ex-police and ambulance staff urged to return to duty.27/3/2020
Devolved Governments Need More Flexible Funding And Greater Borrowing Power To Tackle Coronavirus Effectively
Institute For Fiscal Studies David Phillips - Observation. The press briefings by the Prime Minister are a daily reminder that addressing the public health and economic impacts of coronavirus are by far the biggest immediate policy challenges the UK government has faced for decades.
27/3/2020
Help Is Coming For (most Of) The Self-employed
Institute For Fiscal Studies Stuart Adam and Helen Miller - Observation. Today (26 March 2020) the Chancellor announced new, very generous support for the self-employed.27/3/2020
Bank Rate Maintained At 0.1% - March 2020
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England voted unanimously to maintain Bank Rate at 0.1%. The committee also voted unanimously to continue with the 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, to take the total stock of these purchases to £645 billion.27/3/2020
Household finances in Scotland - now and in the future
New summary statistics have been released today (26 March 2020) on household income for the UK, including Scotland, covering the period up to the 2018/19 financial year. These figures belong to the pre-COVID-19 world but should not be dismissed as irrelevant.27/3/2020
