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News Archive


21/3/2015
CAP delivery priority
Rural Affairs Secretary: latest farm stats ‘underline need' for support.   Delivering the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is an 'absolute priority' for the Scottish Government, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has said.  
21/3/2015
Food matters
Food Secretary welcomes plans for network of Local Good Food Champions.   The decision of the Food Commission to establish a network of local good food champions to encourage the sourcing and selling of locally produced, in-season food in their areas, has been welcomed by Food Secretary Richard Lochhead.  
21/3/2015
Moratorium on 20mph Speed Limits Demanded
No new 20mph speed limits should be allowed until a Department for Transport study is published in 2017, says the Alliance of British Drivers (ABD).   In 2014 the Department for Transport (DfT) began a three-year study into all the impacts of 20mph speed limits, including their effects on actual speeds, accidents, emissions and whether they encourage more people to walk or cycle.  
21/3/2015
Scotland's Carbon Footprint: 1998-2012
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Scotland's Carbon Footprint: 1998-2012.  This publication provides estimates of Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis; that is emissions that are associated with the spending of Scottish residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions arise together with emissions directly generated by Scottish households.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 16th March 2015 Energy & Business Services The Meygen tidal energy project continues to progress, with arrival in Caithness of the steel to be used by JGC Engineering Services to fabricate the underwater structures in Phase 1 of the project.  The steel arrived at Scrabster harbour and was safely offloaded by staff from JGC and H.  
20/3/2015
Two Weeks to Claim £5,000
UK bill payers have just two weeks left to scoop the first £5,000 pot of cash as part of a new national campaign run by Bacs Payment Schemes Limited (Bacs), the people behind Direct Debit in the UK.   With new research showing that the average annual outlay on *household and **personal commitments now stands at a whopping £11,400 per year, Bacs is helping to lighten the load for hard-pressed consumers with the launch of its 'Freedom Guaranteed' campaign, which offers bill payers the chance to win £5,000 each quarter in 2015, simply for paying those dreaded bills by Direct Debit.  
20/3/2015
MoneySuperMarket Comments on Banco Sabadell and TSB's £1.7bn Takeover Agreement
Commenting on Banco Sabadell and TSB's £1.7bn takeover agreement, Kevin Mountford, head of banking at MoneySuperMarket said: "Banco Sabadell's successful takeover bid is recognition of the rapid growth success of TSB since the brand was re-launched in the UK.   It is also a sign that the UK banking market is proving an attractive proposition for investors, especially in comparison to the rest of Europe.  
20/3/2015
New Which? Guide to Help People With Pension Choices
Which? is joining forces with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to warn people not to rush into a decision they could later regret, as we calculate that the tax bill for using your pension pot to buy a Lamborghini would be enough to buy a Porsche.   With just weeks to go until the Government's pension freedoms start giving people greater flexibility on how to use their savings, Which? is launching a free guide, supported by the ABI, to help people make the most of their Pension Wise session and secure a good deal for their hard-earned savings.  
20/3/2015
Dollar Strength Tips Fed Towards Later Rate Rise
Keith Wade, Chief Economist and Strategist at Schroders, explains why he has pushed back his forecast for the first US interest rate hike following Janet Yellen's statement after the latest Federal Open Market Committee meeting: "We have pushed back our forecast for the first US interest rate rise following the latest meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.   The latest statement from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) had something for everyone, with both hawks and doves claiming it confirmed their views on the future path of rates.  
19/3/2015
New Archive Centre At Wick A Step Closer As Proposals Go To Council Planning CommitteeThumbnail for article : New Archive Centre At Wick A Step Closer As Proposals Go To Council Planning Committee
The regeneration of Wick will be given another boost if the planning committee on 24th March 2015 as expected approve the building of a new Archive Centre for Nuclear records in the UK.  The Highland council archive centre currently based at Wick library will also relocate to the new building where it will occupy a small part of it.  
19/3/2015
Don't be duped by scam parcel postcards warns Highland Council Trading StandardsThumbnail for article : Don't be duped by scam parcel postcards warns Highland Council Trading Standards
Highland Council Trading Standards are aware that Scam postcards are being delivered to residents' homes claiming that a parcel containing "jewellery" or valuables up to £50 is waiting for the homeowner.   The message on the postcard states: "The office is attempting to reach you.  
Wave Energy Scotland is ‘open for business' with its first £7 million technology innovation competition
Hunt for innovative power take-off systems for wave energy devices is on 19th March 2015, UK: Wave Energy Scotland (WES), a new research and development body funded by the Scottish Government, is open for business with the launch of its first international technology innovation competition.   Part of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, WES is issuing a competitive project call for innovative power take-off (PTO) systems.  
19/3/2015
Objections to Inverness West Link CPO resolved
The Highland Council understands that all four objectors to the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the West Link project have now informed the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) that they have withdrawn, which is a significant milestone towards confirmation of the CPO.   The Council has been in discussions with all of the landowners and, in particular, those who had objected to the Compulsory Purchase Order for the West Link.  
19/3/2015
Tourism operator investigates viability of fishing for bluefin tuna in Outer Hebrides waters
An Isle of Harris fishing skipper and tourism operator, who recently became the star of a US TV show, is working with Marine Scotland to track and trace tuna on the Outer Hebrides coast.   Captain Angus Campbell, from Kilda Cruises, also runs Atlantic Marine Services which provides specialist support for organisations doing marine surveys west of the Hebrides.  
19/3/2015
Scotland's fiscal position: an update in light of the OBR's March Forecasts
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the OBR downgraded forecasts for North Sea revenues for the next five years in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook published on the 18 March.  In part, this reflects the direct impact of the fall in oil prices which have been the subject of much discussion in recent months.  
18/3/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 18 March 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 18th) sold 606 store cattle, 22 adult head of breeding cattle and 53 OTM cattle.  Bullocks (400) averaged 243.5p and sold to 300p per kg for a 240kg Limousin cross from Rychraggan, Drumnadrochit, and £1,350 gross for a pen of 556kg Charolais crosses from Redfield, North Kessock.  
18/3/2015
Diarrhoea and Vomiting - Caithness General Hospital
A ward at Caithness General Hospital, Wick has closed to new admissions and visitors are being asked to stay away while staff deal with several cases of diarrhoea and vomiting.   This is the second closure of the ward in March.  
18/3/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - 17 March 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 17th) sold 43 prime cattle.   Prime bullocks (33) averaged 206.4p (+1.1p) and sold to 218p per kg and £1,478.40 gross.  
18/3/2015
Landmark City-Region Deal gets approval
The Highland Council have joined with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, HITRANS, and the University of the Highlands and Islands to welcome the support announced today during the budget by making funding available to the Highlands for 2015-16 to deliver a City Deal for Inverness and the wider region.   After the Government signed a City Deal for Glasgow and the Clyde Valley, alongside the Scottish Government and the Glasgow and Clyde Valley local authorities, they decided that there is merit in extending the City Deal model further in Scotland and Wales.  
18/3/2015
Trading Standards to host drop-in sessions for home maintenance and improvement businesses
Highland Council Trading Standards are to hold two drop-in sessions aimed at traders who conduct works on domestic properties.   The sessions will take place on Friday 27th March from 2pm till 4pm and again on Wednesday 1st April from 9am till 11am.