News Archive
17/4/2015
Farm payment application extension
Farmers and crofters will have an extra month to complete form. The Scottish deadline for farmers and crofters to submit their Single Application Form (SAF) has been extended, under flexibility from the EU, until June 15, 2015.15/4/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 15 April 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April 15th) sold 629 store cattle and 113 breeding heifers & 26 OTM cattle. Store bullocks (331) averaged 241.2p and sold to 295.8p per kg for a pen of 240kg Romagnola crosses from Calrossie Mains, Nigg, and £1,250 gross for a 560kg Charolais cross from 2 Lochend, Barrock.15/4/2015
MSP welcomes health board's community storm action
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP and Shadow Minister for Health Inequalities, Rhoda Grant, has welcomed proactive action being taken by NHS Highland to mitigate disruption during power failures. After meeting with engineers who braved appalling weather conditions to reconnect homes and properties during the atrocious storms experienced in January, the MSP wrote to all health boards in the Highlands and Islands region advising them of Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution's ‘Priority Services Register’, encouraging the health boards to promote the register amongst vulnerable people in their area.15/4/2015
North MSP cautions against blanket 20mph zones
Highlands & Islands MSP and road safety campaigner, David Stewart, has entered the debate about the drive for more and more 20mph zones across Scotland. Speaking today he said " When all said and done it is the responsibility of drivers to pay attention, take due care over other road users and adjust speed to the conditions prevailing at the time whilst driving, that really matters.14/4/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 14 April 2015
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 14th) sold 57 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (35) averaged 200.8p (-4.9p) and sold to 213p per kg and £1,362.20 gross.13/4/2015
2015 Pensions changes divorce impact - Turcan Connell
David Clarke interviews Partner Gillian Crandles and Financial Planner, George Martineau at Turcan Connell, Princes Exchange, 1 Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9EE. Gillian and George look at the 2015 pensions changes and the positive effect this may have on divorce and other family law related situations.
13/4/2015
UK Pension reform and its impact on the property market
UK Pension reform and its impact on the property market. There are around 18.4 million people currently aged 55+ and from 6th April, those with ‘defined contribution' schemes will be given unprecedented access to an estimated £67.5 billion (1) of pension contributions as part of one of the biggest shake-ups in the UK's pension system.
13/4/2015
Fraudsters Target Over 65s
Over Half of People Aged 65 + Have Been Targeted by Fraudsters, as Alarming New Figures by Age UK Show the Extent of Scamming. A new Age UK survey has found that 53 per cent of older people (aged 65+) believe they've been targeted by fraudsters, and that while many do not respond, of those who do 70 per cent of people of all age groups said that they had personally lost money.13/4/2015
Scotland's Horse Industry Needs Greater Coordination and Support
The equine industry in Scotland is growing, and according to Horse Scotland, it contributes £228 million to the Scottish economy per year (excluding racing); however there is a need for greater regulation and coordination in order to reduce risks which include horse health and welfare. Developing an accurate database of the number and location of horses in Scotland would allow for better monitoring of disease, traceability of horse movement, more effective breeding programmes and would address the welfare concerns associated with increased horse numbers.10/4/2015
First Class Flats At Affordable Rents In Wick
AN excellent range of one-bedroom and studio flats with affordable rents are available now at Caberfeidh Court in Wick. Cairn Housing Association has 36 high quality properties that are available exclusively to people over 50 years of age.
10/4/2015
Corporate Volunteering Benefits Businesses, Employees and the Wider Community, Says CIPD
Responding to today's announcement by the Prime Minister*, the CIPD, the professional body for HR, welcomes a focus on the corporate volunteering agenda. A new report from the CIPD, 'From Big Society to the big organisation: the role of organisations in supporting employee volunteering', includes survey data that reveals that 39% of large organisations already offer paid time for their employees to take part in volunteering opportunities, with an additional 23% offering unpaid time.10/4/2015
MSP highlights case of beat officers being removed
Highlands & Islands MSP, David Stewart has highlighted that he has now evidence that the cull of Police Support Staff has had a direct impact on the role of the front line Police Officer. Since the inception of Police Scotland on 1 April 2013, Police Scotland was tasked with delivering £64 million of efficiency savings in the first year of operation.10/4/2015
Greek In Or Out Of The Euro?
Will They Stay or Will They Go? KPMG Head of Macroeconomics Discusses the Risk of Greek Exit from the Eurozone. Yael Selfin, Head of Macroeconomics, KPMG said: "As the last date in Greece's debt saga passes by safely, with the Greek government repaying its dues to the IMF, we should remember this is only one repayment in many payable over the next five months.10/4/2015
Does Your Company Pass the Pinch Test for the Google Countdown?
The 21st of April will herald a new phase for internet searches as Google flags up a change in its algorithms. This is likely to mean that sites that are not mobile-friendly may suffer the consequences if they want to rank well in all searches.10/4/2015
Industrial Growth Weakens as Low Oil Prices Dent Output
Data released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that UK industrial production grew by just 0.1% year-on-year in February, the lowest rate since August 2013. Manufacturing output, the largest component of the sector, rose by 1.1%.10/4/2015
Iranian Nuclear Deal Could Lead to Oil Flooding the Market
Commenting in response to the Iranian nuclear deal and its impact on the oil sector,George Johnson, executive advisor, oil & gas at KPMG, said: "The global oil market could be braced for more uncertainty in the coming months. The Iranian nuclear deal is likely to see sanctions on exports lifted leading to an increase in Iranian crude oil production.9/4/2015
Highland nominations for General Election 2015
A total of 19 candidates are seeking election on Thursday 7 May in the three Highland UK Parliamentary General Election constituencies. Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency has attracted 5 candidates; Ross Skye and Lochaber constituency, 7 candidates; and Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency, 7 candidates.9/4/2015
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 18 April 2015 - Sheep
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (April, 9th) sold 860 sheep of all classes. Lambs (493) averaged £57.31 and sold to £98 gross for Suffolk crosses from Shewglie, Glenurquhart.9/4/2015
Onshore wind energy guidance consultation extended
The deadline for members of the public to share their views on The Highland Council's new Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance has been extended to Friday 22 May. Once approved, this guidance will be used for determining planning applications for wind energy development in Highland.9/4/2015
