News Archive
5/7/2016
Take a stand against scams urges Highland Council Trading Standards
As part of the Highland Consumer Partnership, The Highland Council's Trading Standards team and Highland Citizens Advice Bureaux want to encourage everyone to take a stand against Scams this July and to raise awareness of this debilitating crime. Every year UK consumers lose millions of pounds through scams, not to mention the devastating psychological effects on the victims they leave behind.5/7/2016
Reassurance following EU referendum
Scottish Government to issue open letter to EU nationals and work with businesses. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will send a message of reassurance to EU nationals living in Scotland that they are welcome here.
5/7/2016
Temporary traffic restrictions during Scottish Open
Drivers are being advised that temporary traffic restrictions will be in place on local raods prior to, during, and immediately after the ‘Scottish Open 2016' golf tournament which takes place this weekend at Castle Stuart. The restrictions come into effect at 18:00 hours on Tuesday 5 July 2016 and will remain in force until 22:00 hours on Monday 11 July 2016.4/7/2016
Coastal Communities Fund in Scotland opens to applications today
Helping coastal communities and wildlife flourish. Coastal communities around Scotland are being invited to bid for a share of more than £3 million to invest in their local area.4/7/2016
Rural Economy Secretary says European workers crucial to economy
Scotland values the contribution people from Europe play in our society and economy and the government will work hard to protect their future rights in our country, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said today. Mr Ewing visited Scotbeef processing plant where he highlighted figures showing the European Union is the biggest destination for Scottish food and drink exports - worth a total of £724.3 million in 2015.3/7/2016
DLITE in Highland - student teachers graduate using distance learning programme
Eleven Highland students graduated as teachers (Saturday 25 June 2016) through the University of Aberdeen in partnership with The Highland Council following an eighteen month distance learning PGDE (Primary) Programme. The Distance Learning Initial Teacher Education (DLITE) PGDE Primary Programme is completing its second session in June 2016, seeing these students enter their Probation year in Highland schools this August.
3/7/2016
Inverness Tilting Pier Project Sinks Under Weight Of Public Opinion
The City of Inverness Committee today voted in favour of an amendment to cancel the tilting pier in favour of an alternative project to meet the brief of the Gathering Place project. The remaining projects in the Inverness Arts Programme are to go ahead.
3/7/2016
Almost £310 million paid to farmers
More than 17,700 farms have now received a subsidy payment. The rural economy across Scotland is now benefiting from almost £310 million worth of subsidy payments that has been made to farmers Fergus Ewing confirmed today.
3/7/2016
Scottish Government Moves Fast to form Standing Council on Europe
Following the Brexit decision First Minister immediately formed formed a group to advise on Scotland's relationship with the EU. The group includes people from across the political, business, economic scientific and financial sectors.3/7/2016
Vacant non-domestic properties will have water charges applied from 1s April 2017
Non-domestic property charges to be transformed. Vacant non-domestic properties are to be brought into the water charging regime, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has confirmed.3/7/2016
Scotlands Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Landfill Tax Up £74million
Finance Secretary's first update shows devolved taxes up £74 million on estimates. The first set of annual receipts for Scotland’s Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and Scottish Landfill Tax (SLfT) show returns have exceeded projections.3/7/2016
Apprenticeship Levy Consultation Begins on 13 July 2016
The UK Government's Apprenticeship Levy undermines the "uniquely Scottish" approach to modern apprentices, Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn said today. Mr Hepburn announced that, following the UK Government's decision to implement an Apprenticeship Levy, the Scottish Government will launch a consultation on 13 July 2016 to seek views on how the Levy can enhance productivity and economy growth in Scotland.3/7/2016
Land Reform Act comes into force
The first parts of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act began on Tuesday, 28th June 2016. Changes on the use of common good land, business rates for shooting and deer-stalking, and deer management have come into force.3/7/2016
Protection for EU citizens rights
First Minister asks for ‘immediate guarantees' for EU nationals in Scotland. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has today (Sunday) called for the rights of European Union nationals living in Scotland to be protected.3/7/2016
Support for Scottish businesses following EU referendum
Ministers engaging across a range of sectors. The Scottish Government is committed to working closely with business organisations and companies across Scotland to provide reassurance following the EU referendum result.3/7/2016
Statistics on poverty in Scotland in 2014/15 show a complex picture
Relative poverty before housing costs (BHC) increased in 2014/15. While incomes for poorer households increased in 2014/15, middle income households saw a greater increase.
3/7/2016
Poverty figures show impact of UK cuts
Statistics show people living in poverty despite mitigation measures. New figures show people are continuing to live in poverty despite the best efforts of the Scottish Government to mitigate the impact of UK wide welfare cuts, according to Communities Secretary Angela Constance.2/7/2016
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 27th June 2016 Energy & Business Services: · A deal to supply and install the cabling for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project has been won by Siem, who will work for Tier 1 supplier Seaway Heavy Lifting. Last year one of Siem's vessels laid the subsea cabling for the MeyGen project in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth.2/7/2016
Siem Offshore Contractors Gain Contract For Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm
Siem Offshore Contractors GmbH ("SOC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Siem Offshore Inc., announced that SOC has been awarded the contract for the turnkey supply and installation package of the inner array grid cable system for the 588 MW Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm ("OWF") by SHL Offshore Contractors BV (“SHL”). The contract confirms the continued expansion into the Offshore Renewable Energy Market for the Siem Offshore group.1/7/2016
