News Archive
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
Coronavirus: NHS field hospital plans for Scotland
NHS field hospital sites in Scotland will be identified this week ahead of a predicted rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, the chief medical officer has said. Dr Catherine Calderwood said she agreed with a senior medic who expects a coronavirus "tsunami" in coming weeks.27/3/2020
Self Employed Via A Limited Company May Not Gain From New Self Employed Scheme
Those who pay themselves a salary and dividends through their own company will not be covered by the Self-Employment Income Support scheme. They may be covered by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if they are operating PAYE schemes to pay themselves salary that is taxable and dividend.26/3/2020
Letter From Maree Todd MSP To All Child Minders
Sent Out Via The Care Inspectorate in Scotland. To: All registered childminders Following the Scottish and UK Government's announcements on 23 March 2020 about the latest measures necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, this guidance note sets out the implications for childminding services in Scotland.26/3/2020
Highland Recycling Centres close and waste service collections changed during Coronavirus
The Highland Council's Waste and Recycling team are reminding the public that all Council run Recycling Centres are currently closed and garden waste and the bulky uplift services have been suspended until further notice. Householders are being asked not to put out their brown bins as they will not be emptied.26/3/2020
Statement from Transport Scotland on restrictions on non-essential ferry travel Coronavirus - Covid-19
Statement from Transport Scotland on restrictions on non-essential ferry travel to Scotland's remote and island communities In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Government has made clear the need to avoid all but essential travel by ferry to Scotland's remote and island communities. From Sunday 22 March 2020, until further notice, ferries will be for those who live on our islands, who have an essential need to travel to or from the mainland and for essential supplies or business.26/3/2020
Protecting Workers During Coronavirus Outbreak
Joint statement from Scottish Government and STUC. Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop and STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith have issued a joint statement outlining the shared commitment to fair work practices in Scotland.26/3/2020
Scottish Government begins monitoring uptake and provision of childcare places
Scottish Government begins monitoring uptake and provision of childcare places The Scottish Government has begun monitoring the uptake and provision of places in early learning and childcare settings. This includes private and third-sector all-day childcare services including nurseries, out of school care and childminders (not local authority settings).
26/3/2020
Tax Helpline To Support Businesses Affected By Coronavirus (covid-19)
New HMRC helpline launched to help businesses concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19). HMRC has a set up a phone helpline to support businesses and self-employed people concerned about not being able to pay their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19).26/3/2020
Coronavirus Update - Benefit Reviews And Reassessments Suspended
Reviews and reassessments for disability benefits are being suspended for the next three months. This temporary measure, effective from (Tuesday 24 March), is being taken to reassure vulnerable people about the continuity of their benefits during the coronavirus outbreak and to ensure the Department's resources are focused on enabling access to financial support for new claimants.26/3/2020
Covid-19: Hotel Accommodation To Support Key Workers And Vulnerable People
Letter regarding the exemption for hotels, hostels and B&Bs to open so they can offer accommodation to key workers and support rough sleepers to keep them off the streets and in suitable accommodation. Letter from the Minister for Local Government and Homelessness, Luke Hall, to hotel chief executives regarding the exemption for hotels, hostels and B&Bs to open so as to offer accommodation to support key workers and vulnerable people.26/3/2020
G20 Leaders' Summit - Statement On Covid-19: 26 March 2020
5 Trillion dollars to Be Injected To the world Economy. G20 leaders made a statement on COVID-19 after a virtual summit.26/3/2020
PM Announces Record Funding To Find A Coronavirus Vaccine
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced record funding to find a coronavirus vaccine. Prime Minister calls on world leaders to collaborate to speed up vaccine development for coronavirus.26/3/2020
Be Vigilant Against Coronavirus Scams
Issued by the UK Government Insolvency Service. orking with our partners, we are warning our customers and members of the public to be vigilant in the face of scams connected to the coronavirus (Covid-19).26/3/2020
