News Archive

Croft House Grants Awarded

Grants to improve or build new homes in some of Scotland's most remote and marginal communities have been awarded to 10 crofters.   The Croft House Grants scheme aims to retain and attract people to rural and remote areas, and the latest round of funding totals £353,002.  

Timetable For Further Lockdown Easing In Scotland

Stay Local rule to apply from 2 April.   The First Minister has set out a timetable for the re-opening of parts of society over the next two months.  

Coronavirus Covid-19 Update: First Minister's Statement - 16 March 2021 - The Way Forward

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh on Tuesday 16 March.   Presiding Officer My statement today will set out our next steps out of lockdown and back towards a way of life that is much closer to normality.  

Crime In Scotland Almost Halved Over The Decade

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has welcomed official figures showing the volume of crime covered by the survey in Scotland is down 46% since 2008-09, with violent crime having fallen by nearly two-fifths (39%) over the same period.   The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) 2019-20 of around 5,600 adults interviewed before COVID-19 restrictions came into effect - which includes incidents not reported to police – shows people are now less likely to be a victim – with one-in-eight (11.9%) of adults experiencing crime compared to one-in-five (20.4%) in 2008-09.  

Scottish Government Spent £426,474 On Youtube Advertising Since 1st March 2020

A freedom of information request published today shows that Scottish Government spent £426,474 on advertising since 1st March 2020.   No breakdown is given regarding the types of advertising concerned.  

Scottish Government Workforce Statistics December 2020

The latest quarterly Scottish Government Workforce Information statistics have been published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.  These statistics cover the numbers of workers, staff sickness rates, and the diversity of staff up to the most recent quarter ending December 2020.  

COSLA Pay Offer Is A Slap In The Face To Scotlands Local Government Workers, Says Unison

UNISON, the union for local government workers, says a pay offer put forward by COSLA today (Tuesday) is a ‘slap in the face' for hard working local government workers who have gone above and beyond during the pandemic.   Mark Ferguson, chair of UNISON Scotland's local government committee, says the offer falls far short of what local government workers deserve for keeping local services going in the most difficult of circumstances.  

Alumni Event Marks Three Years Of Pathfinder

A fully funded business growth programme aimed at nurturing life sciences and technology businesses is celebrating the completion of its third year.   Pathfinder Accelerator was developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help businesses bring new ideas to market quicker.  

Third Covid Wave Sweeps Across EU And Forces New Restrictions

A big increase in Covid numbers across Europe has sparked many stories in the news.   A third wave of the Covid pandemic is now advancing swiftly across much of Europe.  

Urgent Act Fast Last Chance- Grant Scheme For BandBs And Self-catering Who Pay Council Tax

B&B's and Self-catering businesses who pay Council Tax, can now for one week only, apply for grant support from the Small Accommodation Providers Paying Council Tax Fund.   If you miss this last date to apply you may not get anything.