Student nurses and midwives entering Scottish Government funded degree programmes will increase by 8.7% in 2022-23, to a total recommended intake of 4837 students. This will be the 10th successive increase in recommended student numbers, with the intake doubling over the last decade.
Closure to be reviewed in three weeks and follows consultation with sector. Nightclubs will close from 27 December to tackle the transmission of Omicron which continues to spread rapidly.
New strategy to make homes safer, warmer and cheaper to heat. A 20-year vision to eradicate fuel poverty in Scotland has been published.
At the North Planning Applications Committee of The Highland Council on Tuesday the 7thDecember councillors voted unanimously to allow the Limekiln project variation application to move to the final decision-making stage with the Scottish Government Ministers. The decision, which will see two of the 21 turbines removed from the wind farm at Limekiln, south of Reay in Caithness will allow the application to progress unopposed by statutory consultees.
The UK has signed contracts to buy a further 4.25 million courses of antivirals for the NHS. Monumental deals have been accelerated to combat the Omicron variant and protect patients.[ Government urges all over 50s and most vulnerable to sign up to the national study as soon as they test positive for COVID-19.
Additional steps to slow spread of dominant Omicron variant will be reviewed after three weeks. Due to the urgent threat posed by Omicron's much higher transmissibility than other variants of coronavirus (COVID-19), additional targeted measures to minimise contacts will come into force for at least three weeks to allow immunity from the accelerated booster vaccine programme to take effect.
The UK's small business community is seeing first-hand that taking action on climate change will not only help protect the planet, but also help their businesses to grow. Small businesses across the UK, from Cornwall to Edinburgh, are putting sustainability at the heart of their Christmas plans.
This article is from the Fraser of Allender Institute. The central outlook is still for the Scottish economy to meet pre-pandemic levels in the Spring, but Omicron casts a shadow over the speed of recovery in 2022 as restrictions are increased Despite the threat of the Omicron variant, and the introduction of new economic restrictions, the Scottish economy is still forecast to recover to pre-pandemic levels in the Spring of 2022.
Times are tough for many at present, as prices rise and Omicron puts the UK's tentative economic recovery in jeopardy. In this quarter's spotlight we assess the living standards prospects of social renters, and in particular consider what soaring inflation means for their housing costs as they head into the spring.
A £500,000 project to develop two new business units in Scalasaig, Isle of Colonsay in Argyll, has secured up to £145,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The project is being taken forward by the Colonsay Community Development Company (CCDC) following a feasibility study to assess demand.
A £2m project to transform a major tourist attraction in Lochaber has secured up to £500,000 of funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Funds will go towards the construction of a new base station at Glencoe ski centre which will see the demolition of the current fire damaged building.
Today's labour market stats release should have marked a turning point in the post-pandemic labour market, as furlough came to an end and the economy adjusted to a period without restrictions. Instead, the data out this morning - which covers October and November - covers two months of relative normality between the end of furlough and the emergence of the Omicron variant.
2,434 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. 52,022 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results* 13.0% of these were positive.
Actions to improve the water environment. The ecological condition of Scotland's water environment will be further protected and improved for future generations through a comprehensive new action plan, backed by enhanced resources and a multi-million pound package of investment.
The Highland Council has confirmed that designs for the renovation of the Wick Whitechapel Road Public Conveniences have been finalised. They include a new communal entrance, charging gate, internal CCTV, disabled toilet, upgraded showering facilities and a full internal refurbishment.
The 2022-23 Non-Domestic Basic Property Rate (‘poundage') is provisionally set at 49.8 pence. Two additional rates are levied on properties with a rateable value over £51,000 (51.1 pence) and £95,000 (52.4 pence) respectively.
INVESTMENT of more than £100 million in Moray over the next decade was endorsed on 20th December 2021 with the official signing of the Moray Growth Deal. It signals confidence from both the UK and Scottish governments in plans to drive innovation and growth in the region, with projects within the Deal designed to maximise Moray's economic competitiveness.
The UK and Norway have agreed a new deal for fishing in each other's waters in 2022. Today (21 December 2021) the UK, negotiating as an independent coastal State, has reached an agreement with Norway on fisheries access and quotas for 2022. These discussions mark the start of a new arrangement between the UK and Norway, in which both parties permit some access to each other's waters and exchange a number of fish quotas in the North Sea and the Arctic.
Details have been published of how the £12.5 billion in Scottish Government funding for 2022/23 will be distributed to local authorities. The settlement represents a total cash increase of £917.9 million or 7.9%, which is the equivalent of a real terms rise of 5.1% to support vital local government services.
In todays announcement the First Minister stopped Hogmanay gatherings and banned spectators from sporting events such as football, rugby and others. Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh on 21 December 2021.
