News Archive
25/12/2024
Success Of First Highland-wide Virtual Jobs Fair
The first Highland-wide virtual jobs fair held last month has proved to be a hit with participants and businesses. The week-long virtual event, which was delivered by the Local Employability Partnership for the West - The Highland Council, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Department for Work and Pensions, Developing the Young Workforce and UHI North West and Hebrides was timed to coincide with Scottish Careers Week 2024.25/12/2024
Jesus was an economic reformer - and isn't that what today is all about?
Christmas Day is, in the Christian tradition, a day to mark the birth of Jesus - who was a radical economic reformer who died for social justice. Why have we forgotten that? .
24/12/2024
Crime Trend - Thefts of Touring Caravans
Police Scotland is currently seeing an increase in thefts of touring caravans. Many of these are occurring in rural locations where caravans are stored over the winter months, away from the owner's home address.24/12/2024
Reminder - Vehicle Taxes Change 1 April 2025
Do you know the new vehicle tax rates that may apply to your vehicles from 1 April 2025. To help here are the links to check your existing vehicles or if you are considering a new car.24/12/2024
Surge In Activity To Crack Down On Illegal Working Across The Country
Officers have been out in force across the UK to disrupt rogue employers who hire migrants illegally and exploit vulnerable people, and to address the promise of illegal jobs that are used by criminal smuggling gangs to sell spaces in small boats crossing the Channel. Particular focus has been on targeting car washes, nail bars, supermarkets and construction sites suspected of hiring illegal workers and subjecting them to squalid conditions and illegal working hours at below minimum wage.24/12/2024
NHS 24 Resilience Over Festive Period
An information campaign and increased recruitment of call handlers are among the initiatives NHS 24 has put in place to help protect vital front line health and care services over the festive period. First Minister John Swinney visited the NHS 24 call centre in Dundee to observe preparations ahead of the Christmas and New Year period and to express his gratitude to staff.24/12/2024
Industry Encouraged To Shape UK Transition To Zero Emission Vehicles
Seeking views on how to restore the 2030 phase out date for new purely petrol and diesel cars and make the transition to zero emission vehicles a success. consultation launched to shape the 2030 petrol and diesel car phase-out.24/12/2024
Christmas Booze Ban For Record Number Of Offenders
Around 3,800 offenders either released from prison or serving a community sentence will wear an alcohol tag over Christmas and New Year. Around 3,800 offenders forced to wear alcohol tags to keep streets safe over Christmas and New Year.24/12/2024
Higher Employers NIC May Be Passed On To Employees And Consumers
The National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill is a government bill that was introduced in the House of Commons on 13 November 2024. The bill completed all its House of Commons stages on 17 December 2024.23/12/2024
Disappointed Brits Will Spend £1.4bn Online On Christmas Day, As 38% Of Us Buy What We Really Wanted!
The average Brit is set to spend over 7 hours online on Christmas Day. We'll be spending an estimated £1.4bn, mostly buying all the things we wished for but didn’t get, says ParcelHero.23/12/2024
British Soldiers Successfully Test Drone Killer Radiowave Weapon For First Time
British soldiers have successful trialled for the first time a game-changing weapon that can take down a swarm of drones using radio waves for less than the cost of a pack of mince pies. Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RFDEW) can take down a swarm of drones for less than the cost of a pack of mince pies.
23/12/2024
GDP Quarterly National Accounts, UK: July To September 2024 - Revised Down
UK real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have shown no growth in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2024, revised down from the first estimate increase of 0.1%. The quarterly path of real GDP at an aggregate level is unchanged from Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2023 to Quarter 1 2024, however, there have been downward revisions of 0.1 percentage points in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) and Quarter 3 2024.23/12/2024
10,000 UK Armed Forces personnel deployed overseas 
The Defence Secretary visited British Army soldiers deployed in Estonia this Christmas to thank them for their service. The Defence Secretary visited UK Armed Forces personnel deployed to Estonia to thank them for their vital service at Christmas.
23/12/2024
What Shape Is Scotland's Economy In After 2024?
One gift for the festive season is an absence of data about the economy for the next two weeks. That will be particularly welcome for Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves.23/12/2024
Balance Of Payments UK July To September 2024
The underlying UK current account deficit excluding precious metals widened to £20.0 billion, or 2.8% of gross domestic product (GDP), in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2024; this is a change of £2.1 billion from the previous quarter. The UK current account deficit, when trade in precious metals is included, narrowed by £5.9 billion to £18.1 billion, or 2.5% of GDP in Quarter 3 2024.23/12/2024
January Spending Squeeze On The Horizon Says British Retail Consortium
According to BRC-Opinium data, consumer expectations over the next three months of their: Personal financial situation remained at -3 in December, the same as in November. State of the economy worsened to -27 in December, down from -19 in November.23/12/2024
Quarterly Sector Accounts, UK - July To September 2024 - Economy Flatlines
Real households' disposable income per head is estimated to have shown no growth in Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2024, following growth of 1.4% in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2024. The household saving ratio is estimated at 10.1% in Quarter 3 2024, down slightly from 10.3% in the previous quarter; the movement in the saving ratio was driven by an increase in household final consumption expenditure.22/12/2024
Working This Christmas? Check Your Pay
Festive workers, including those on short-term contracts, are being urged to check their pay to make sure they aren't missing out on the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage. Seasonal staff and students employed over the Christmas period are legally entitled to receive at least the same minimum rates as other workers.
22/12/2024
Why Are The Tories Talking About Flat Taxes Again? - Richard Murphy
Flat taxes are great if you want to increase inequality, crush government services, or leave large numbers of people destitute. Is that why the Tories are so keen on them? ABOUT RICHARD MURPHY Richard Murphy is Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School.
22/12/2024
